Chapter 2 The Marriage Arrangement with the Fool

The situation in her previous life was probably something like this, after the stepmother and Qin Jian's mother had arranged the marriage, both families started preparing for the wedding.

Resistance was futile for An Hao, as she was getting on in years as a single woman, and it wasn't feasible for her to stay unmarried at home indefinitely.

Being a freeloader and raising a grown daughter was costly in terms of food and clothing expenses, and neither her father An Shuchao nor stepmother Bai Xue Mei agreed with her objections; it was as if she had been forced into marriage.

Because her reputation hadn't been good prior to the marriage, she was originally resentful when she arrived at her in-laws' house and made a few scenes, completely offending the family.

Qin Jian had numerous discussions with her about these issues to no avail, and eventually, Qin Jian, in a fit of anger, simply applied for a transfer and for a while didn't come back.

Reflecting on it, An Hao thought she was truly foolish in her previous life; there were so many ways to solve problems, yet she had chosen the simplest, most brutish, and least likable one, influenced by others to divorce Qin Jian.

An Shuchao's voice echoed in the courtyard, disrupting An Hao's trip down memory lane, "Child's mother, this is not your fault, you meant well, An Hao has a fiery temper, but I will talk to her."

Bai Xue Mei looked at him worriedly, "What if An Hao refuses to go no matter what..."

An Shuchao was squatting on the steps of the courtyard smoking his pipe, and when he heard Bai Xue Mei's words, he instantly lost his temper, "What? She dares to disobey! I'm her father, if I tell her to go, she must go. If she dares not to, I'll drag her there even if I have to beat her."

An Hao, listening from inside the house, felt a chill in her heart; her father An Shuchao was so bewitched by her stepmother Bai Xue Mei, who was very cunning—nice to one's face but mean behind their back, and had wrapped her father around her finger the moment she entered the door.

She manipulated all the household gossip to her advantage.

"No, child's father, no matter how you put it, An Hao is still a girl, don't beat the child whenever you please. Talk to her nicely, let her meet Wang Genqiang. If she's willing, that's great, and then Yanjiao's job—the village chief said he'd arrange it through relatives. Plus, we can offer an additional dowry, and there will be money for An Ping's tuition. We can save a bit more to buy An Hao some decent clothes, and get you some good things to nourish your health."

Bai Xue Mei made all her points with the An Family's best interest in mind, as if her whole heart was set on doing good for them.

The kinder and more virtuous she appeared, the more she made An Hao seem unreasonable.

At that moment, Bai Yanjiao, who was standing aside, spoke up, "Mom, don't talk anymore, you give your all for this family, and big sister just doesn't understand, and even misunderstands you. Why bother? In the eyes of others, you're still a stepmother!"

"Yanjiao, don't talk nonsense." Bai Xue Mei's face darkened as she glared at her daughter, but inside she was delighted. Her daughter was clever, never missing a beat on what to say and when to say it.

"Yanjiao isn't talking nonsense. Child's mother, don't scold her, it's An Hao who is at fault, I'll go talk to her." An Shuchao tapped his pipe on the ground and pocketed his smoking pipe as he stood up.

An Hao heard everything clearly from inside the house; this mother and daughter lead her father around in circles.

The turning point in her fate was this matchmaking session; indeed, in the year 1985, the matchmaking that occurred when she turned eighteen had led her life in a completely different direction.

They think they can trap her this time? No chance!

In this lifetime, she would definitely not follow the same old path!

With this thought, An Hao straightened her clothes, and with a loud clang, she pushed the door open and stepped out.