Chapter 2: The Bride Exchange

“What are you looking at? Do you think I’m wrong?” Song Jiajia said.

Sang Yu lowered her head, lost in thought.

Song Jiajia grew impatient. “Sang Yu, did you hear me?”

“Jiajia!” Chen Jinlan wasn’t concerned about Sang Yu but rather thought Song Jiajia was being absurdly serious—was she really going to marry that Lu Hao?

That simply wouldn’t do. How could Lu Hao compare to Jiang Jingming?

“Aunt, do you agree with this?” Sang Yu suddenly asked softly.

Chen Jinlan remained silent, clearly disagreeing.

But Song Jiajia couldn’t help herself. “Of course my mom agrees!”

Just as Chen Jinlan was about to speak, Song Jiajia stopped her. “Mom, don’t say anything.”

Sang Yu slowly raised her head, her small face no bigger than a palm but filled with bitterness. “Fine, cousin, I’ll trade with you.”

She then went into her room and brought out the token left from their parents’ engagement.

Lu Hao’s father and Sang Yu’s father had served in the same military unit and had both sacrificed their lives heroically during a mission.

Back then, while still in the military, Lu Hao’s mother and Sang Yu’s mother had formed a bond, exchanging tokens at that time.

Though sorrow marked Sang Yu’s face, inside she was quietly thrilled.

Putting aside what kind of man Jiang Jingming truly was, Lu Hao was not worth it.

Lu Hao’s ability to go south to do business was only because he exploited Sang Yu.

Song Jiajia, since you like this freeloader so much, I’ll gladly give him to you.

Sang Yu looked at the token in her hand with a sorrowful expression.

Song Jiajia eagerly snatched it away and carelessly tossed her own token to Sang Yu.

“Here, don’t say I’m bullying you. This man is the captain of the public security team. How many people envy you?”

Envy? You should envy yourself, not me.

Sang Yu picked up the token from the ground and decided to take things one step at a time.

After all, she wouldn’t obediently comply like the original owner.

Chen Jinlan had witnessed the entire scene and felt overwhelmed.

She didn’t understand what was wrong with Song Jiajia’s mind.

—

That evening, Song Zhenhua came home from the factory and, upon hearing about the situation, immediately became furious.

“Nonsense!”

Song Jiajia sat at the dinner table, too afraid to speak.

She feared Song Zhenhua above all else.

Chen Jinlan was also somewhat afraid.

Only Sang Yu was calmly chewing her food, lost in thought.

She was pondering how to get Song Zhenhua to return the compensation money from years ago.

Three thousand yuan was no small sum in the 1980s.

Moving out seemed unlikely. Was she really going to marry?

A blind marriage wasn’t ideal.

Who knew what kind of scoundrel the other party was?

Such a headache.

“I don’t agree to this. You two will exchange the tokens back right now!” Song Zhenhua scolded angrily.

Sang Yu glanced at Song Jiajia, guessing she wouldn’t be willing.

Song Jiajia caught the look and thought Sang Yu was mocking her.

She immediately stood up and said to Song Zhenhua, “Dad, I won’t give it back. I want to marry Lu Hao. No matter what you say, it’s useless.”

With that, she left without finishing her meal.

Chen Jinlan hurried after her but couldn’t catch up; Song Jiajia was too fast.

Chen Jinlan returned, shooting a glare at Sang Yu, who feigned ignorance.

“Her father, can’t you speak more reasonably?”

“What do you mean ‘reasonably’? Such a big matter and you didn’t even consult me. You and your daughter really have some nerve.”

Song Zhenhua was a man with severe patriarchal views.

This time, Chen Jinlan and Song Jiajia had truly stepped on his trigger.

“Uncle, aunt, I’ve finished eating. I’m going back now.”

Song Zhenhua wanted to say more to Sang Yu, but seeing her timid and meek demeanor, his anger dissipated. He waved at her.

Sang Yu turned and went back to her room.

She needed to plan carefully how to leave this home and reclaim the three thousand yuan compensation.

After seeing Sang Yu retreat, Chen Jinlan finally spoke. “I already tried to persuade Jiajia, but she doesn’t understand why she insists on marrying Lu Hao.”

“I think she’s just bored,” Song Zhenhua glanced toward Sang Yu’s room.

Lowering his voice, he said, “Lu Hao’s family has only two elderly folks and a younger sister. Going there would be a misery.”

“That’s exactly what I told Jiajia, but she just wouldn’t listen.”

Song Zhenhua snorted coldly. “Anyway, I won’t agree to this. And if the neighbors find out Jiajia’s marrying that kind of man, how can I show my face? Everyone knows she’s supposed to be engaged to Jiang Jingming. I think she’s lost her mind!”

“All right, don’t be angry. I’ll try to persuade her again,” Chen Jinlan quickly said.

Song Zhenhua’s expression softened a bit.

That night, Song Jiajia didn’t come home. Chen Jinlan assumed she was staying at a friend’s house again and didn’t worry.

This was typical of Song Jiajia.

In fact, after leaving home, Song Jiajia went straight to find Lu Hao.

Standing at Lu Hao’s doorstep, she was excited.

The thought that in two years he would become a wealthy man and a big boss made her heart race.

“Comrade, hello. May I ask who you’re looking for?”

Lu Hao had just returned home and found a young woman standing at his door.

Song Jiajia turned and saw Lu Hao, her face flushing red. “I—I’m here to see Comrade Lu Hao.”

“Looking for me?” Lu Hao curiously sized her up.

She was quite pretty, better looking than the girls at their factory.

And she seemed to be fairly well-off.

Lu Hao smiled gently. “Comrade, I’m Lu Hao. What can I do for you?”

Of course, she knew he was Lu Hao and was surprised by his gentleness.

“I—I’m Song Jiajia.”

“Comrade Song, nice to meet you.”

Song Jiajia blushed. “Comrade Lu.”

Seeing her shy, blushing face, Lu Hao smiled smugly.

“Comrade Song, have we met before?”

Song Jiajia nodded, then shook her head. They hadn’t met this lifetime, but perhaps in a past life.

Seeing this, Lu Hao suddenly chuckled. “Haha, Comrade Song, you’re quite interesting.”

Hearing Lu Hao’s laugh, Song Jiajia became even more bashful.

She had only exchanged a few words with Jiang Jingming in the previous life. Jiang Jingming was always busy at the police station, leaving no chance to chat.

Now, talking with Lu Hao, Song Jiajia felt excited.

“Comrade Song, you haven’t said why you came to see me.”

Song Jiajia lifted her eyes shyly, glanced at Lu Hao, then quickly looked away. “I—I—I’m your soon-to-be bride, so I wanted to come meet you.”

Lu Hao was taken aback. He knew he had a fiancée but hadn’t seen her in many years.

Yet, he recalled her surname wasn’t Song but Sang.