The younger sister mistakenly identified her brother when visiting relatives and was kissed by the c

Now that her lies have been exposed by the Zhou family, will she still have a good life after marrying into the family?

But this heart-wrenching cry could not change Qiao Shouguo's decision at all.

Qiao Shouguo didn't even glance at her, his fists clenched tightly, his back already covered in cold sweat.

If the engagement between the two families is nullified today because of Qiao Mingzhu's rotten excuse of "disliking a disabled veteran and spreading rumors that her fiancé is abusive," how will Qiao Shouguo ever be able to hold his head high in the compound again?!

The Qiao family's reputation must not be ruined in his hands!

He's a businessman, and in business, integrity is paramount.

If word gets out that he's a shrew who kicks someone when they're down and a man who changes his tune with the wind, who will dare to do business with Qiao Shouguo in the future?!

Moreover, in this era, soldiers are the most respected by the people! Would he dare to gamble? He wouldn't!

Furthermore, Zhou Zejun's connections and relationships within the military region were a huge asset for the Qiao family's business to reach new heights.

This marriage is a must, even if it means breaking bones to keep the connection!

"Old Joe is right..."

Although Qin Fangfang felt sorry for her adopted daughter, she always put her husband first and dared not go against Qiao Shouguo's decision.

She struggled painfully for a few seconds between her adopted daughter's pleas and her husband's anger, finally gritting her teeth, turning her head away, and choosing not to look into Qiao Mingzhu's pleading eyes.

"Yes, Hongmei, Mingzhu is just a child at heart. We've spoiled her. She changes her mind all the time. She and Liguang have been together for so many years, how could she not want to marry him? It's just a young girl's pre-wedding anxiety!"

"mom……"

Qiao Mingzhu's voice was so soft it seemed like a gust of wind could blow it away. She looked at her mother, who always doted on her, with trembling hands.

Why? Mom knew perfectly well that she didn't want to!

My mother was clearly saying at home that she would help her find a way to annul the engagement!

But now, even though her mother knows that Zhou Liguang is disabled, she still conspires with her father to forcibly tie her to this broken ship!

Is her remaining life, her beautiful twenties, destined to be forever wasted on this cripple who can't even walk?!

Zhou Zejun, who had been observing from the sidelines with a cold eye, was a cunning old fox who had been through thick and thin for decades. How could he not see what the couple was planning?

But he didn't mind.

As long as he can keep his son's marriage afloat, and as long as the Qiao family doesn't back down and make his son a laughingstock in the compound, he can pretend he didn't see these petty schemes.

"Since you've all said so, Old Qiao, then let's consider this matter closed." Zhou Zejun accepted the offer.

Qiao Shouguo felt like he'd been granted a pardon. He quickly forced a smile and sat down next to his friend on the sofa, rubbing his hands together. "Yes, yes, yes! There's no time like the present! Since we're both here today, let's discuss the children's marriage. They're both getting on in years; it's time to set a good date sooner rather than later, lest something goes wrong!"

Qin Fangfang sat down as well. Although she forced a dry smile, her hands were tightly clasped together and she looked restless. Anyone could tell that she was not paying attention at the moment.

After all that chaos, it's clearly impossible for Zhou's parents to give this family a pleasant look again.

Liu Hongmei sat beside her husband with her arms crossed, her face stern, not even deigning to give the Qiao family a second glance.

She herself was the head of the women's affairs department in the neighborhood, and her husband was a retired regimental commander. They were well-off and held a prominent position. In all her life, no one had ever dared to treat their family so badly in front of her!

Her son was such an outstanding soldier, bleeding and wounded for his country. How dare Qiao Mingzhu, a fake daughter who was switched at birth and an adopted daughter who took someone else's identity, look down on her son?!

How could she possibly swallow this insult!

Despite her anger, she did not object to continuing the marriage.

The Zhou and Qiao families have very close ties, and if they were to break off the engagement, it would not be good for the Zhou family.

If Li Guang were still alive and well, would Qiao Mingzhu dare to show the Zhou family any respect to their face?!

Thinking of this, Liu Hongmei felt increasingly bitter and distressed.

After all, it was a joyous occasion like discussing marriage, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to keep a long face. Zhou Zejun patted his wife's hand and instructed her, "Hongmei, go and get the almanac. Let's see what auspicious days are coming up and get things done as soon as possible."

Liu Hongmei then silently got up and took out a yellowed old calendar from the drawer.

Zhou Zejun put on his reading glasses, flipped through the calendar of the past few months, tapped the pages with his long, slender fingers, and finally closed it: "Let's do it on the sixteenth of next month. I checked, it's an auspicious day for marriage, what do you think?"

"The sixteenth of next month? So soon?!"

Qin Fangfang felt sorry for her daughter, who had been pampered by her since childhood. When she heard that she would be married off in less than a month, she immediately became anxious and exclaimed in surprise.

"What, you have a problem with that?"

Zhou Zejun paused in his eye-rolling motion, his tone remaining calm, but when his sharp, eagle-like eyes swept over, they carried an undeniable air of authority.

Qiao Shouguo keenly sensed his old friend's dissatisfaction, and a layer of white sweat broke out on his back.

He immediately grabbed Qin Fangfang's arm and forcefully pulled her back to sit down.

"No, no! What objections could we possibly have!" Qiao Shouguo grinned, his face crinkling into crescents. "Since you, Lao Zhou, think it's an auspicious day, then let's set it for that day! The sooner it's done, the sooner both our families can feel at ease!"

The parents of both families sat on the sofa, discussing the details of the betrothal gifts, dowry, and wedding procession.

Throughout the entire process, not a single person turned around to ask Qiao Mingzhu, the person in charge, for her opinion.

Qiao Mingzhu was like an object with a price tag, firmly rooted to the spot, watching helplessly as her future was casually decided by these four adults.

She was completely deprived of even the chance to say "no"!

The more Qiao Mingzhu listened to the trivial details about how many tables to set up for the wedding banquet and what three essential items to buy, the paler Qiao Mingzhu's face became, until finally she was completely devoid of color.

No! She can't marry him! She absolutely cannot marry a cripple!

So many promising young men in the compound were lining up to fawn over her! She should have married a man with a bright future who would spoil her rotten!

How did things turn out this way?! Why is she the one ultimately bound to this marriage?!

This shouldn't be happening!

Qiao Mingzhu's bloodshot eyes darted around frantically, her peripheral vision fixed on Qiao Xinxin, who had been standing obediently to the side with her head down as if reflecting on her actions.

Qiao Xinxin! Yes, it's her!

According to the original plan, the person who was pushed out today to take the blame and marry the disabled Zhou Liguang should have been Qiao Xinxin, the country bumpkin she had just brought back from the countryside!

It's all that bitch's fault! If she had just meekly agreed to the marriage in her place, I wouldn't be in this embarrassing situation today!

The fear and hatred in Qiao Mingzhu's heart intertwined, like a venomous snake, almost completely devouring her reason.

He was disabled!

A useless person who might need help even to defecate and urinate!

As proud as she was, she would have to push a wheelchair when she went out, enduring the ridicule and disdain of the women in the compound!

So what if you're injured on duty?

What does it matter if one sheds blood for one's country?

What does this have to do with Qiao Mingzhu?!

It wasn't her who caused Zhou Liguang to break his leg!