After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

Lin Qianqian and her brother were starving and had no strength left, so they simply cooked some porridge and decided to make do with that.

"Sister," Lin Yulong suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice, "I saw Auntie on the mountain today."

Lin Qianqian paused for a moment.

"What's she doing here?"

"She didn't dig up the poisoned potatoes; she just walked around and left."

"I followed her," Lin Yulong swallowed hard. "I overheard her talking to Zhang, the matchmaker from the next village, saying things like, 'Qianqian is worth a lot of money now,' 'Whoever marries her will be rich,' and 'I'll arrange a marriage for her, and I guarantee her in-laws will pay a hefty dowry.'"

Lin Yulong imitated Wang Hehua's voice perfectly, capturing her scheming nature perfectly.

Lin Qianqian chewed her porridge slowly without saying a word.

"Sister, is your aunt planning to sell you?" Lin Yulong asked her worriedly.

"Eat your food." Lin Qianqian pushed her bowl of porridge towards him. "Who does she think she is?"

But she knew in her heart that Wang Hehua would not give up so easily.

This aunt was the backbone of the Lin family's eldest branch. The eldest uncle, Lin Laoda, was a complete mute, practically unresponsive; Wang Hehua made all the decisions, big and small, within the family.

Xuan-ge is spoiled rotten. Lin Rou-rou is a year older than Qian-qian. She is fair-skinned and clean-cut, but incredibly lazy. She doesn't even wash the dishes.

Wang Hehua was determined to marry Lin Rourou off to the town, constantly saying, "My Rourou is going to be a young mistress."

What makes her think she can control Qianqian?

Lin Qianqian put down the bowl, a slight smile curving her lips.

She's not like that old man who just rubs his hands together.

The next day, early in the morning, Lin Qianqian had just stepped out when she saw Wang Hehua standing at the intersection, smiling like a flower.

"Qianqian, up so early? Have you had breakfast yet? Your aunt brought you some eggs."

Wang Hehua handed over two boiled eggs, still warm.

Lin Qianqian glanced at it but didn't take it.

Would her aunt really give her eggs? In the Lin family, only the younger uncle and aunt get to eat eggs. Old Mrs. Lin covets eggs like they're something special. Wang Hehua wouldn't dare steal Old Mrs. Lin's eggs, so they must be bought. She doesn't believe that Old Mrs. Lin would have the heart to spend money to buy her eggs.

"Aunt, please speak freely."

Wang Hehua sheepishly took the eggs back, then leaned closer and whispered, "Qianqian, your aunt has arranged a good marriage for you. It's the only son of the butcher Wang in town. His family owns three shops with a large courtyard in the back. They said if you agree, the bride price will be twenty taels of silver—that's twenty taels of silver! The largest amount in our village!"

Twenty taels.

In those days, for an ordinary family to get married, three to five taels of silver was considered quite good. Twenty taels was enough to buy a small house in town.

Lin Qianqian looked at her without saying a word.

Wang Hehua, thinking she was interested, became even more enthusiastic: "I've met that butcher Wang's son. He's handsome, strong, and looks like a capable worker. If you go with him, you'll live a life of luxury, which is much better than digging in the mud on this mountain, isn't it?"

"Didn't Wang the butcher's son beat his wife to death the year before last?" Lin Qianqian suddenly asked.

Wang Hehua's face froze.

"I heard he killed the guy in front of me, and then paid his family ten taels of silver to settle the matter." Lin Qianqian's voice was calm. "Aunt, do you think my life, Lin Qianqian's life, is only worth twenty taels?"

Wang Hehua's smile faded.

"Qianqian, how can you talk like that? Those are all rumors. It's just that his wife is being indiscreet—"

"Aunt," Lin Qianqian interrupted her, "Since it's so good, why not give it to Rou Rou? I'm young, no rush." ​​After saying that, Lin Qianqian left.

Wang Hehua stood still, her expression changing from a smirk to a gloomy one.

"You brat, you don't know what's good for you." She spat and muttered under her breath, "Who do you think you are? A motherless brat, trying to be picky? Let me tell you, your marriage is decided by the Lin family! You won't have a choice!"

Lin Qianqian did not turn around.

But the corners of her mouth curved into a very faint smile.