Men who marry into their wives’ families have no status.

Xia Hongxia was very clear about her money, unwilling to support even her parents if they didn’t help out.

She was already doing right by her two brothers by paying for their education. Though she was reluctant to leave her house to her brothers, whether to give them the property was entirely her decision – how could she let others decide for her?

As a woman used to being in charge, Xia Hongxia naturally exploded when she met men who wanted to control her without making any contribution!

After dealing with several men who wanted to live off her, Xia Hongxia had to change her approach.

She no longer required education or career credentials, just looking for a local person with household registration.

After some searching, a man surnamed Zhao caught Xia Hongxia’s attention.

He wasn’t introduced by others – they already knew each other… Comrade Zhao Guanghai was a regular customer at Hongxia Restaurant. He also had a stall at the small commodities market, though Zhao Guanghai wasn’t eloquent enough and hadn’t gotten rich like others after one or two years in business, barely making ends meet.

Though Zhao Guanghai wasn’t very clever, he had a good reputation in the market. Other vendors bullied him while also wanting to be his friend.

Everyone said Zhao Guanghai was kind-hearted – though not wealthy himself, he was willing to help those worse off than him.

As Xia Hongxia looked for a partner herself, she gradually focused her attention on Zhao Guanghai. He was a local from Shenzhen, orphaned early, and raised by many families. After barely finishing elementary school, he worked on fishing boats, then did odd jobs before setting up his stall at the market… Though not fortunate, he remained optimistic, always cheerful.

His skin was tanned dark, he had no family support, and he often foolishly helped others. Some people tried to arrange marriages for Zhao Guanghai, but he refused, always saying women wouldn’t have a good life with him, and that it would be unfair to them.

Xia Hongxia calculated in her mind.

She could make up for all of Zhao Guanghai’s shortcomings.

If Zhao Guanghai couldn’t earn money, she could!

If Zhao Guanghai wanted to help others recklessly, he’d need her approval first.

This kind of person was perfect – he definitely wouldn’t be picky about her, wouldn’t look down on her problematic parents, and wouldn’t mind that she was still supporting her two brothers through school.

Once Xia Hongxia targeted her goal, she took action. When Zhao Guanghai came to buy boxed meals at Hongxia Restaurant, her ladle showed clear favoritism. For the same dish, her ladle would shake when serving others but stay steady for Zhao Guanghai, always giving him extra portions. As time passed, while Zhao Guanghai didn’t dare think in that direction, others noticed and started teasing.

Zhao Guanghai couldn’t believe it – who was Xia Hongxia? She was the flower of People’s Bridge Small Commodities Market!

Calling her a flower wasn’t sarcasm. For working-class people, beauty was superficial – the most important qualities in a wife were capability and fertility. A capable woman could truly support half the sky, greatly lightening a man’s burden… Xia Hongxia completely met the standards for fertility, and regarding capability, there wasn’t a single flaw – she didn’t just support half the sky, she could support the entire sky!

When Xia Hongxia was looking for a partner, which unmarried man in the small commodities market wasn’t interested?

But she wanted someone refined and educated, looking down on self-employed vendors at the market.

Even when she lowered her standards to look within the market, several small business owners who appreciated her capable and fierce personality very much wanted to marry her and join forces – not only would their assets increase, but with such a capable and fierce wife helping out, everyone was confident they could expand their business!

Zhao Guanghai thought everyone was talking nonsense, but Xia Hongxia did give him special treatment.

For several days, Zhao Guanghai didn’t dare eat at ‘Hongxia Restaurant’ – Xia Hongxia’s gaze could kill.

After avoiding it for days, when Zhao Guanghai reappeared, he said nothing but started working at the restaurant.

All the dirty and heavy work like moving coal briquettes and carrying swill, originally done by Xia Hongbing, Zhao Guanghai rushed to do instead.

Xia Hongbing was happy about this but didn’t realize that these tasks were his only way of proving his worth. If he couldn’t work, Xia Hongxia would want to completely abandon such a father – whoever wanted him could take him, she certainly didn’t want him anymore.

Zhao Guanghai just worked silently. After ignoring him for a few days, Xia Hongxia asked him what he meant. Zhao Guanghai stammered:

“…You’re good to me.”

Xia Hongxia rolled her eyes, “Why am I good to you?”

Zhao Guanghai wished he could dig a hole and hide – even if Xia Hongxia killed him on the spot, he wouldn’t say anything mushy.

After much pressing, Zhao Guanghai would only say that Xia Hongxia was good to him, and he would be good to her too.

Xia Hongxia had everything, while he had nothing – why would she look after him?

Zhao Guanghai had figured this out before coming to help.

So they started dating this way. Several small business owners at the market beat their chests in regret – how could she choose that fool Zhao Guanghai?

Some saw clearly that Xia Hongxia was too capable and fierce, didn’t want to marry out with her assets, but wanted to find a man willing to marry into her family.

For a man to marry, the children would have to take the Xia surname…

Some teased Zhao Guanghai about this, but he said nothing and just worked harder.

This person really wasn’t cut out for business – thin-skinned, tongue-tied when promoting goods, blushing if he quoted prices slightly high.

But he was hardworking. Originally the shop needed Xia Hongxia’s two brothers to help after school, but Zhao Guanghai alone could do the work of two people. Wang Jingui initially looked down on this big fool, wanting Xia Hongxia to find a city person with a decent job.

But gradually, Wang Jingui discovered the shop couldn’t function well without Zhao Guanghai.

After dating for several months, Xia Hongxia asked Zhao Guanghai to stay with her at night instead of going home, frightening him so much he trembled.

That wouldn’t do – living together before marriage was improper!

To avoid impropriety, Zhao Guanghai gathered his courage to bring up marriage with Xia Hongxia. After handing over all his savings of 684.50 yuan to her, they registered their marriage.

During their honeymoon, Xia Hongxia became pregnant, delighting Zhao Guanghai.

After being alone for many years, not only did he have a wife, but he was about to have a child!

Such a person might not earn big money and be a bit too kind, but he was truly good to his wife and her family, never mentioning anything about not letting Xia Hongxia support her brothers.

If Zhao Guanghai had married other women, there might have been family conflicts, but marrying the fierce Xia Hongxia – like subduing one thing with another – actually resulted in harmony.

Cooking was exhausting, and Xia Hongxia felt nauseous from the cooking fumes, so he wouldn’t let her near the stove, taking on all the restaurant work himself. Xia Hongxia had been observing this man – from dating to marriage to pregnancy, Zhao Guanghai had many chances to touch the shop’s money box, but he never took anything.

Twice when money went missing, Xia Hongxia caught her father taking it.

She had watched this man for a year – he could be trusted.

Xia Hongxia sat in her chair watching Zhao Guanghai dripping with sweat as he cooked, constantly glancing at her, worried she might feel unwell again.

So people like Xia Ziyu and Du Chengrong were from a completely different world from hers.

Her own life was so comfortable!

Xia Hongxia couldn’t help but smile smugly, thinking that after giving birth, she would tell Zhao Guanghai the child would take his surname – Zhao Guanghai should be very happy!

Marrying into her family?

She did want to find a man to marry into her family, but she wasn’t so foolish as to fight over the child’s surname.

What was the point of fighting over it? It would affect their marriage, and she had two brothers – what did it matter to her whether the Xia family line continued?