Time passed quickly in the dream.

Wang Jianhua seemed like an observer, watching another “Wang Jianhua” and “Xia Xiaolan’s” life in fast-forward.

The scene changed to show them settled in Beijing.

Xia Xiaolan rented a place near Capital Normal University.

Wang Jianhua was busy with courses and had to squeeze in time for tutoring to earn extra money. Combined with the monthly living allowance from school, it barely supported both their lives.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t gotten into university and had no plans to try. She said she wasn’t cut out for studying.

She wasn’t a traditionally virtuous woman either. Back in Dahe Village, she loved dressing up, always tailoring her clothes to accentuate her slim waist and full figure, which naturally drew much gossip.

In Beijing, Xia Xiaolan became even bolder. Staying quietly at home wasn’t her style. While Wang Jianhua attended classes and tutored, she was always out and about.

Beautiful people indeed had advantages. As an outsider, she quickly found work in Beijing. She became a sales clerk at the department store. Though not a permanent position, it was enough to make Wang Jianhua worried… Who without means would shop at the department store?

With Xia Xiaolan’s attractive looks, wouldn’t she meet many well-off men at such a place?

Would they try to steal her away?

The dream Wang Jianhua was very anxious.

His anxiety drove him to work harder, actively seeking ways to get his father back to the city. A university student alone wasn’t special in Beijing unless his father was rehabilitated – perhaps then, with a family background, that little enchantress Xia Xiaolan would settle down?

Where there’s a will there’s a way. Under such pressure, Wang Jianhua grew rapidly.

Though Xia Xiaolan earned her salary, she never suggested Wang Jianhua stop tutoring to rest. In her words, what use was a man who couldn’t support a family? Even if earnings were low now, he had to work – she wouldn’t support a man!

So she saved her wages while completely depleting Wang Jianhua’s frugally saved money.

She would never be financially dependent.

Average-looking women might work on their image and try to attract men with good qualities, but those blessed with exceptional beauty could be more demanding. Xia Xiaolan said plainly that if Wang Jianhua didn’t treat her well, she’d find someone else.

After a year, Xia Xiaolan had saved some money. Through some connections, she rented several used sewing machines, set them up in their home, and hired people to make clothes using discounted defective fabric from the department store.

The defects were minor – some loose threads or moth holes. After removing the damaged parts, the remaining fabric was still usable.

After renting the machines and buying materials, she couldn’t even afford the first month’s wages for the workers. Wang Jianhua anxiously borrowed money to help her make ends meet.

Xia Xiaolan remained calm, continuing her department store job and using her position to attract customers for her clothes.

Initially doing both contract work and retail, she later switched to wholesale only.

The operation stayed small, keeping just those few workers.

But the rented old sewing machines were gradually replaced with new ones, owned rather than rented.

The small rented room became a small courtyard.

By the end of his sophomore year, after upgrading her small workshop, Xia Xiaolan had even saved several thousand yuan!

Wang Jianhua didn’t know exactly how much she’d saved, but she gave him several thousand yuan as operating funds to try getting his parents back to the city.

Wang Jianhua had indeed found a way, just needing money to make it happen.

In the dream, he carefully considered before accepting Xia Xiaolan’s money, writing her an IOU. During his sophomore summer break, Wang Jianhua took Xia Xiaolan to visit his parents at the farm in Jilin Province.

Ran Shuyu disliked Xia Xiaolan’s alluring nature, telling Wang Jianhua this girl wasn’t the steady type.

Unfortunately, Xia Xiaolan overheard and immediately packed to leave. Wang Jianhua chased her for miles, apologizing repeatedly until his voice was hoarse, finally convincing her to return to the farm.

But with one condition – Ran Shuyu must apologize!

“I’ve never seen someone accusing their son of being cuckolded. If I’m not steady, doesn’t that make you a turtle’s egg?”

Wang Jianhua had nothing to say.

He also felt his mother was causing unnecessary trouble. If Xia Xiaolan were unfaithful, she’d made good money in Beijing and could easily dump him for someone else. Why would she give him her savings to help with connections?

This woman might talk tough, but her feelings for him were genuine.

Wang Jianhua took Xia Xiaolan’s side. Ran Shuyu and Wang Guangping, having used their future daughter-in-law’s money, couldn’t stand firm. Though they reconciled then, it planted seeds of future trouble.

Three months later, Wang Guangping successfully returned to the city.

In the dream, Wang Guangping wasn’t assigned to the Higher Education Division but to a more powerful department.

Wang Jianhua truly became a high-ranking cadre’s son.

Ran Shuyu, having swallowed her pride earlier, now became assertive, finding fault with Xia Xiaolan’s humble origins and trying to arrange more suitable matches for Wang Jianhua.

Wang Jianhua refused to cooperate.

When Ran Shuyu criticized Xia Xiaolan, she would take it out on Wang Jianhua, leaving him caught between them.

Since Ran Shuyu looked down on her, she stopped visiting the Wang household. Wang Jianhua spent his free time with her, rarely going home, leading Ran Shuyu to cry about her son being bewitched… Xia Xiaolan was furious and suggested breaking up several times, but Wang Jianhua stubbornly persisted.

Soon, Wang Jianhua graduated college, receiving honors as an “Outstanding Graduate” and “National College Student Model,” landing an excellent job.

His career path looked smooth.

How could a village girl like Xia Xiaolan be worthy?

During these years, Xia Xiaolan’s workshop hadn’t expanded much, maintaining its modest size.

Though earning well, she hadn’t become a female entrepreneur.

But she spent money freely on herself. Already naturally beautiful, when dressed up she was even more stunning.

Wang Jianhua remained insecure, knowing others would pursue Xia Xiaolan if he let go. He wanted to hide her away, but such beauty couldn’t be concealed. His peers from prominent families openly envied his luck while secretly waiting to steal her away.

Right after graduating, before reporting to his assigned workplace, Wang Jianhua wanted to get their marriage certificate.

The obstacle wasn’t his family, but Xia Xiaolan herself.

“In our village, the man’s family takes initiative, preparing the bride price and four major gifts before discussing marriage. I’ve followed you to unfamiliar Beijing for four years as an unmarried woman. Now you think I’ve lost value and can be married without any expense?”