Following Du Zhaohui’s instructions, the Japanese doctor was meant to transform Xia Ziyu’s appearance.

From the requirements, it was clear they wanted to remake her in Xia Xiaolan’s image.

Xia Ziyu knew she looked nothing like Xia Xiaolan – Xia Xiaolan had the Liu family features. She wasn’t sure if current plastic surgery techniques could achieve such results, but wouldn’t look like Xia Xiaolan mean living in her shadow forever?

Xia Ziyu pleaded with the translator, repeatedly communicating with the Japanese doctor, and finally convinced him.

Looking at the photos Du Zhaohui provided, the Japanese doctor shook his head: “Making them identical is impossible. No matter how good the surgical techniques are, they can’t match natural features. You’re right – every person’s bone structure and physique are different.”

Xia Xiaolan’s face matched her figure perfectly.

Xia Ziyu’s bone structure was entirely different – trying to make her look like Xia Xiaolan would be extremely awkward.

The Japanese doctor ultimately performed jaw reduction surgery on Xia Ziyu, reduced her nostril width, and heightened her nose bridge, but dared not give her double eyelid surgery due to her tendency to form scars – the surgical marks couldn’t be hidden and would become very obvious later. However, the Japanese doctor Du Zhaohui was truly skilled, in finding ways to remove her existing facial scars.

“A woman’s beauty comes half from natural features, half from maintenance and presentation.”

Xia Ziyu deeply remembered the Japanese doctor’s advice.

That’s why she was now learning about fashion, learning to dance, and trying to stay out of the sun – all hoping for improvement through effort.

The pain after the anesthesia wore off from the surgery, Xia Ziyu could never forget.

Because of the jaw surgery, she could only eat porridge for half a month.

She remembered all these hardships!

Xi Gui’s lover, the prostitute who had beaten her before, leaned against the doorway watching her. Seemingly having forgotten their past conflict, she lazily teased:

“To make men love you and never forget you, being pretty isn’t enough. How’s your bedroom skill?”

The prostitute giggled. Xia Ziyu, face still swollen, asked, “Will you teach me?”

The prostitute spat, “Why should I teach you-“

“I’ll pay you, please teach me!”

Xia Ziyu maintained a straight face. The prostitute looked her up and down, “Your pockets are emptier than your face. Where would you get money to pay me?”

Xia Ziyu smirked, “Xi Gui is just assigned to watch me. Someone’s paying for my surgery, teaching me dance and English. Don’t you think the person paying has high expectations for me? After spending so much money on me, even if I don’t have money now, won’t I have money in the future?”

The prostitute was convinced by Xia Ziyu.

“I believe you now. You’ve got thick skin – born for our profession. You may not have money now, but once you officially start, you won’t lack for it.”

Shame was something impossible to measure.

Some women were forced into the profession, but ones as willing and proactive as Xia Ziyu were rare, even to Xi Gui’s lover.

Unlike their roadside prostitution, whoever was grooming Xia Ziyu intended to train her as a high-class socialite… Xi Gui’s lover laughed heartily – “high-class socialite” was just a polite term for an expensive prostitute.

Delighted at the chance to drag someone else into depravity, the prostitute exclaimed:

“Alright, I’ll teach you!”

Xia Ziyu’s hand beneath the table clenched into a fist.

She had changed her fate once before.

If she hadn’t studied hard and gotten into university, she would have married and stayed in the countryside.

Heaven was unfair, making her fall from heights while letting Xia Xiaolan succeed everywhere. But Xia Ziyu refused to admit defeat – having had one chance, she would seize a second!

Wang Guangping had been transferred to the Party History Office, the Wang family was declining, and Wang Jianhua might not succeed.

In Hong Kong, she had different opportunities.

Du Zhaohui throwing her into Kowloon Walled City seemed like abandonment, yet he invested so much in her – proving she still had value!

Thinking of her transformed face and the plan she’d suggested to Du Zhaohui, her heart pounded.

She didn’t need to wait for Wang Jianhua and his future success.

She could find an already successful man and directly pick the ripened fruit.

She had to firmly grasp the opportunity Du Zhaohui created… Once she turned the tables and stood above everyone, she would even take revenge on Du Zhaohui!

In the mirror, her still-swollen lips curved into a slight smile.

One’s circumstances were truly unpredictable – perhaps bad things could turn good. She needed confidence and patience. She had lost to Xia Xiaolan before because of rushing things.

…

Xia Xiaolan flew back to Beijing.

At Shangdu Railway Station, Xia Dajun and Xiaoyu had just gotten off the train.

The train from Yangcheng to Shangdu took over thirty hours.

The sleeper car journey wasn’t too uncomfortable, but the long trip left the newly pregnant Xiaoyu visibly exhausted.

“Brother Dajun, can we rest one night in Shangdu before heading to Anqing?”

Xiaoyu felt haggard and unattractive.

Xia Dajun thought she was unwell and was terrified, insisting on taking her to the hospital. After the fuss, they found a guesthouse in Shangdu and took a taxi to Anqing the next day.

From the provincial capital to Anqing County, Xia Dajun took taxis the whole way – the drivers rarely encountered such wealthy passengers.

They didn’t drive to the countryside because the road to River Village was too bumpy. Though Xia Dajun could afford it, Xiaoyu’s condition couldn’t handle it. He wanted to settle Xiaoyu at an Anqing County guesthouse while he returned alone for the introduction letter, but Xiaoyu refused:

“Brother Dajun, I’m going to marry you, but I’ve never been to your hometown. I must see it.”

She wasn’t some mistress Xia Dajun kept hidden away – why shouldn’t she go together?

In those days without the internet, ID cards were just being piloted. Without introduction letters, who could verify if someone was single or committing bigamy?

When Xia Dajun brought Xiaoyu back to the village, they were caught by River Village’s Village Chief:

“Dajun’s back! Perfect timing – your family hasn’t paid this year’s village fees and grain tax. What are you going to do about it?”

Though the land was distributed to farmers, the state didn’t care if you cultivated your allocated land or not – as long as your household registration was rural, you had to pay village fees, agricultural tax, and grain tax. This was why rural people desperately wanted urban household registration – city dwellers didn’t have these burdens.

Even Xia Dajun’s household registration was still in River Village. With land in his name, he had to pay these fees.

Now that Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui were in prison, except for the fugitive Xia Ziyu, all other Xia family members lived in Pengcheng. The Village Chief wouldn’t let go of Xia Dajun now that he had caught him. He had to pay not just his share, but cover the Xia family’s payments too!

Even with Xia Dajun’s high income, this wasn’t a small sum.

Xiaoyu kept quiet and stayed behind him. Xia Dajun frowned as he paid, having to ask the Village Chief to convert the whole family’s grain tax into a cash payment.

After paying, Xia Dajun felt deeply moved. Xiaoyu was right – they should find a way to get Pengcheng household registration. With urban registration, they wouldn’t have to pay these fees!

“Village Chief, I came back to get a marriage certificate.”

River Village’s Chief counted the money while looking at the young woman behind Xia Dajun, “Good, good, good. This is your new wife then?”

Scanning Xiaoyu’s young, smooth face, the Village Chief couldn’t help but curse internally: Damn, wasn’t Xia Dajun supposed to be mentally disabled?