When pie falls from the sky unexpectedly, it’s usually poisoned.
The Fan family, who ruled Hedong County, was looking for a daughter-in-law based solely on looks, not caring about family background. Auntie Li’s son Fan Zhenchuan’s only shortcoming was his age. Fan Zhenchuan’s son was the same age as Liang Huan, and not only was this his second marriage, but he was 39 years old. At 39, Fan Zhenchuan wielded considerable power in Hedong County. Why hadn’t Liang Bing’an offered his daughter? Fan Zhenchuan thought marrying his son’s classmate would look bad, and Liang Bing’an found it awkward too.
He was about the same age as Fan Zhenchuan – how could he become Fan Zhenchuan’s father-in-law?
Fan Zhenchuan was 39, and Liang Huan was 17 this year – a full 22-year age gap!
Even paired with Xia Xiaolan, there was still a 20-year difference… Liu Fang and Liang Bing’an thought marrying Xia Xiaolan into the Fan family was a good match. After all, besides her beauty, Xia Xiaolan had no family advantages, low education, and no respectable job. Despite the age mismatch, the benefits of marrying into the Fan family could offset the age gap. Any way you looked at it, Xia Xiaolan was getting the better deal.
Liang Huan had met Fan Zhenchuan twice. Though his gaze hadn’t lingered on her long, she was terrified of him.
She didn’t care how Fan Han would address her – at least she wouldn’t have to marry Fan Han’s father. Liang Huan breathed a sigh of relief. Let Grandmother Li like her cousin if she wanted; it was better than her smiling and holding Liang Huan’s hand, saying she liked her! However powerful the Fan family was in Hedong County, Liang Huan thought none of them were normal.
“Did cousin agree?”
During New Year’s, Xia Xiaolan had seemed quite proud – how could she be willing to marry a man 20 years her senior? The stepson was just a year younger than Xia Xiaolan!
Liu Fang tossed meatballs into the pot, “What’s there to disagree with? Could she find a better match in this lifetime? You think everyone’s as lucky as you in choosing their parents?”
Who told Xia Xiaolan to choose the wrong parents?
Born to the Liu family sisters – being the Second Sister’s daughter meant being a country girl while being Liu Fang’s daughter meant being the Liang family’s little princess. She and Old Liang would never marry Liang Huan to an old man.
Liang Huan despised Xia Xiaolan’s vanity while feeling relieved she didn’t have to fill that role herself.
Just because she’d visited the Fan house a few times with Fan Han? Who knew Grandmother Li would like her so much, then call her mother over, hinting at marriage? Her parents initially thought it was about Fan Han, not knowing Grandmother Li wanted someone to take care of Fan Zhenchuan… Liang Huan had cried hysterically – people in Hedong County privately said Fan Zhenchuan was violent, that his previous wife had drunk pesticide because she couldn’t stand his beatings.
Her father said it wasn’t like that, but Liang Huan didn’t dare believe him. She declared she’d jump off a building if they agreed to marry her to Fan Zhenchuan!
Later, Liu Fang suggested marrying her niece, whom they hadn’t seen in years, to the Fan family. This way, Liang Huan wouldn’t have to marry Fan Zhenchuan, but the Liang family could still ally with the Fans – Liang Huan had been jealous of cousin Xia Xiaolan’s beauty from their first meeting.
Now it worked out – beautiful but marrying an old man.
No matter how well-dressed and fed she’d be, not only would she be a stepmother, but she might get beaten in private.
Did Fan Han’s father beat people?
Maybe seeing Xia Xiaolan’s beauty, he wouldn’t beat her anymore.
As her mother said, her cousin couldn’t find a better match than the Fan family in this lifetime. Being chosen by Grandmother Li was lucky enough!
After sending Liu Fang home, Auntie Li didn’t return to the Fan family’s old house.
She had the driver take her directly to her son Fan Zhenchuan’s home.
Fan Zhenchuan lived in a county-allocated house. His son Fan Han usually lived at school, leaving only Fan Zhenchuan and a maid at home. The maid was a distant relative from the countryside, only in her early twenties, quite beautiful – anyone unfamiliar with the situation would never believe she was just a maid.
Even the female servers at Hedong County’s guest house weren’t as pretty as Fan Zhenchuan’s maid.
“Auntie, you’re here.”
When the young maid opened the door, Auntie Li didn’t hide her disgust.
“Where’s my son?”
A medium-built man walked out.
“Mom, why are you here?”
In broad daylight, Fan Zhenchuan was wearing pajamas. The young maid was also in sleepwear – how could Auntie Li not guess what they’d been up to?
A distant relative of the Fan family, sharing the same surname, yet Fan Zhenchuan still took advantage of her. His previous daughter-in-law couldn’t stand Fan Zhenchuan’s philandering and died from drinking poison. Auntie Li wanted to drive this young maid away, but Fan Zhenchuan wouldn’t part with her, which led to Auntie Li’s matchmaking efforts.
Did he like young, pretty girls?
She’d specifically find young, pretty girls to introduce to Fan Zhenchuan.
Anyone but this maid – she could accept any other young woman.
Auntie Li carried the clothes inside while the young maid hid in her room. Fan Zhenchuan’s messy relationships were why Auntie Li had her grandson board at school, forbidding him from returning to Fan Zhenchuan’s place.
“I bought you two dress shirts, see if you like them.”
Fan Zhenchuan had expected another scolding from his mother – why was she suddenly pleasant and buying him shirts?
He wasn’t arguing with his mother because life was too comfortable – wasn’t it nice when mother and son could talk peacefully? Fan Zhenchuan knew his flaw – he was lecherous. With his power, many knew about this flaw, but in Hedong County, his word carried more weight than even the top official’s. What was wrong with being lecherous? The women who followed him did so willingly!
When his previous wife took poison, it embarrassed Fan Zhenchuan.
This made him even more defiant. Others’ opinions didn’t affect his life – behind closed doors, he was free to sleep with whoever he wanted.
“You went shopping in the provincial capital today? With Liang Bing’an’s wife again? Mom, drop that idea – it’s not like I can’t find a wife. How appropriate would it be for me to marry Fan Han’s classmate?”
Marrying his son’s classmate – Fan Zhenchuan could be less particular, but only if he liked the person.
Liang Huan was pretty but childish. Fan Zhenchuan enjoyed sleeping with young girls but didn’t want to play “daddy” to little girls.
Auntie Li knew the young maid was eavesdropping, and she meant for her to hear:
“Yes, I went with Liu Fang. Mom found you a girl this time – Liu Fang’s niece, nineteen this year… Zhenchuan, if you meet her and don’t like her, I’ll never pressure you about marriage again!”
Fan Zhenchuan was speechless.
So this couldn’t be separated from Liang Bing’an?
First trying to marry off his daughter, now pushing a niece.
Fan Zhenchuan knew what Liang Bing’an was thinking. But Fan Zhenchuan prided himself on his ability to make others fawn over him – he’d seen plenty like Liang Bing’an. Hearing his mother speak so earnestly, Fan Zhenchuan wasn’t quite convinced.
“Prettier than Xiaoyu?”
Xiaoyu was the young maid eavesdropping in the room.
Auntie Li scoffed, “Ten of her together couldn’t match Liu Fang’s niece.”
Fan Zhenchuan finally showed some interest.
“Then bring her here for me to see.”
Auntie Li clicked her tongue, “She’s a proper young lady – you think she can be brought over just because you say so? I find the girl extremely beautiful, and I’m not just saying this as your mother – even if you like her, she might not like you.”
Auntie Li recalled Xia Xiaolan’s appearance – alluringly beautiful with graceful manners. Fan Zhenchuan would certainly like her, and she’d make a presentable Fan family daughter-in-law. Being 20 years younger was perfect – when Fan Zhenchuan got old, she’d be in her prime to care for her son.
“Liang Bing’an’s wife Liu Fang is from neighboring Anqing County, right? For Liu Fang’s niece, it’s only a question of whether I, Fan Zhenchuan, want to marry her – there’s no question of whether she wants to marry me or not!”