Liu Fang floated all the way home.

Although Aunt Li hadn’t promised anything about Liang Bing’an’s promotion, she insisted that Liu Fang address her as family. Now that they were becoming relatives, how could Fan Zhenchuan not look after Liang Bing’an’s career? Technically, since Fan Zhenchuan married Xia Xiaolan, he was a generation below Liu Fang and Liang Bing’an, but they weren’t so tactless as to act as Fan Zhenchuan’s elders. Given how much the Fan family valued Xia Xiaolan, how could Fan Zhenchuan ignore his wife’s aunt’s husband?

Wasn’t this exactly why the couple had been making repeated trips to the countryside?

To establish connections with Fan Zhenchuan!

Since this connection came through her family’s niece, Liu Fang felt she could finally hold her head high in her husband’s family. Would Liang’s relatives still dare to whisper about her rural background? Her in-laws wouldn’t look down on her anymore, thinking her family couldn’t help advance Liang Bing’an’s career!

The more Liu Fang thought about it, the happier she became. Though the wedding hadn’t even happened yet, she already saw herself as the Liang family’s greatest contributor, feeling even more confident than if she had given them a son to continue the family line. When Liang Bing’an heard the news at home, he was equally delighted and couldn’t help drinking half a jin of liquor that evening:

“My wife truly brings me good fortune!”

Liang Bing’an was quite drunk. What man doesn’t hope to achieve something in his career? Though Liang Bing’an’s position was enough to earn respect and the title of “government official” from rural folks, it wasn’t much in Hedong County. Liang Bing’an believed he was capable of handling greater responsibilities, but several promotion opportunities had passed him by in recent years, leaving him frustrated.

Deputy Director Liang.

He hated hearing the word “Deputy.”

He was also dissatisfied with his current position in the quiet government office.

If only he could make a move, either remove that “Deputy” title or transfer to another department!

Liang Bing’an never regretted marrying Liu Fang, but in recent years, with promotions proving elusive, he would sometimes wonder in the dead of night if his path might have been easier had he married someone else.

Now things were looking up – he could climb another rung on the ladder through Fan Zhenchuan.

With heavy alcohol breath, Liang Bing’an said: “Last time, Second Sister didn’t take that four thousand yuan, right? Let’s round it up and let them start building the house now. We can’t have our niece marry from Big Brother’s house – that wouldn’t be right!”

Round it up?

“You mean give them 5,000 yuan to build a single-story house? Would there be enough time… Oh, you mean 10,000 yuan!”

Since they’d already given four thousand, adding another thousand wouldn’t be much.

The second Sister and her daughter didn’t have much money, and as the aunt, it would be fine to contribute more to her niece’s dowry.

But giving ten thousand made Liu Fang’s heart ache.

Throughout the year, the Liang family could barely save ten thousand after expenses, and giving away such a large sum would require dipping into their savings. Although Liu Fang managed the household finances, Liang Bing’an’s words carried equal weight. Since they’d already given five thousand, they might as well grit their teeth and give another five thousand. Money spent is money spent – if it could help her husband get promoted, then it would be money well spent!

“Alright, we’ll do as you say…”

As the couple discussed the details, Liang Huan pressed her ear against the door crack but couldn’t hear more. What her mother had said earlier was already explosive enough – the Fan family had even set a wedding date, so her cousin was going to marry into the Fan family.

Fan Zhenchuan was incredibly generous to her cousin, willing to host a grand wedding and promising they wouldn’t live with Fan Han after marriage.

Liang Huan thought Fan Han was quite pitiful.

But Fan Han’s misfortune didn’t matter anymore – once her cousin married Fan Zhenchuan, her father might get promoted.

Without having to marry an old man herself, she could still be Director Liang’s precious daughter. How could Liang Huan not be happy? The Liang family’s prosperity would come through Xia Xiaolan’s marriage, and now Liang Huan didn’t hate her cousin so much anymore but rather felt three parts envious… and seven parts pity.

Still, it was better than being a village girl.

In the end, her cousin had lucked out.

While the Liang family was discussing Xia Xiaolan’s dowry, Fan Zhenchuan was laying his cards on the table with Xiao Yu.

After their intimate moment, Fan Zhenchuan got up and put on his pajamas, taking out a paper bag from the wardrobe.

“Here’s ten thousand yuan. Move out in a couple of days.”

Though Xiao Yu had sensed this coming, Fan Zhenchuan’s sudden dismissal still left her pale as paper.

“Zhenchuan, did I do something wrong?”

Playing the pitiful victim easily earned men’s sympathy, and Fan Zhenchuan particularly enjoyed this vulnerable air. But Fan Zhenchuan’s tastes changed quickly – the unattainable was more precious, and even the finest dish became tiresome when eaten repeatedly. Now his thoughts were all about Xia Xiaolan, and his words were especially cruel:

“Xiao Yu, you know my temperament. Taking the money and moving out is my acknowledgment of our past relationship. I’m getting married next month, and it’s not appropriate for you to stay here.”

Xiao Yu looked bewildered, “…Where can I go?”

Fan Zhenchuan appeared indifferent, “You can find a place in the city, or go back home and get married – don’t you still have a fiancé back home? Anyway, ten thousand yuan will last you a long time, enough to build a house in the countryside.”

Hearing Fan Zhenchuan mention her fiancé, Xiao Yu wanted to laugh.

She did have a fiancé. Her hometown was poor, which was why Xiao Yu came to the city to work as a housekeeper for the “important person” in the Fan family. She had originally planned to earn some money for her dowry, but Fan Zhenchuan hadn’t given her that chance. Later, when rumors reached her hometown, her fiancé had firmly come to break off the engagement. Her parents had asked her to return home and explain, saying she should quit being a housekeeper. Fan Zhenchuan still had interest in her then – how could he let her leave?

Of course, although being with Fan Zhenchuan meant living in the shadows, it also allowed Xiao Yu to enjoy things she had never experienced before.

Previously, Fan Zhenchuan wouldn’t let her leave; now Xiao Yu was reluctant to go, as she had nowhere else to go.

Ten thousand yuan was not a small amount.

When she first came to Hedong County, she couldn’t even dream of having ten thousand yuan. Years had passed, and everything had changed – her reputation in her hometown was ruined, her former fiancé had broken off the engagement and married someone else, even having children. Fan Zhenchuan made it sound so simple… but who would marry her if she returned home?

Xiao Yu had many grievances, but she couldn’t voice them to Fan Zhenchuan.

Fan Zhenchuan liked submissive women; if she dared to object, she would truly earn his disgust.

Xiao Yu picked up the paper bag, tears falling silently:

“Zhenchuan, I don’t want to leave you…”

Xiao Yu’s crying was moving, reminding Fan Zhenchuan of their first night together, when he was on top of her, transforming her from a girl into a woman. Xiao Yu hadn’t dared resist, afraid of waking the mistress, and had just trembled and cried silently like this.

Fan Zhenchuan showed rare tenderness, wiping away her tears:

“Then stay in Hedong County. I’ll arrange a job for you, and I’ll come see you when I have time.”

Though a new woman might be nice, their compatibility was yet unknown, and Fan Zhenchuan wasn’t the type to remain faithful to any woman. Arranging a job for Xiao Yu in Hedong County was child’s play for him.

Xiao Yu embraced him, her hand slipping inside his robe.

They embraced once again.

Liang Huan didn’t know how to tell Fan Han.

She had been quite proud lately – after all, the famous “Blue Phoenix” was owned by her uncle.

No matter how impressive Fan Han was at school, once her cousin married into the Fan family, Fan Han’s status at home would surely plummet – she wouldn’t even match up to Liang Huan!

Just as Liang Huan was enjoying the flattery of several female classmates, making grand promises to take them to see “Blue Phoenix” clothes in the provincial city during the holidays, someone called out to her:

“Liang Huan, someone’s looking for you at the school gate!”