…Will this really work?”

Old Madam Jiang was still hesitant. How could such a good match for Yujiao be given to Jiang Ling?

Besides, everyone in Dahe Village knew Jiang Ling had worked hard to win over that educated youth.

They were already engaged—how could she agree to swap marriages so easily?

“It will definitely work!” Li Chunmei hurriedly said, thinking the old lady disagreed. “This is for the reputation of both girls. It also gives the men’s side an explanation.”

As she spoke, she nudged her daughter to speak.

Jiang Yujiao lowered her head shyly, though there was urgency in her voice.
“Grandma, I agree to the marriage exchange.”

She was already imagining her future life of wealth and luxury after marrying Zhou Qianming.

No more suffering in this poor mountain village.

Seeing Yujiao agree, Old Madam Jiang turned to Jiang Ling.

Facing all the gazes, Jiang Ling lifted her chin calmly.

“I don’t agree.”

Jiang Yujiao immediately panicked.

“Jiang Ling, what right do you have to refuse? If Zhou hadn’t kissed me, would you even get such a good marriage?”

Jiang Ling sneered inwardly.

“If it’s such a good marriage, why are you trying to swap with me? We can just ask the brigade leader to explain that Zhou only gave you CPR to save you.”

“This isn’t the old times. With an explanation, everyone will understand.”

Jiang Yujiao’s nails dug into her palm in anger.

Something felt off. Jiang Ling used to be timid—never daring to even lift her head.

Why did she seem like a completely different person now?

Could she have been reborn too?

But no… if Jiang Ling had been reborn, she would have already stabbed her and Zhou.

Most likely, she still liked Zhou—that’s why she refused.

Left with no choice, Jiang Yujiao turned to Old Madam Jiang with teary eyes.

“Grandma, if she refuses… who else can I marry? Shen Yan saw everything. His family will definitely break off the engagement!”

Her eyes reddened, and the Jiang family was moved.

Uncle Jiang Youquan scolded angrily,
“Ling! Our family raised you, and now when Yujiao is in trouble, you won’t even agree to swap marriages? What an ungrateful wretch!”

Jiang Ling let out a cold laugh.

“Ungrateful? When my father died, where did his compensation money go? You all know very well.”

At that, the Jiang family fell silent.

Their eyes avoided hers.

Especially Old Madam Jiang—she had taken all the money to support the boys in the family.

Jiang Ling only finished elementary school before being pulled out—because “girls will marry anyway.”

Old Madam Jiang’s face darkened.

“What will it take for you to agree?”

Jiang Ling relaxed slightly.

This was what she had been waiting for.

“I have three conditions.”

“First, return all of my father’s compensation money. If I remember correctly, it’s 1,500 yuan.”

“Second, swap the bride price between Zhou and the Shen family. If the marriages are swapped, so should the betrothal gifts—”

“No!” Li Chunmei cut her off immediately.

The Shen family had offered over 100 yuan—and promised more after marriage.

Zhou only gave around 50 yuan.

“We can discuss the bride price later…”

Jiang Ling crossed her arms calmly.

“If you don’t agree, then I won’t swap.”

As expected, Jiang Yujiao couldn’t resist.

“Fine! We’ll swap the bride price!”

Old Madam Jiang stood up.

“You’ve lived in this family all these years. That compensation money counts as your living expenses.”

Jiang Ling scoffed.

“I wore hand-me-downs and ate leftovers. How much could that cost?”

She wasn’t wrong.

Old Madam Jiang felt guilty.

After a long pause, she said,
“I can give you 600 yuan. Not a cent more.”

Only 600?

Jiang Ling was about to speak—

but Jiang Yujiao cut in first:

“You’d better accept it. Otherwise, you won’t even get that 600!”

The Jiang family looked at her like she was greedy.

Six hundred yuan was a huge amount.

Jiang Ling pressed her lips together.

Fine.

She would take it first—and make them pay the rest later.

“My third condition…”

“I will sever all ties with the Jiang family.”

Everyone was shocked.

“Auntie” rushed forward.

“Ling, we can discuss the first two—but cutting ties? If word gets out, our family will become a laughingstock!”

“In this era, family unity is everything!”

“And without your family, you’ll be bullied to death in the Shen household!”

Jiang Ling didn’t care anymore.

She was done with them.

“Think about it. These are my conditions. Agree, and I’ll swap.”

Old Madam Jiang looked troubled.

The others whispered:

“Let her cut ties if she wants… but 600 yuan…”

That was a painful loss.

After a long sigh, the old lady said:

“Fine. We’ll agree. She has suffered enough.”

Jiang Yujiao gritted her teeth in anger.

If not for the marriage swap, they wouldn’t have to tolerate this.

They went to invite the brigade leader as witness.

—

Taking the chance, Jiang Ling returned to her room.

Her heart pounded as she leaned against the door.

She pinched herself—

It wasn’t a dream.

She was only twenty.

Everything could still be changed.

When Zhou saved Jiang Yujiao earlier, she already knew—

Yujiao had been reborn too.

But unlike her, Yujiao didn’t know about the spiritual spring space.

And without that—

Zhou would never become the richest man.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ling hurried to find the jade pendant her mother left her.