“You’re married?!”

The door was shoved open violently as Jiang Sirou rushed in.

 

By the time she realized how abrupt her behavior was, Jiang Yichu’s gaze had already landed on her.

 

From head to toe, Jiang Yichu sized her up in a way that made people uncomfortable.

 

Jiang Sirou frowned. “What are you looking at?”

 

“Nothing, just curious.”

 

Jiang Yichu shook her head innocently, her tone pure and harmless.
“I was just wondering—back in our village, people with such sharp hearing are usually lying on the ground.”

 

She was calling her a dog.

 

Jiang Sirou’s face went pale. “You—!”

 

“That’s enough!”

 

Madam Jiang shot Jiang Sirou a glare.

 

At a time like this, instead of focusing on getting her married off, she was still arguing. Dissatisfaction welled up in Madam Jiang’s heart—she thought she had spoiled this daughter too much.

 

She walked over to Jiang Yichu.

 

“Chuchu, you can’t joke about something like marriage,” she said.

 

“A girl’s reputation is the most important thing. You can’t make light of it.”

 

“I’m not joking.”

 

Jiang Yichu’s smile didn’t fade.

 

“I really am married.”

 

Madam Jiang didn’t believe her.

 

When she had gone to bring Jiang Yichu back, she had specifically contacted the rural family to confirm that no marriage had been arranged.

 

Those adoptive parents would never have allowed her to date, let alone marry—they were waiting to “sell” her for a good price.

 

A country girl, full of lies.

 

A trace of disgust flashed through Madam Jiang’s eyes. She took a deep breath and sat on the bed.

 

“Chuchu, do you think this marriage is too rushed? How about this—we meet him first, then decide?”

 

Too lazy to explain, Jiang Yichu stood up, pulled out her household registration booklet, and tossed it into Madam Jiang’s arms.

 

The Jiang family wanted both daughters.

 

Coincidentally, the rural family didn’t want either.

 

The two sides reached an agreement—after the Jiangs sent 1,000 yuan as a “buyout,” the matter was settled.

 

The adoptive parents immediately transferred Jiang Yichu’s household registration out.

 

So now, she had her own separate household booklet.

 

Madam Jiang’s heart skipped a beat as she caught it with trembling fingers and looked down.

 

In the marital status column—

 

The handwritten words “Married” were stamped with a bright red seal.

 

Now there was no denying it.

 

Her expression changed drastically. “When did you get married?!”

 

From leaving the rural home to arriving in the capital—it had only been four days.

 

And in just those four days… something this huge had happened!

 

Madam Jiang could no longer maintain her composure, her red-painted nails pointing straight at Jiang Yichu.

 

Footsteps sounded on the stairs.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan had returned from work.

 

Hearing the commotion, he came over. “What’s going on?”

 

“See for yourself!”

 

Madam Jiang shoved the booklet at him.

 

He glanced down.

 

His face darkened immediately.

 

“Come downstairs,” he said, looking at Jiang Yichu. “Bring your marriage certificate.”

 

—

 

The housekeeper had been sent out to buy groceries.

 

In the living room downstairs, the three of them sat on the long sofa, waiting for Jiang Yichu.

 

Each wore a different expression.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan’s lips were pressed tight. When she sat down, he took a sip of tea before speaking.

 

“Chuchu, explain this marriage.”

 

“I got married on the way here.”

 

Jiang Yichu picked up an orange from the table and began peeling it leisurely.

 

As if marriage were even more casual than eating fruit.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan took a deep breath. “Where’s the marriage certificate?”

 

He frowned at her hands. “Didn’t I tell you to bring it?”

 

“That?” Jiang Yichu shook her head. “It’s not with me.”

 

After they registered, Ying Zheng said he needed it, so she handed it over.

 

“You just gave your marriage certificate to someone?!”

 

Madam Jiang shrieked again.

 

“If you don’t have it, how are you going to get a divorce later?!”

 

Jiang Yichu paused, then looked up.

 

Despite growing up in the countryside, the sharp glint in her eyes sent a chill down Madam Jiang’s spine.

 

The living room fell silent.

 

No one spoke again.

 

Only after Jiang Yichu finished the entire orange did Jiang Zhiyuan glare at his impatient wife and sigh heavily.

 

“Fine. Your mother isn’t in the right state today. We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”

 

Without the certificate, arguing now was pointless.

 

—

 

They returned to their rooms, each with their own thoughts.

 

The moment Jiang Yichu closed her bedroom door, she lay back down.

 

After dying from overwork in her previous life, she now avoided standing whenever she could lie down.

 

Besides, she could listen in.

 

Next door—

 

As soon as the door shut, Madam Jiang snapped, “Why did you stop me earlier?!”

 

“The Liang family already set the wedding date! Time is tight—we need to hurry and make her divorce. Otherwise, what do we give the Liangs?”

 

Jiang Zhiyuan’s voice was low, suppressing anger. He let out a cold laugh.

 

“Divorce her—and then send her to the Liang family?”

 

“Have you lost your mind?”

 

“If Commander Liang finds out we’re sending him a divorced woman, do you think we’ll still have a good life?”

 

Money meant nothing in front of power.

 

Especially when Jiang Zhiyuan’s career depended on the Liang family.

 

“Then what do we do?”

 

Madam Jiang paced anxiously.

 

“There’s the Liang family engagement, and the Ying family already set a date too. We can’t afford to offend either side! And we only have one daughter!”

 

“This is all because of your greed!”

 

Jiang Zhiyuan snapped, shifting the blame. “If you hadn’t rushed to climb higher and delayed meeting the Ying family, we wouldn’t be stuck like this!”

 

“Oh, now it’s my fault?!”

 

Madam Jiang’s voice turned sharp. “You agreed to the Ying family marriage too!”

 

Jiang Zhiyuan fell silent.

 

After all, the Ying family outranked the Liang family.

 

Who could resist the chance to ally with both?

 

Three months ago, when Jiang Sirou insisted on breaking off her engagement to marry into the Ying family, they thought she was being ridiculous.

 

A capitalist family might be rich—but what was money compared to political pedigree?

 

Madam Jiang had dismissed it outright.

 

But Jiang Sirou claimed she had a prophetic dream—

 

In it, the Ying family’s eldest son would one day become a top military commander.

 

She even named him: Ying Zheng.

 

That was enough to make Madam Jiang believe.

 

Tempted by the opportunity, the couple treated it as a blessing from heaven.

 

But how to make it happen became the real problem.

 

With the Ying family’s status, they were out of reach.

 

Then Jiang Sirou came up with a plan.

 

According to her dream, Ying Zheng was born to the Ying commander and his first wife, and didn’t get along with his stepmother.

 

If the Jiangs had ties to the Liang family, the Ying matriarch might push this marriage forward.

 

After all, what stepmother wants a stepson to outshine her own child?

 

Compared to a well-matched bride, a wealthy merchant’s daughter would suit her better.

 

Madam Jiang understood the logic.

 

But she only had one daughter—how could she marry into two families?

 

Then it hit her—

 

The daughter in the countryside!

 

Yes!

 

Let Jiang Yichu marry the Liang family!

 

A country girl entering a military household—she should be grateful!

 

As her birth mother, this was already more than enough kindness.

 

It wasn’t that she lacked maternal love.

 

But love required dignity.

 

If acknowledging this daughter meant endless trouble, she would rather not have her.

 

Between the daughter she had raised herself and a wild girl from the countryside…

 

That little bit of maternal affection didn’t weigh much.

 

Marrying into a good family and benefiting the Jiangs—

 

Jiang Yichu should be happy. And so should she.

 

That way, she wouldn’t feel guilty either.

 

That was her plan.

 

But who would’ve thought—

 

That wretched girl had randomly married someone on the way!

 

Uneducated, just as expected!

 

Grinding her teeth, Madam Jiang snapped, “Hurry up! Find the man she married! Get them divorced! The Jiang family can’t afford this disgrace!”