Xiao Yan stared at Yuelian in disbelief. How could this woman even suggest such a thing? Who did they think they were? Had they taken a good look at their own idiot son?

She felt deeply insulted, but the thought of that college exam spot forced her to swallow her pride. "You must be joking. Hanniù is... fine, but I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

Yuelian shook her head with a disapproving frown. "Every woman needs to marry and have children. You can't stay single forever. And look around this village—who else can offer what we can? Don't take this the wrong way, but if you can't test into college or return to the city, aligning yourself with our family would secure you a comfortable life."

"If you and Hanniù have a child, I'll take care of it. You wouldn't even have to work in the fields—just enjoy yourself at home. How does that sound?"

Xiao Yan was boiling inside. How could Yuelian make it sound like she was the one getting a bargain?

She stood up abruptly. "I told you, I'm not considering marriage. Please finish your meal. I should go."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and almost ran out the door.

Behind her, Hanniù was still chanting "Wife! Wife!" Yuelian snorted coldly. "Stop yelling. If she wants to go to college, she'll have to marry you first."

She turned to her husband, who was sipping his liquor. "Don't you dare soften. Unless she agrees to marry Hanniù, she gets nothing."

Inside, she was seething. Who knew what kind of woman Xiao Yan had been all these years away? Their family was already doing her a favor by not holding it against her. How dare she act so high and mighty?

Xiao Yan ran all the way back home, shaking with anger and disgust as she replayed Yuelian's words and Hanniù's repulsive face. She knew the village secretary had approved this plan.

The message was clear: marry the fool, or get nothing.

For the next two days, Xiao Yan wrestled with her options. Giving up on the exam was unthinkable, but marrying Hanniù felt like surrendering her dignity. Neither path offered a way out with her pride intact.

Just as she was losing hope, she noticed something strange: Wang Chunhong, one of her roommates also studying for the exam, had been acting secretively, slipping out every night.

Xiao Yan grew suspicious. Where was she going?

That night, she followed Wang Chunhong silently up the hill. Wang stopped at a melon guard's shed, glanced around, and ducked inside.

Xiao Yan crept closer. She could hear Wang's voice: "You promised me. You can't go back on your word."

A man's voice—unmistakably the village secretary's—replied, "Relax, you'll get your spot. Now hurry up and take your clothes off..."

Then came sounds that made Xiao Yan cover her mouth in shock. Wang Chunhong was sleeping with the secretary to secure her exam spot.

As the noises continued from inside the shed, Xiao Yan's mind raced. If marrying Hanniù was the only way, maybe there was another option—one night with the secretary himself. Trading her virtue once seemed better than a lifetime with that disgusting fool.

She decided to seduce him.

But the secretary wanted nothing to do with her. He acted as though the nights in the melon shed with Wang Chunhong never happened, maintaining a stern, proper demeanor. "I understand how you feel," he told Xiao Yan officiously, "but I must follow the rules."

After all, she was supposed to be his son's woman. He wouldn't touch her.

Besides, lately several girls had offered themselves for a chance at the exam. The secretary had been enjoying the perks. Why risk it for Xiao Yan, no matter how pretty she was?

Even when Xiao Yan tried to offer herself openly, he didn't so much as glance her way. Was marrying Hanniù truly her only way out?

Furious and desperate, she saw no other choice. For the sake of her future, she finally gave in.

News of Xiao Yan's engagement to Hanniù eventually reached the health clinic through villagers who came for treatment.

Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned. Was Xiao Yan really this desperate?

When Zhou Xiaoling came to visit and heard the gossip, she gasped. "Xiao Yan is ruthless. She'll go far if she can endure this. I can't believe she'd go that far."

Lin Xiaoxiao agreed. "I never thought she'd sacrifice so much. We underestimated her."

Zhou Xiaoling shook her head in disbelief. "You know, part of me wants to go to her wedding. Does that make me crazy?"

Lin Xiaoxiao laughed. "Not crazy—just eager to see her get what's coming to her."

But would marrying the secretary's son really guarantee Xiao Yan a spot? Lin Xiaoxiao doubted it.

"I think she's making a huge mistake. The secretary's family will be terrified she'll leave and never return if she gets into college. Why would they ever let her take the exam?"

Zhou Xiaoling thought it over. "You're right. Xiao Yan is finished."

Under different circumstances, Lin Xiaoxiao might have felt sympathy. Many women had few choices, some willingly trading their dignity, others forced.

But for Xiao Yan, she felt nothing. She even shared Zhou Xiaoling's desire to see her downfall.

Zhou Xiaoling brightened. "Let's celebrate. How about some stewed mutton in town?"

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't refuse. Now past her first trimester, she was constantly hungry. Though she hadn't gained much weight, her waist had thickened noticeably, and her belly looked more like she was four or five months along.

On their way into town, they ran into Li Yu and Shanzi.

Curious about Li Yu's background, Lin Xiaoxiao walked with them, making small talk. "Shanzi looks like he's put on some weight. You're taking good care of him."

Li Yu smiled shyly. "He has a good appetite. I've been giving him massages for his spleen and stomach. He used to have some digestive issues."

"You know traditional medicine?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked, surprised."

A little," Li Yu nodded. "But my family said girls shouldn't learn, so I only know the basics."

That one comment told Lin Xiaoxiao that Li Yu wasn't from an ordinary family—and not just any medical family either. One with old-fashioned rules about passing knowledge only to sons.

"You're already very skilled. You'll have to teach me someday. When my baby is born, I'd like to try massages too."

Li Yu agreed readily. "Of course. It's actually quite simple."

Lin Xiaoxiao studied Li Yu again—her heavy bangs covering her eyebrows, almost hiding her eyes. It felt intentional, like a disguise.

As they chatted, the group slowly made their way into town.

And there, right in front of them, were Hanniù, Xiao Yan, and Yuelian.

When Li Yu saw Yuelian and Hanniù, her hand tightened around Shanzi's.