Chapter 1: Marriage stolen? A grandfather

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March, 1975.

The Capital, Military Region residential compound, the Lu family home.

Old Master Lu, having just been brought back from the sanatorium, couldn't care less about his body that had only just recovered. He grabbed his cane and swung it at his son a dozen times—

"Whack, whack, whack~"

"You beast! You married a second wife and became a stepfather!"

"I think your right brain didn't develop properly, your head is full of water! You actually listened to the pillow talk of that woman and let your stepdaughter take your own daughter's place in marriage!

Do you have any conscience toward Qingluo? Toward Manman?"

"I, Lu Changjun, how did I ever produce a brainless thing like you!"

The dull thuds accompanied by the scolding echoed through the living room. The middle-aged man being beaten didn't utter a single sound, kneeling on the floor and letting his old father vent his anger.

Not far away, the middle-aged woman shrank her head like a quail, absolutely not daring to make a sound, terrified that the old man's fury would burn her.

In her heart, she was secretly praying: now that he's beaten the husband, please don't beat her!

After counting eighteen strikes, a girl's obedient and soft voice rang out, "Grandfather, please calm your anger."

"My sweet granddaughter, your father is a piece of trash. Grandfather will vent your anger for you, beat this dog of a thing to death!"

Old Master Lu looked at the granddaughter he hadn't seen in years with a pained expression. He had failed his daughter-in-law, failed the in-laws!

The good marriage that originally belonged to his own granddaughter had been snatched away by his son's stepdaughter just like that. He, as a grandfather, was too derelict in his duties!

"Grandfather, it's not your fault. It's all... *sigh*."

Shen Man showed a sensible yet hesitant expression, helplessly helping her grandfather sit down, not sparing even half a glance for her biological father kneeling on the ground without a word.

Following her late mother's dying wish, she had only returned to the Capital's Lu family yesterday to seek refuge with her biological father and fulfill the arranged marriage her grandfather had set for her in childhood.

As it turned out, she had arrived, but the Lu family had married off a daughter just the day before.

Seeing her arrive, her biological father and stepmother both showed expressions of shock and panic!

Sure enough, after casually probing a few times, she extracted the truth.

For the sake of the stepdaughter's future, her biological father and stepmother had swapped the bride, letting the stepdaughter impersonate her to fulfill the arranged marriage.

The wood was already carved into a boat; tomorrow was the day the other party and her former fiancé would return to the bride's home.

Her current situation had become quite awkward...

Hearing his granddaughter's sigh, Old Master Lu clutched his chest, looking at his son kneeling on the ground, his eyes full of disappointment.

"Dad, Manman, if you want to blame someone, blame me. It was my idea to let Manman take her place. Whether it's a beating or a punishment, I will accept it all. I beg you, don't blame Mingyuan."

Zhang Xuemei apologized cautiously. Although she was very panicked and afraid, a trace of secret joy rose in her heart.

Even though the matter had come to light, Shen Man had arrived a day late!

If she had arrived a day earlier, her daughter wouldn't have been able to marry into the Gu family so smoothly!

Now that the wood was carved into a boat, her daughter had already consummated the marriage with the new husband—it was a done deal!

At most, she would be scolded and lectured here. Once Shen Man was appeased and sent away, she and her daughter could still live without a care!

"Zhang Xuemei, for so many years, you and your daughter have occupied the fame and fortune that belonged to Manman and her mother, enjoying everyone's flattery and respect. Have you forgotten what kind of low-down methods you used to enter our Lu family's door?

Taking and eating everything was one thing, but you even snatched my own granddaughter's arranged marriage while I wasn't home. You really have no shame, clinging on like a stray dog—is it interesting?"

Old Master Lu was still too dignified; although his words were sharp, he didn't completely cast aside his decorum.

Lu Mingyuan felt ashamed and didn't make a sound, just kneeling there, suffering silently in his heart.

His biological daughter had come to seek refuge with him, bringing a piece of bad news: three years ago, his ex-wife had passed away from illness.

Passed away from illness. Shen Qingluo, that woman as bright as a rose and as beautiful as clouds, had passed away.

From the moment he agreed to the divorce, he had been holding onto a grudge.

He was betting that one day she would lower her head, admit her mistake, and reconcile.

He never thought that in the fifteen years since their divorce, she hadn't made a single phone call back.

As it turned out, she had already passed away three years ago.

In the final moment of her life, she hadn't made a single phone call back, nor had she let her daughter bring a letter, not even a verbal message.

"..."

Zhang Xuemei's face turned pale at the words, and she couldn't find a single word to refute.

She could only lower her head, secretly cursing in her heart why the old thing hadn't died yet!

Back then, she had used some methods to marry into the Lu family, but it takes two to tango, doesn't it?

If Lu Mingyuan and Shen Qingluo's relationship hadn't broken down and had problems, what could she have done?

She had only used a small trick, and Lu Mingyuan had ignored everyone's opposition to marry her.

It wasn't her who drove Shen Qingluo away; Shen Qingluo had taken her daughter away herself and even changed the child's surname.

Shen Man, while soothing her grandfather, reached out with her smooth, slender fingers to pick up the teapot, poured a cup of tea for her grandfather, and signaled for him to moisten his throat.

Then, she revealed an innocent smile, looked toward her biological father, and said in a tone that wasn't very intimate:

"Dad, I know that for the past ten-plus years, it has been Auntie Zhang and Sister Manman by your side, so it is only natural that you favor them."

However, changing the subject, "But after all, I am your biological daughter, the bloodline of the Lu family, and the arranged marriage was set for me.

It was you and Auntie Zhang who helped Sister Manman impersonate me. If the matter comes to light in the future and the Gu family demands accountability, please resolve it yourselves; do not involve me."

"Yes, I will resolve it. I won't involve you."

Lu Mingyuan looked at his daughter's face, which was ninety percent similar to his late wife's, and the guilt in his heart surged like a tide.

Hearing his daughter's distant, timid tone and seeing the disappointed look in her eyes as if looking at a stranger, he knew he had hurt her.

"Lu Mingyuan, you and Zhang Xuemei have done such a disgraceful thing, hurting Manman and causing her to lose a good marriage.

Now, I demand that you take out your savings and compensate Manman!

Otherwise, I will cast aside this old face, go to the Gu family right now to explain the situation, and swap it back!"

After Old Master Lu finished his threat, he took a sip of tea to soothe the stuffiness in his chest.

In his view, his granddaughter Manman was the victim, and the perpetrator was her biological father—how ironic!

Since the marriage had been snatched, Manman couldn't be left with nothing!

Since Zhang Xuemei said the dowry for Lu Manman's wedding was all from her own salary.

Then he would take it as such. Fortunately, he had emphasized to his son before that there was still his own grandson and granddaughter!

If his son left the money to the stepdaughter as a dowry, then he wouldn't have this son; he would publish a notice in the newspaper to sever ties and never see him again!

Therefore, his son's salary over these years had been saved up.

Now, if his son could snatch his biological daughter's marriage for his stepdaughter, he could do other insane things!

As things stood, all he could do was help his own granddaughter squeeze his son's savings dry!

"Yes, I will go get it."

Lu Mingyuan didn't resist but struggled to stand up, looking deeply at his daughter, his eyes filled with pain and guilt.

Zhang Xuemei's face was panicked. Terrible, she had secretly taken the bankbook from the cabinet and withdrawn two thousand yuan for her daughter's dowry!

Pre-reading notice—

1. After the female lead transmigrates into the book, where did the original body go?

Answer: I will refer to the opinions of the sisters in the comment section to arrange a good ending for the original body and her mother. In the process, the author and readers have different ideas and sparks of thought collide. It won't be written in the text for now; it will be left blank, and after referring to the opinions, a perfect ending plan will be given.

2. Why doesn't the female lead directly expose the female supporting character for occupying the magpie's nest and replacing the bride after returning to the Capital, and why doesn't she tear her face off with her scumbag father?

Answer: The female lead is not a garbage recycling station. The female supporting character has already slept with the male supporting character; can she really accept second-hand goods? Hmm?

Not exposing her doesn't mean she won't expose her. The subsequent plot will be peeled away bit by bit. When the matter comes to light, it will be very satisfying.

Why not tear her face off with her scumbag father? There is no need for now. As for the scumbag father, he can betray his marriage and raise a stepdaughter; do you expect his values and morals to be very good? Tearing his face off now won't benefit the female lead; instead, it will let the stepmother and stepsister take the benefits. It's better to take advantage of his guilt and make him willingly compensate the female lead.

The method of cutting meat with a dull knife.