Chapter 12

Following this outburst, an elderly man with unsteady steps, his face red and neck thick with anger, brandished his cane and struck Father Sang hard on the back. After hitting him, he pointed a finger at his nose and cursed, "Did you raise Sang Ran? I raised her until she was twelve! If her fiancé's family hadn't improved, would you have even glanced at her?! You dog!"
Father Sang, who had been so arrogant just moments before, was now flushed with embarrassment, his lips trembling, unable to refute. He couldn't even hold his bowl steady, and it fell to the ground as he frantically dodged, "Dad! Stop hitting me!"
"I'm your father, why can't I hit you?!" Grandpa Sang pursed his lips, his eyes wide as copper bells, brandishing his cane with both hands as he gasped for breath, ready to strike again. "I'm the one who raised you all for nothing!"
Neither Sang Ran nor the original host's memories had ever seen Grandpa Sang like this.
Even when he fell ill and Eldest Uncle Sang refused to let him stay in the hospital, he had always been cheerful and smiling.
It turned out that even a kind-hearted old man's anger was no different from an ordinary person's, perhaps even more terrifying.
Because only when their deepest boundaries were crossed would they truly become enraged.
She was stunned for a moment, but when she saw Grandpa Sang about to collapse, she quickly broke free from Mother Sang and rushed over to support him. "Grandpa, don't be angry. I'm fine."
Sang Ran still wore a smile on her face, unable to hold back her laughter at the sight of Father Sang's pitiful and miserable state. Inside, she was completely calm.
These two weren't her parents, and besides, she was leaving tomorrow. She had no plans to return, which meant she would likely never cross paths with them again in this lifetime. So why should she waste her anger on them?
Although the original plot didn't delve deeply into it, it did mention a few things about Sang's parents: they favored sons over daughters, were selfish and cold-hearted, and held outdated beliefs, thinking that daughters should repay their parents for raising them by sacrificing for their birth family.
Sang Ran thought to herself, after tomorrow, let's see if they could take even a single advantage from her.
What would their attitudes be when they watched her live a life of luxury, eating well and drinking fine?
Grandpa Sang's legs had never been strong, and after running a few steps in his fury, he nearly fell. Now, leaning on his granddaughter's shoulder, he took a moment to catch his breath, his eyes red as he said, "How can I not be angry? What kind of sons have I raised?"
One after another, they were so cold-hearted that he was beginning to regret having them in the first place.
Mother Sang, pushed aside by her daughter, watched the grandfather and granddaughter leaning against each other as if she were the villain. Her face darkened, and she snapped sharply, "You don’t have to worry about your own children, they’re all grown up. But think about us, Dad! I’m not complaining, but you know our family’s situation. If we don’t do this, how will the other two get married?"
Amid the chaos, the three sons of Sang's parents hadn't dared to run off. They stood nearby but didn't dare intervene, only watching helplessly.
The youngest, fifteen years old and the most carefree, was still eating noodles.
Suddenly brought into the conversation, the three brothers exchanged glances but didn’t dare speak.
Grandpa Sang grew even angrier, his old face flushing red. "Don’t they have hands and feet? Do they have to sell their sister to get married? Besides, how many years have you actually raised Sang Ran? How much of her bride price are you planning to take, and how much dowry are you willing to give? Dare you say it out loud?"
The three brothers looked somewhat ashamed but remained silent, mumbling under their breath.
After all, they really didn’t want to miss out on Sang Ran’s bride price.
Even without a bicycle, it would still include "three rounds and one sound," enough to marry a very good wife!
"What do you mean 'take'? Isn’t this how every family does it? Otherwise, what’s the point of raising a daughter? To feed her for free?" Mother Sang tried to retort, hands on her hips, but her voice weakened considerably. Her slightly sharp lips pressed tightly together, and her eyes darted around nervously.
Sang Ran clicked her tongue twice and comforted with a smile, "It's fine, Grandpa. Since I'm getting married and won’t be coming back in the future, there’s nothing more to say. They can take the betrothal gifts, and I don’t care about the dowry either."
Grandpa Sang was taken aback and turned to look at his granddaughter.
His usually good-tempered, cheerful, and gentle granddaughter was still smiling now, but her gaze was particularly indifferent, at least when she looked at her parents, there was no emotion in it.
She had changed.
Realizing this, Grandpa Sang immediately understood what Sang Ran meant as he recalled her words. He then glanced at the two who, emboldened by their daughter’s words, puffed out their chests a little more proudly.
His lips trembled, and he let out a bitter laugh. His shoulders slumped, the pent-up energy dissipating, and his voice grew weak and low again. Looking at his son and daughter-in-law, he said hoarsely, "Don’t regret it."
With Sang Ran’s potential, she was bound to achieve great things in the future.
Let them cry about it then.

The next day, the wedding proceeded as scheduled.
Since it was the 1980s, colors weren’t particularly vibrant. The best attire was olive green, paired with a large red flower pinned to the chest.
Mother Sang, having taken all of Sang Ran’s betrothal gifts, had no intention of providing any dowry in return. However, she did manage to arrange two new outfits for the occasion.
Early in the morning, before dawn broke, people began arriving at the Sang household to help with the preparations.
The atmosphere was quite festive.
Following their customs, Sang Ran changed into her new clothes, neatly tied her hair into a ponytail, and then braided it into a single plait down her back, revealing her beautiful, fair face. Those who came to offer congratulations couldn’t help but exclaim, "What a pretty girl! No wonder the groom’s family was willing to give the 'three rounds and one sound'!"
Someone who had witnessed the previous day’s events nudged the speaker and added, "It’s actually 'three rounds and one sound'! They even bought a new bicycle, though it’s kept at the groom’s house."
"Oh my, that’s truly enviable. My daughter didn’t have such a grand wedding."
Since it was someone else’s special day, most people offered kind words.
The compliments from others finally brought a slight smile to Mother Sang’s lips, which had been tightly pressed together all night. She modestly waved her hand and said, "Oh, it’s nothing, nothing."
"Don’t be so modest! Tell us how you raised such a beautiful child," someone said, pulling her aside with a laugh.
Sang Ran sat in her room. The original host didn’t have many close friends, her best ones were Su Ya and Sang Xiuxiu, while the others were merely acquaintances.
As luck would have it, she had poor judgment, and both of them turned out to be unreliable. So, only a few girls she wasn’t very familiar with came to keep her company in the room.
Sang Ran found it awkward herself.
Then, the sound of firecrackers and drums echoed from outside.
Sang Ran breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, they’re here."
"Oh, is the bride eager to get married? Haha" the girls teased with good-natured laughter.
Just then, there was a knock on the closed door. "Sang Ran."
Sang Ran immediately stood up to open the door but was stopped by Sang Yue, who said, "The bride isn’t supposed to step on the ground. I’ll get it."
She opened the door to find Grandpa Sang standing outside, leaning on his cane. As the door opened, he caught sight of his granddaughter’s stunning appearance. Her already pretty face was now made up, her eyebrows shaped, eyelashes brushed, and lips painted with lipstick, making her even more radiant.
He smiled happily and slowly made his way inside. Politely, he asked the girls if he could have a moment alone with Sang Ran, and they promptly left the room.
The door closed, and Grandpa Sang, with trembling hands, pulled out a very worn paper package from his chest. His aged, bark-like hands slowly unwrapped it as he said softly, "Sang Ran, Grandpa is useless and doesn’t have anything good. This is what your grandmother left behind. I didn’t dare take it out before, thinking I’d give it to you when I got old. But as I aged, I forgot about it. Last night, I finally remembered where it was and hurried to bring it to you. Sang Ran, take it with you and tell your mother-in-law that this is your dowry, understand?"
As he spoke, the paper wrapping unfolded, revealing a faded gray cloth. Opening it further, there was another layer wrapped in oil paper.
Layer by layer, when it was finally opened, inside lay a gold necklace, a fairly large gold locket, and a jade thumb ring.
"Grandpa, did great-grandmother leave these?" Sang Ran’s small mouth parted slightly.
She wasn’t knowledgeable about valuables and had never been interested in jewelry in her past life, but she could tell that these three small items, which fit neatly in her palm, would fetch a considerable sum if sold now, especially the jade thumb ring.
The ring had a lustrous, milky-white hue and a smooth surface, clearly not something one would find in the countryside.
It could definitely sell for a high price.
Seeing Sang Ran’s expression, Grandpa Sang smiled contentedly, quickly rewrapped the items, and pressed them into her hands. He whispered mysteriously, "The gold was your great-grandmother’s dowry. As for this jade, she picked it up while visiting relatives. She never told anyone and only gave it to me on her deathbed, telling me to hide it and pass it on when I’m close to dying."
Sang Ran thought back to the original host’s memories. The original host’s great-grandmother was Grandpa’s mother. She had given birth to many children, but unfortunately, only a few were filial. Grandpa Sang was the only kind-hearted and dutiful son, who cared for her in her final years and thus received these items.
Now, it felt like a cycle repeating itself, Sang Ran intended to support Grandpa Sang in his old age.
Her expression grew complicated. In the original plot, the host likely never received these items. She wondered if they had been taken by Uncle Sang and his family.
If these things stayed with Grandpa Sang, they might not end up in good hands. Besides, Sang Ran was short on money, so she didn’t refuse. She accepted them, hiding them in the inner lining of her jacket, and said with a bright smile, "Thank you, Grandpa!"
"No need to thank me, no need!" Grandpa Sang beamed, gently stroking his granddaughter’s hair. He looked her over and sighed affectionately, "My granddaughter is so beautiful."
He wondered if he would live long enough to see his great-grandchild born.
Suddenly, firecrackers crackled outside.
Then someone shouted, "The groom is here to fetch the bride! Comrades, get ready! We absolutely can’t let him take her away that easily!"
Unlike other brides who wept and wailed, Sang Ran smiled the entire time as she bid farewell to her original family's parents.
Amidst the chatter and envious gazes, Sang Ran sat on the back of the bicycle while Zhu Chang'an, wearing a large red flower on his chest, pedaled with high spirits. They circled the village under everyone’s watchful eyes before he, accompanied by his brothers, headed toward Zhu Village.
Firecrackers crackled continuously along the way, and wedding candies were tossed for a long time, even stirring up excitement in the neighboring village.
As if surprised by the Zhu family’s extravagance, Sang Ran’s eldest brother hesitated and said, “Mom, if things go on like this, won’t Sang Ran grow distant from us? She might not help our younger brothers in the future.”
Mother Sang, her face still glowing with pride, waved dismissively. “No, when a woman marries, the most important thing is having a strong maternal family. Otherwise, the richer the husband’s family, the harder it is for the bride. Just wait and see, she’ll realize her mistake when she returns for the home visit.”
Sang’s eldest brother breathed a sigh of relief.

The Zhu family’s circumstances were clearly different from the Sang family’s. Though both had single-story tiled houses, the Zhu family’s was made of red bricks and black tiles, with a noticeably larger footprint. In the center was a spacious, bright living room, flanked by several rooms on each side, and in front of the house lay a wide courtyard.
Sang Ran clicked her tongue in amazement. If this were in a later era, it would be the envy of many.
“The bride is here! Time to tease the newlyweds!” someone shouted as soon as the bicycle stopped.
In the countryside, there was a bad custom of teasing the bride and groom in the bridal chamber.
Hearing this, Sang Ran felt her scalp tingle. But no sooner had the shout ended than a crowd responded. Several middle-aged men nearby closed in, and one of them, with a lecherous grin, reached out toward Sang Ran.
Zhu Chang’an immediately grew anxious, shoving the men away. “Get the hell away from her! I’ll break the hand of anyone who touches her!”
“What’s the big deal? We’re just having fun,” the middle-aged man yelled. “Hold Chang’an back!”
“Hold him back, hold him back!”
The crowd chanted, swarming over to restrain Zhu Chang’an, leaving Sang Ran still seated on the bicycle, tradition dictated that the bride couldn’t set foot on the ground just yet.
A middle-aged woman, seeing the bride’s helpless and pitiful state, shook her head sympathetically. “Targeted by that scoundrel again. This girl is in for a rough time.”
But as soon as she finished speaking, the lecherous man suddenly cried out in pain, “Ah! It hurts, it hurts!”
Everyone turned to see the man’s hands twisted by the seemingly delicate and gentle bride. With a smile on her face, Sang Ran applied a little more pressure, and the man’s legs buckled, dropping him to his knees. His face contorted, sweat beading on his forehead as he begged for mercy, “It hurts! Let go, let go!”
Sang Ran disdainfully flung him aside.
The burly man tumbled like a ragdoll, seemingly weightless under her strength. He rolled on the ground, clutching his wrists as if they were broken, gasping, “Ouch, that hurts so much…”
Sang Ran swung her legs idly in the air, tilted her head, and smiled. Gazing at the suddenly silent crowd, she asked in a soft, melodious voice tinged with curiosity, “Weren’t we going to tease the newlyweds? Who’s next?”
The would-be teasers stepped back in unison, their faces filled with terror. “N-no, we’re not!”
Even that old scoundrel had been tossed aside so effortlessly, they didn’t dare anymore.
"Hahaha, as expected of my wife!" Seeing Sang Ran easily intimidate the crowd, Zhu Chang’an joyfully stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and even gave her a little bounce as he praised, "Wife, you're amazing! Come on, weren't you all here to tease the newlyweds? Don't chicken out now!"
The crowd: “...”
Is this guy an idiot? She might just turn on you next!
And besides, the Zhu family already has a fierce woman at home, now with another one this tough, won't the whole place be turned upside down?
Just as they were thinking this, Zhang Cuixia's brisk voice rang out: "Who's trying to mess with my daughter-in-law? Get lost, all of you! How dare you cause trouble for someone from the Zhu family? Eldest and second sons, go help out!"
With that, Zhang Cuixia, dressed in festive attire, made a grand entrance. She scowled fiercely as she pushed aside those blocking her way, but the moment she laid eyes on Sang Ran, her expression softened into a warm smile, and her voice turned gentle: "I've been looking forward to having you here, child! Zhu Chang’an, hurry up and take your wife back to the room!"
The villagers: "???" Is this a fake Zhang Cuixia?
Is she really this happy about getting a daughter-in-law?
But she wasn't like this when the first two daughters-in-law got married!
Hidden in the crowd, Su Ya watched the scene, feeling a sharp pang in her eyes. A thought suddenly crossed her mind, if Zhu Chang’an had saved her instead, wouldn't she be spared from putting up with the Song family's awful bunch now?
But she quickly shook her head.
Impossible. The mother-in-law who raised a troublemaker like Zhu Chang’an couldn't possibly be any good, especially since Sang Ran also had two older sisters-in-law and two younger sisters-in-law.