"What do you mean 'wife'? Lin Sisi called off the engagement. This isn’t Lin Sisi at all. The Lin Family probably didn’t want to return the betrothal gifts, so they just grabbed some random wild girl to take her place."
Hearing this, Li Tiezhu gaped, then glanced at Si Nian’s stunningly beautiful face and said uncertainly, "But... she’s so pretty. She doesn’t look like a wild girl."
He had never seen such a beautiful woman before. The prettiest girls in the village were the educated youth sent down from the cities, and he’d heard those girls had high standards—they all wanted to marry into urban families and looked down on country bumpkins like him.
But this girl was even more beautiful than those educated youth. How could she be called a wild girl?
Si Nian finally understood—this woman wasn’t part of the Zhou Family, yet she was trying to keep her from entering the Zhou household.
She must be worried that if Si Nian married Zhou Yueshen, she wouldn’t be needed to take care of the children anymore, losing her job. That’s why she was so desperate to drive her away.
Hah. Si Nian let out a cold laugh and said, "No matter what, I am the Lin Family’s real daughter. Since the Lin Family took the money, it’s only right that their actual daughter marries into this family. Yet this auntie won’t even let me in—I wonder what her intentions are!"
She turned to the dumbfounded Li Tiezhu and asked, "Do you know where Zhou Yueshen is?"
With all this commotion outside and no one coming out, it was clear he wasn’t home.
"Brother Yueshen is at the pig farm. He won’t be back until late. Should I go get him for you?"
But Si Nian just smiled. "No need. I’ll wait right here. When he returns, you can tell him it wasn’t me who refused to marry him—it was someone else who barred me from entering. In that case, it’s the Zhou Family breaking the engagement, and I won’t have to return the money."
Hearing this, Aunt Liu’s face turned pale.
Li Tiezhu stared at her in confusion. "Auntie, why won’t you let her in?"
Aunt Liu forced an awkward laugh, afraid the situation would escalate and backfire on her. She quickly stepped aside and said, "A misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding! I didn’t know the situation earlier. Come in, come in!"
She shot Si Nian a venomous glare.
This woman can’t stay.
That was Si Nian’s first thought as she stepped inside.
If someone like this remained in the Zhou household, she’d never have a peaceful life.
With a cold smirk, she thanked Li Tiezhu and entered the small two-story house.
The house was massive—at least three or four hundred square meters.
The moment she walked in, she was greeted by an enormous living room furnished with a leather sofa, a television, a radio, and other high-end luxuries of the era.
The decor was a bit haphazard, but it still looked impressive.
A hidden tycoon, huh?
Si Nian’s eyelid twitched. Just as she set down her suitcase, a barefoot, grubby little girl came running over, clutching the hem of her clothes and staring up at her with wide, curious eyes.
The child’s hair was a tangled mess, but she was undeniably adorable—round, chubby cheeks and big, watery eyes.
But she was filthy. Crumbs and food stains covered her mouth, and the fabric below her chin was so dirty its original color was unrecognizable.
Nearly two years old and still unable to speak, she just babbled at Si Nian.
No one could resist a cute child—unless that child wasn’t cute.
Si Nian picked up Little Douding, pulled out a piece of White Rabbit milk candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and handed it to her.
The little girl’s grimy hands immediately smeared the pristine white candy beyond recognition.
Living in such a lavish house, yet the child was being raised like this? No wonder Zhou Yueshen was looking for a wife.
Now it made sense.
A disdainful snort came from behind her. "Putting on an act."
Si Nian glanced back—it was Aunt Liu.
They were already at odds, so Si Nian ignored her.
Little Douding, seemingly unused to visitors, was fascinated by her and trailed behind like a tiny shadow.
A single piece of candy had won her over.
Amused, Si Nian pulled out a tissue and wiped the child’s mouth.
With the little one keeping her company, she wasn’t bored. She waited quietly for the master of the Zhou household to return.
Perhaps Li Tiezhu had rushed off to inform someone, because barely an hour later, steady footsteps sounded outside.
A tall, broad-shouldered man pushed open the door and stepped into the living room, bringing with him a faint metallic scent.
Si Nian instinctively looked up—and froze.
She’d heard he ran a pig farm and was older, so she’d imagined a potbellied, middle-aged man.
Otherwise, why would he still be unmarried at his age?
But the man before her was strikingly handsome—lean, chiseled features, and an air of quiet authority that made him look like a military officer from another era.
The light in the room cast sharp shadows across his angular face, accentuating his strong bone structure, yet his expression remained impassive.
"What’s your name?" Seeing her silence, Zhou Yueshen spoke first, his voice deep and resonant.
"Si Nian. My name is Si Nian." She snapped out of her daze, slightly embarrassed at having been caught staring, and stood to introduce herself. "I’m eighteen. I’m the Lin Family’s real daughter."
Zhou Yueshen didn’t look surprised. The Lin Family had delayed the wedding for a month—first because Lin Sisi wasn’t their biological daughter, then because their real daughter hadn’t wanted to return.
He hadn’t expected her to come on her own.
"I’m Zhou Yueshen. Thirty years old." His words were clipped.
His dark gaze swept over the suitcase in the living room, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes before he looked back at her. "Have you thought this through?"
He’s sharp, Si Nian thought.
Just from her bringing her belongings, he’d already guessed she intended to marry him.
Whatever her reasons were.
Si Nian nodded. "Yes."
Zhou Yueshen: "You know my situation? I have three children. They’re not biologically mine, but I’ve legally adopted them. I don’t plan on having more."
Si Nian took two steps forward, extending her soft, pale hand with a smile. "First, motherhood is a noble role. Second—I’ll make a wonderful stepmother."
