Chapter 2: 02 Dolls Are Here to Divorce
"Now it's the new era, arranged marriages are remnants of feudalism.
As a youth of this new era, I will not continue to accept this marriage arrangement.
Besides, I'm now half an urban man, and long since not on the same path as your family's Lin Tang.
It would be better for everyone to annul the marriage sooner rather than later..."
He was about to become a regular worker at the Food Factory from a temporary one.
Even if Lin Tang's family had many brothers, and she herself was a high school student, she was no longer a match for him.
It would be better to resolve this marriage issue sooner rather than later.
So he could find an urban bride.
Li Xiuli's chest heaved violently with anger, she clenched her teeth and asked, "You really want to call off the marriage?"
She was furious!
Just thinking about her daughter coming back to the village covered in blood, barely breathing,
And before she had even regained consciousness, Liu Guohui, her prospective son-in-law, came to annul the marriage.
Li Xiuli's lips trembled with rage.
She didn't know if the idea to annul the marriage came from the Liu Family or from that worthless boy.
No matter what, her daughter shouldn't have to suffer this insult for nothing!
Liu Guohui's face changed slightly when he heard the words 'calling off the marriage.'
"What do you mean 'calling off the marriage'? I am a progressive youth following the Organization, and I firmly refuse to bow to arranged marriages.
Is there something wrong with that? There isn't, right!
Auntie Li, don't make it sound so serious, just straightforwardly agree to the annulment!"
Li Xiuli's fist tightened involuntarily.
Before she could speak, the door to Lin Tang's room 'creaked' open.
"Mom, since he wants to call off the marriage, let's just call it off!"
Lin Tang didn't even glance at Liu Guohui, her gaze steady on her mother, as a storm raged within her.
Mom, you don't know how much I've wanted to come home.
Thinking of the nightly dreams of my parents' backs, feeling heartache upon seeing the elderly and bursting into tears, dreading to not dare recall any memory of this place...
There was a time when she even thought that Shuangshan Brigade, Lin Lu, Li Xiuli, Lin Qingshan... all these people were just figments of her imagination, that they didn't actually exist.
Being able to come back, to see Mom again, how wonderful that is!
Liu Guohui's face looked a little uneasy when he saw Lin Tang come out.
His face turned blue with anger upon hearing her words.
He had actually liked Lin Tang.
Because she was so beautiful she didn't seem like a village girl.
If only she hadn't been so clueless, not even willing to hold hands or kiss.
He wouldn't have so resolutely called off the marriage.
"Lin Tang! Who do you think you are to look down on me? I'm about to secure a permanent job, what about you?
You, a mere village girl tilling the land, what right do you have to say such things?"
"Even if you're a high school student, you can't even find a temporary job.
You're just a waste, no matter what, I'm still much better than you."
His eyes carried an obscure sense of triumph, as if assuming Lin Tang was just sour graping.
Lin Tang looked at Liu Guohui, almost nauseated by disgust.
Just because of this man, in her previous life she had been targeted and bullied by Wang Zhaodi from an early age,
Ugh...
Disgusting!
"Fine, you're impressive!" Lin Tang didn't want to argue with the man in front of her anymore, she waved her hand as if shooing away a fly.
"I agree to the annulment, now get lost... uh... leave my house!"
Please, stop embarrassing yourself here.
With this time, wouldn't it be better for her to go and enter a lottery?
Liu Guohui felt choked up inside, finding this very unsatisfying.
In his mind, being so outstanding, his breaking off the engagement with Lin Tang should've led to Lin Tang weeping bitterly; that was the proper reaction.
Definitely not this calm demeanor that stirred not the slightest ripple, and even had a hint of... disdain?
Liu Guohui looked at Lin Tang.
The young girl's face was pale, a white cloth bandaged around her head.
There was a scratch from a fingernail on her powdered white face, which was heartbreakingly visible.
Her hair was disheveled, the braided pigtails undone, appearing slightly curly.
Her eyes were like autumn water, with a misty layer of sleepiness, making one's heart quiver unconsciously when she looked at them.
She was delicate, not like a village girl, but like a spoilt little fairy.
Liu Guohui hesitated for a moment in his heart.
But thinking about the bright future ahead, he steeled his resolve once again.
He was sure he wouldn't regret it!
"Fine, you've agreed as well, our engagement is annulled, and from now on, our marriage arrangements will have nothing to do with each other."
Having said that, Liu Guohui left without looking back.
Li Xiuli let out a sigh when she saw her daughter agree to the breakup, thinking she and the child's father had been blind.
How could they have set such a fiancé for their daughter.
But now that the engagement was broken, it was for the best.
If the two of them had been married, it would have been even more disgusting.
"Daughter, don't be sad, your mom and dad will find you someone better in the future. The stench won't go, but the scent will come; it's nothing..." Li Xiuli consoled her.
In her heart, however, she worried that the breakup wasn't good news, and the village gossips would surely wag their tongues.
Before Lin Tang could speak, a pig-faced Wang Zhaodi popped her head over the wall to the right.
"Giggle giggle, how funny, Lin Tang, you've actually been dumped. It's killing me with laughter."
Her laughter was loud and mocking, heavy with mockery, and completely asking for a beating.
Her face was both red and swollen, her eyes squinting into slits as she sneered.
"Wang Zhaodi, you dare to come and pick a fight!"
After what she'd done to her daughter's head, and now she was here to gloat?
Was this the act of a human being?!
Li Xiuli twisted her eyebrows fiercely and, with a sweep of her sleeve, took a piss pot from the doorway of the latrine.
'Splash'—she flung the stinky water from it right onto Wang Zhaodi.
"Scram! If you don't scram, I'll treat you to another pot of piss."
In the rural households, there wasn't a toilet in every room, and there were no lights in the courtyard, so everyone kept a piss pot handy.
There was a faint yellow layer on top of the pot; it wasn't particularly stinky, but the smell was definitely unpleasant.
Wang Zhaodi was nearly fainted from the stench.
"...Ahh ahh ahh..."
She was so angry that she stamped her feet, slipping on a round bucket she stepped on.
The next second, there was a 'thud' from the next courtyard, followed by a wail.
"Ah! My back."
Li Xiuli spat toward the wall, cursed the girl next door for having a short memory, and hurried to wash her hands.
"Tangtang, go back to your room! Don't worsen the wound on your head, are you hungry? Your mom will bring you some food in a bit."
Lin Tang's head indeed ached a bit, and she agreed before returning to the room.
Before leaving, she cast a faint glance at the courtyard wall, a glint of cold light flashing in her eyes.
If it weren't for that person in her past life, she wouldn't have died, nor would she have lived alone for over twenty years.
As a result, she now found it somewhat difficult to be close to her family...
No sooner had Lin Tang settled back on her bed than the system beeped.
"Host has received a novice gift, would you like to draw it now?"
Lin Tang looked expectant, "Draw!"
As she spoke, she tapped the transparent screen in front of her, full of anticipation.
The wheel spun wildly, and the pointer stopped on a little fan in the corner.
"...Ding... Congratulations to the host for receiving one 'Bone Washing and Marrow Cleansing'..." the system said.
The moment it finished speaking, Lin Tang felt a warm sensation spread to all her limbs.
Her whole body was energized, even the painful spot on the back of her head felt better.
Awesome!
The side effect was that she was even hungrier!!
Chapter 3: 03 Official launch of the check-in system
Just at that moment, the system transmitted its rules into Lin Tang's ears.
So, this was a sign-in system!
She could sign in once every day at midnight.
She could randomly receive item rewards and points rewards.
There was a chance to draw a lottery once a month.
Lotteries were also available during festivals and holidays.
The prizes were random and included various skills such as cooking, driving, and farming, as well as points that could be exchanged for items, and tangible goods like bicycles, cars, sewing machines, and grain.
They had everything one could think of!
There was nothing you could think of that wasn't inside.
The items and points gained from lotteries and sign-ins would be automatically saved in the System Space for use at any time.
The system had a Mall, but it required 100 points to open.
Lin Tang looked at the system panel—
[Name: Lin Tang]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 16]
[Total Points: 0]
Those points, they felt like an insult.
Tragic!
And, not a very reliable feeling.
Lin Tang looked at the transparent screen before her, her face slightly stiff, with traces of disbelief in her expression.
"Points, zero?"
"Persistent sign-ins will bring points rewards, please keep signing in," the system's voice was without a ripple.
Lin Tang: "..." She felt something swiftly passing over her heart and completely lost the desire to speak.
Forget it, it's not important anymore.
The important thing was, if she didn't eat soon, she would starve to death.
The door creaked.
Li Xiuli entered.
She was short, about 1.55 meters tall.
Quite thin, with eyes not particularly large, a mole above her mouth, and an air of efficiency about her.
She wore a grey plaid top and what looked like cumbersome black trousers.
Covered in patches upon patches, her face looked very old.
"Tangtang, you must have been anxious!" Li Xiuli, seeing Lin Tang's moist eyes, showed a trace of a smile on her weathered face and spoke gently.
"...Mother!" Lin Tang, suppressing the excitement in her heart, with eyes reddening, said to her mother.
Li Xiuli saw the white cloth on her daughter's head, and her own eyes reddened too.
Handing over the food she brought, "Ai! Eat quickly, my girl must be starving!"
Only then did Lin Tang see something blackish in her hand.
Right, food was especially scarce at this time.
She ended up accidentally killing Wang Zhaodi after climbing the mountain to look for food because she couldn't find enough to eat.
"What's wrong? Eat quickly," her mother urged, seeing Lin Tang staring at the bowl but not eating in a hurry.
The child must be very hungry!
Lin Tang took the bowl and wolfed down the food.
She couldn't taste a thing.
Watching her finish, Li Xiuli somehow produced an egg and gave it to her.
"Tangtang, take this egg, you've lost so much blood, you need to nourish yourself well."
She had originally planned to make an Egg Custard for her daughter.
But the eggs at home had just been traded away yesterday, and this egg was even a gift from her uncle's wife!
With that, she tidied up the bowl and chopsticks and left.
Lin Tang watched her mother's retreating figure, tears dropping down like rain, her chest heaving with emotion.
It took a while before she could calm herself down.
Li Xiuli had just gone when Lin Family's three brothers finished their workday.
Hearing from their mother that their sister had woken up, they came to see her.
"Tangtang, how are you? I heard from mom that you've awakened, so I came to see you," said Eldest Brother, Lin Qingshan.
"Sister, look what Third Brother has brought you?" Third Brother, Lin Qingmu, said excitedly, holding a bunch of red fruits in his hand.
As for Second Brother, Lin Qingshui, he followed his brothers, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at Lin Tang.
The three Lin brothers followed their family's head, Lin Lu.
They were tall, with well-proportioned faces, only dark and thin; otherwise, they'd be considered handsome young men.
Lin Tang looked at her brothers in a row, her reddened eyes brimming with smiles.
"... Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother..."
More than twenty years of lonely life.
Suddenly being back with family, she didn't quite know what to do with herself!
The clear, moist eyes of the young girl softened the hearts of the three Lin brothers, and smiles spread across their lean, dark faces.
"Third Brother, how did I end up at home after I fainted?" With a full stomach, Lin Tang gathered enough energy to think about what had happened, and asked.
At the mention of this incident, Lin Qingmu's face turned a shade darker.
He patted his sister's shoulder and said, "Shuanzi was coming back from gathering firewood and saw you had fainted. He told me, and I carried you back home."
After a pause, he continued, "Wang Zhaodi cracked open your head. Her family paid a fine of one dollar, and Wang Zhaodi was punished to pick up cow dung for a month."
At that time, one dollar was not a small amount.
Wang Zhaodi's mother was nearly driven mad with anger and gave Wang Zhaodi a severe beating, leaving her with a bruised nose and a swollen face.
"Picking up dung?" Lin Tang murmured.
Thinking she wasn't satisfied with the punishment, Lin Qingmu hastily consoled her, "She has paid a fine, and it didn't lead to irreparable consequences, so the community could only impose a lighter punishment.
The work of collecting dung is tough; her hard days are still to come! Don't worry, Third Brother will find a way to avenge you."
Eldest Brother, Lin Qingshan, also advised, "Wang Zhaodi caused her family to lose a large sum of money for nothing. Wu Chunhua gave her a beating almost to death. Once she recovers, I'll help you beat her again."
"Wang Zhaodi wouldn't just accept the punishment without a fuss, right?" Lin Tang felt that Wang Zhaodi didn't seem like an honest person and probably wouldn't accept the punishment without argument.
Lin Qingshui let out a cold laugh, his face darkening as he said, "She was unwilling, but she couldn't withstand the evidence. Tang Kairui saw everything, leaving no room for Wang Zhaodi's excuses – she had to accept the punishment whether she liked it or not."
Mentioning Tang Kairui, a glint of envy crossed Lin Qingshui's eyes.
The children of the wealthy, dressed well and occasionally enjoying meat, were truly enviable.
Lin Tang, having heard the details, nodded in satisfaction.
As for revenge, she didn't rely on her three brothers; she would take her own revenge.
-
That night, at the Liu Family.
Liu Dazhu, having returned from the county to his home, learned that his son had called off the marriage with the Lin Family and was almost furious enough to faint.
He immediately grabbed a broom and started beating Liu Guohui, shouting, "You rotten kid, did you even inform me before calling off this marriage? You're stomping my reputation into the ground!"
Saying this, 'thwack, thwack, thwack,' he struck Liu Guohui's back repeatedly.
"That's for forgetting where you come from!" He hit him hard on the shoulder with the broom.
"That's for being ungrateful!" With a 'smack,' he hit his behind.
"Do you have any idea if it wasn't for Lin Tang's dad, I wouldn't be alive today! How could you, this stinking brat, lead a good life?!" Liu Dazhu gasped in fury.
Of course, Liu Guohui wouldn't just stand there to be beaten; he kept his eyes on his father, trying to dodge the hits.
But the room was too small, and eventually, he did get hit a few times, crying out in pain.
"Dad, am I even your biological son? You might as well just beat me to death.
So what if Lin Tang's dad saved you? Why must I end up with Lin Tang anyhow?"
"I simply don't like her; I'm annoyed just seeing her,
Now that the marriage is called off and the people offended, even if you beat me to death, it won't change a thing."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
130 Power
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