Jiang Sheng, who had aged considerably due to the torment of his eldest daughter’s imprisonment, appeared invigorated and wore a smile.
At the banquet, Liu Shuping spotted a law school graduate who had recently finished university. Eagerly, she approached him with a question.
"I have a relative who got in trouble and was imprisoned. Is there any way to get her out early?"
The college graduate found it amusing but answered her seriously.
"The only way to get released early is to demonstrate good behavior and persist in self-improvement. Generally, sincere remorse and good behavior can lead to a reduction in sentence."
"Sentence reduction? How many years can be reduced?"
"That’s uncertain. Some who achieve significant contributions might be released immediately."
"What does achieving significant contributions mean?"
The graduate found Liu Shuping’s serious demeanor somewhat amusing.
"Aunt, achieving significant contributions is very difficult. If a prisoner excels in some capacity and does something beneficial for the country, their sentence might be reduced. But most prisoners don’t possess such abilities. To get a reduction, it’s best to undergo reform sincerely. By the way, how many years was he sentenced to?"
Liu Shuping’s eyes darted away, and she whispered softly.
"Seven years."
"Seven years isn’t long, but the world changes so rapidly that an ex-convict might struggle to adjust to the new life upon release."
Ultimately, Liu Shuping didn’t glean anything useful.
When visiting, Jiang Sheng accompanied her, staring at his daughter through the glass. Her hair was cut short, her face was pale, and she was thin. Liu Shuping sobbed uncontrollably.
She kept advising Jiang Qu to behave well and aim for a sentence reduction to be released earlier.
But Jiang Qu was not particularly moved. She merely coldly stared at her parents, and only when visiting time ended did she coldly utter.
"Why are you crying? Isn’t it because of your beloved daughter, the scholar, that I ended up like this? Now that you have her, why do you still need me?"
After speaking, she turned away indifferently, leaving her parents frozen in expression and heartbroken.
After that, Jiang Sheng stopped visiting him.
Only Liu Shuping visited annually, advising her to open her mind and behave well.
Seven years passed quickly.
Jiang Lai graduated from university, then went abroad for a master’s, and returned to become a surgeon at a top hospital.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qiuhe attracted many foreign clients with the Liangxi Handicraft Factory he founded, making a splash at the Canton Fair. Now, he is the vice president of the city’s cultural association, establishing his own company focused on handwoven goods and carpets, exporting worldwide.
Additionally, at an international exchange event, he met a foreign girl studying domestically, who fell for him at first sight, pursuing him ardently. She became Jiang Qiuhe’s wife, and they held their wedding in Liangxi Village, where Cheng Lie, chairman of Longheng Company, acted as the witness.
Soon, Jiang Sheng retired as brigade leader, and he and Liu Shuping moved to the county, conveniently looking after their nearly full-term pregnant daughter-in-law.
Seven years felt quite long for Jiang Lai.
She actually wanted to leave after graduating from university, but unexpectedly, Cheng Lie bought a pigeon-sized diamond ring and proposed to her.
The diamond was so beautiful that Jiang Lai loved it. In a moment of enthusiasm, she agreed.
No choice, a promise made had to be kept. After completing her master’s and returning, they got married.
The wedding venue was exceptionally luxurious. Cheng Lie, usually modest and frugal, spared no expense for Jiang Lai, throwing a grand ceremony in the village before hosting another at the city’s priciest hotel.
During the event, eighteen Peugeot 505s led the way, worth millions, astonishing all the wedding attendees, and giving Jiang Sheng due respect.
In his lifetime, Jiang Sheng valued his reputation most. On this day, he became the father-in-law of the city’s wealthiest man, drinking heavily as he always does, getting utterly drunk, needing two people to escort him back to rest.
That day was also Jiang Qu’s third day of release from prison.
To outsiders, she seemed like a relative returning from working out of town. Due to her greatly changed appearance, many didn’t even recognize her.
As the bridal gown-clad Jiang Lai slowly walked up the flower-covered high stage, Jiang Qu felt a momentary daze. The jealousy that almost overflowed suddenly turned into despair and sorrow.
She had once imagined such a wedding.
Sadly, she never got it in the past life or this life.
Clearly, Heaven had given her a chance, so why did she end up like this?
Jiang Qu stared blankly, thinking silently. Was it her poor judgment in choosing a man who turned out to be a worthless dud?
If only she had another chance, how great would it be? Then the handsome, tall man before her would be hers.
It’s said his forebears had accumulated countless wealth, and his current achievements were only built upon his ancestry.
Indeed, when choosing a man, one should choose one with inherently good conditions.
In comparison, Jiang Lai is truly hypocritical; she’d vowed to rely on herself. Now, isn’t she married to a wealthy man?
She was too foolish, truly too foolish.
Just then, the bride tossed the bouquet, and a girl rushed to grab it, instantly handing it to a man below the stage.
The man smilingly took the bouquet, walked onto the stage, and naturally knelt on one knee to propose to the girl.
This scene aroused cheers among the surrounding guests.
The man’s face was so familiar under the lights that Jiang Qu couldn’t help but widen her eyes, her breath quickening, and her heart pounding uncontrollably.
He Xing.
It was He Xing.
What was he doing?
Was he proposing to someone else?
Why did he smile so happily and tenderly? Hadn’t he said before that his favorite person was herself?
Cheng Lie’s subsequent introduction plunged Jiang Qu’s heart into an icy pit.
Cheng Lie said He Xing was the company’s deputy general manager, his best partner along the way, and the soul of the company.
He Xing was the deputy general manager...
Almost equals with Cheng Lie.
So he succeeded tremendously.
He achieved far greater success than in his past life.
Jiang Qu’s heart seemed to split into eight pieces.
After the wedding, she eagerly sought him out, only to receive a cold sentence.
"You’re not worthy of my love. I’m very grateful for the failure that made me recognize you earlier."
After speaking, he turned to enter the car, his silhouette full of resolution.
Lost and broken, Jiang Qu knelt on the ground, the world before her appeared unfamiliar. Like a person possessed, she continuously muttered.
"Why, why is it like this."
"I should have been the protagonist today. I am the one favored by Heaven..."
"Where did it go wrong, where did it go wrong..."
Jiang Qu went mad, forever trapped in her fantasy world, unable to escape.