2Chapter 2 Persuading Her to Get Married

Jiang You handled everything and quickly left the abandoned chemical plant.

She returned home, changed her clothes, and quietly burned all the blood-stained garments.

That evening, sitting at home, the local news on TV reported a sudden fire at the old, dilapidated chemical plant, with no mention of anything else.

But that chemical pond was so deep; who would bother to salvage anything from it?

After dinner, her uncle and aunt began to lecture her.

They weren't urging her to apply to a certain university, but rather to get married.

…

“What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me talking to you? I’m your own uncle; would I really harm you?”

“Jiang You! Your uncle is talking to you, why are you spacing out?!

Have some manners!

Did you read all your books for nothing?!”

Jiang You held the enamel mug in her hands. Above the old living room, the ceiling fan whirred, as if it could fall at any moment.

She looked at the hands holding the mug, very thin, like a few sticks.

Rubbing the thin calluses on her fingertips, Jiang You’s thoughts surged uncontrollably.

The man and woman in front of her were her uncle and aunt.

In her previous life, the first thing she did after escaping the Forbidden Tower was to find her uncle’s family, dismember them, and send every single one of them neatly to their deaths.

Looking at the honest, simple middle-aged man and the plump, shrewd-faced woman in front of her, Jiang You found it somewhat laughable.

Her parents died in a factory explosion when she was five. After their death, the factory signed a contract for 30,000 yuan in monthly compensation to raise Jiang You.

This money would continue until Jiang You turned eighteen.

Originally, they wouldn't have compensated so much, but Jiang You's parents were both involved in the accident at the factory, making her an orphan.

The factory director simply used her as an example, even inviting reporters to cover it, giving high compensation, advertising his factory, and salvaging its image.

It was then that her uncle and aunt became her guardians, receiving her parents' compensation every month and moving into Jiang You’s house.

Jiang You was less than five years old and knew nothing about all this.

No one even told her about the compensation money.

Her uncle and aunt constantly said they had raised her, that she was a parasite in this family, and that it was a great kindness.

She believed them, a child under five whose parents suddenly disappeared.

Naturally, she trusted her uncle who took care of her with all her heart.

Overnight, the family photo of her parents in the living room became one of her uncle and aunt.

Her parents' room was slept in by her uncle and aunt;

Her room became her cousin's room;

The study became her male cousin's room.

And she stood at the entrance of the utility room, hugging her quilt.

After all, her uncle and aunt's family was raising her, so it was only right to give them the big rooms.

The adults all said that she should be grateful and not be an ingrate.

She started learning to help her aunt with household chores, fearing that others would abandon her.

Later, all the housework, including cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes, fell upon her shoulders, and her aunt’s hands grew white and plump.

Her uncle would always bring her small cakes when she was secretly crying alone.

He would gently comfort her.

“A-You, you must know how to be grateful. Although your aunt and cousins might have bad tempers, they aren’t bad-hearted. We are family, and it’s only right for your uncle to raise you, so A-You, you must be obedient, okay?”

At that time, Jiang You had no idea that there was no such thing as her uncle raising her.

Because her uncle's entire family lived off her parents' compensation money.

They were the true parasites!

And the scene before her now was exactly when her uncle and aunt, after she was accepted into a top-tier university, teamed up to persuade her to marry the boss's son.

But their plans ultimately fell through.

Because half a month later, the apocalypse broke out, and who would still care about getting married?

On July 3rd, 21XX, the entire world would be turned upside down…

A bit of spittle landed on her eyelid.

Jiang You's eyelid twitched, pulling her out of her memories.

“Jiang You, your parents died early, and I, as your uncle, treat you like my own daughter. I have to plan for your future.

Tell me, do you have any special skills? Besides, there are so many university students nowadays; do you think you’ll find a good job just by going to university?”

“Jiang, think carefully, even if you go to university, you’ll end up being a 996 or 007 corporate slave after graduation, what future is there in that?

It’s better to marry Boss Wang’s son. Their family has assets worth hundreds of millions; you’ll become a wealthy madam if you marry him!”

Her aunt’s plump body gesticulated wildly, her face flushed.

She looked so excited, as if she wished she could marry him herself.

Jiang You took a sip of the water in her mug.

She raised an eyebrow, “Auntie, you seem to envy Boss Wang’s family’s wealth so much, why don’t you marry him yourself?

You might be a bit old to marry his son, but marrying the old man should still be possible.”

Her aunt's face flushed with anger, the fat on her face trembling.

“You wretched girl, is that how you talk to your elders?”

“Oh, right, do elders persuade their niece to marry a fool?”

Jiang You looked at her coldly, her eyes filled with surging killing intent, which she then suppressed.

She had killed those thugs; for a while, no one would trace it back to her.

But if her uncle’s family disappeared, she would definitely be suspected, and then people would watch her every move.

That would be very inconvenient, and besides, if her uncle and aunt died now, who would negotiate her bride price?

She had come back empty-handed; she couldn't start empty-handed again.

This house could be sold for money, but it wouldn't be nearly enough to hoard supplies.

She remembered that the bride price they offered—no, to be precise, the life-selling money—was very high…

Jiang You lowered her head, staring at the constantly swaying shadow of the ceiling fan in her water mug.

A faint smile imperceptibly rose in her eyes.

Her aunt: “What’s the point of a girl reading so many books? You’ll end up marrying anyway, so why not marry early!”

Jiang You: “You’re going to die of old age anyway, why don’t you just die now?!

If it’s useless for girls to study, then tell my cousin not to study!

Marry early and have a string of children hanging on you!”

Her aunt glared, “Can your cousin be compared to you?!”

“Yes, they can’t be compared. Animals can’t be compared to humans.”

“Who are you calling an animal?”

“Whoever fits the description!”

“Enough!” Li Tianming roared, stopping Ge Chunhua’s cursing.

“This little bitch is cursing me, didn’t you hear?!”

Ge Chunhua was red-faced and furious.

Li Tianming’s chest heaved violently, air whistling from his nose, wishing he could slap Jiang You twice.

But he still feigned a benevolent look, glaring angrily at Ge Chunhua.

“I said enough! Don’t pressure Xiao You anymore!

If she wants to study, let her study!

I may be incompetent as an uncle, but even if I have to sell everything, even sell my blood, I will support her studies!

Jiang You is my sister’s daughter, my own niece!

At worst, we’ll let Yingyue not go to university; we’ll send her to the factory to screw in screws!

No matter what, I cannot let down my sister!”

As Li Tianming spoke, his eyes were red, and he looked at Jiang You with gentle determination.

He was playing the role of a good uncle who would do anything for his sister’s child.

“Xiao You, don’t worry, your uncle will definitely find a way for you to study!

Your uncle will figure out the money for university!”

After speaking, he somewhat guiltily pulled Ge Chunhua’s hand.

“Ge Chunhua, I know I’ve wronged you, but Xiao You is my sister’s daughter, and I cannot let down my sister.

I’ve also let down Yingyue and Haochen.

It’s all my fault; if only I weren’t so incompetent, the three children wouldn’t have to struggle so much!”

They say men don’t easily shed tears, but at this moment, he was suppressing his sobs, trembling all over.

Ge Chunhua hugged Li Tianming, her face filled with heartache, and roared furiously at Jiang You.

“Jiang You, do you have any conscience?

Look what you’ve driven your uncle to?

Are you trying to force him to his death?!!

He’s just your uncle, not your parents; raising you this big is already enough!

Back then, we were afraid you wouldn’t adapt to the countryside, so our whole family moved to the city to be with you and raise you, but what about you?

Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!”

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