In her previous life, she had received an elite education from a young age, and at sixteen, she was forced to take over the family business, which was on the brink of bankruptcy. From then on, she dedicated herself to the company while also caring for her younger brother, who was ten years her junior.
Ideally, the education of a child should be the responsibility of the parents, in addition to the team of tutors arranged by the family. However, her father's greatest love was for her mother.
When her mother gave birth to her younger brother, Jiang Yi, her health suffered greatly, and she needed an extended period of rest. Her father, focused on caring for his beloved wife, neglected the family business, leading to significant issues within the company.
Consequently, just as she was about to receive her third doctoral degree, her father shamelessly passed the burden of the family business to her, a mere sixteen-year-old girl.
Sighing to herself, Jiang Li wasn't concerned about the potential chaos that might ensue in the family business after her sudden death.
Why?
She believed that her seventeen-year-old brother could seamlessly take over the family business, just as she had done. After all, her little brother was a genius, much like herself.
Moreover, with her father still around, how could he let his daughter's years of hard work go to waste?
With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Li felt incredibly relaxed. She had already achieved success in her previous life, reaching heights that most of her peers in the business world could only dream of. To her, money was merely a number..
Now, regardless of why she became the youngest daughter of the Jiang family in the 1970s and a cannon fodder in a novel, the only thing she wanted was to live a quiet life.
She didn't want to exhaust herself for her family and their business as she had done in her previous life, to the point of collapsing under the burden at the young age of twenty-seven.
Of course, now that she was the original owner, the original owner's family was her family. For the rest of her life, she would protect these relatives and ensure their well-being.
Oh, and there was also Comrade Luo Yanqing and his three little cubs. She would protect them, too!
They were all unfortunate souls, cannon fodders on the journey to the male and female leads' happy ending. With her around, who cared about the leads or the dramatic plotline?
She wanted to be a bystander, watching the show with the three little cubs and their father as they observed the male and female leads' family drama from afar.
"That's easy for you to say, but who knows what will actually happen?"
Cai Xiuwen's angry voice snapped Jiang Li back to the present. Pouting her lips, she imitated the original owner's behavior and rubbed her head against her mother's arm, her voice coquettish and sweet:
"Mother, Comrade Luo is so much more handsome than Zhou Weimin. I fell in love with him at first sight. Please agree to this marriage, Mother.
Otherwise, I won't be able to eat or sleep properly, and I'll become skinny and haggard in no time. In the end, you'll be the one who suffers the most! Besides, Dad has already brought back our marriage certificate. If we back out now, we'll be breaking our promise, and people will look down on us."
"Let them say what they want, I'm not afraid!"
Cai Xiuwen replied nonchalantly.
"I know you're not afraid, and neither are Father, my brothers and sisters-in-law, or my nephews. But I don't want our family to be gossiped about because of me.
Mother, I've been spoiled by the family since I was born. I don't want to be selfish; I want everyone to be happy."
Cai Xiuwen looked at her daughter with loving eyes, seeing no trace of deceit in her gaze or expression. Eventually, her resolve softened: "Have you really made up your mind?"
"Yes."
Jiang Li nodded firmly, her clear and transparent fox-like eyes shining with sincerity and joy: "I like children, and you know that, mom. At home, I always play with my nephews and teach them how to read and count!"
This was the truth. The original owner's nephews were older than her in terms of age, and when they weren't in school, they actively helped the adults in the family earn work points. The younger nephews, on the other hand, listened to the original owner's commands and did as she asked.
Cai Xiuwen remained silent for a long moment.
"Don't worry, Mother. Our Li Bao is smart, and she will definitely live a good life. By the way, I forgot to tell you that Director Wu's superior also asked him to inform us that they will arrange a job for Li Bao in Beicheng, and it comes with an official position."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room, except for Jiang Li, widened their eyes in surprise.
A job with an official position meant a permanent position, a commodity grain ration, and a monthly salary...
Jiang Guowei asked, "Father, do you think they might be tricking our Li Bao?"
"Impossible."
Jiang Laigen shook his head. "I trust Director Wu's character. If he says that they will arrange a job for Li Bao, then they definitely will."
However, aside from Jiang Laigen and Jiang Li, the rest of the Jiang family was still skeptical about Jiang Li marrying a widower and becoming a stepmother.
They worried about their precious daughter (sister, younger sister-in-law, younger aunt) being wronged in Beicheng, far away from her family. They feared that their delicate and beautiful daughter might hide under the covers and cry herself sick.
However, no one spoke up because they could see that their daughter (sister, younger sister-in-law, younger aunt) was determined, and they knew their words would fall on deaf ears.
"Dad, I have something important I want to discuss with Director Wu."
Work? How could that be possible?! She wanted to be a slacker and do nothing!
"You want to see Director Wu?"
Jiang Laigen and the rest of the family turned their gazes toward Jiang Li.
"Yes, I want to go to the commune to see Director Wu. I have something important to discuss with him. Can you accompany me this afternoon, Dad?"
Jiang Li blinked her eyes, her clear gaze filled with anticipation and trust.
"Of course, I'll go with you. But your head is still injured, and if something happens on the way, your mother will blame me!"
As he spoke, Jiang Laigen glanced cautiously at his wife.
"It's fine, my head doesn't hurt anymore."
Jiang Li raised her hand to touch the back of her head, shaking it with a sweet smile.
The original owner's head had been wrapped in white gauze, but the injury wasn't serious. It was just a small bump and a minor scrape.
"Li Bao, what do you want to discuss with Director Wu?"
Cai Xiuwen asked at that moment.
"It's a secret for now."
Jiang Li winked playfully and smiled at her family. "I'm tired, so I'll rest in the room for a while. Remember to call me when you're leaving, Dad."
She needed to think of a way to convince Director Wu to transfer the job offer meant for her to her younger brother, Jiang Guoan. Whether the job was in Beicheng or their hometown, as long as her brother could get it, she would be satisfied.
Why didn't she consider transferring the job to one of her nephews instead?
It was simple—she had more than one nephew, and two of them were of working age. If she gave the job to one and not the other, it would inevitably cause family discord.
Rather than stirring up trouble, it was better to not involve the younger generation at all and have her younger brother, who had graduated from high school with her last year, take over the coveted iron rice bowl (job).
(End of Chapter)