The villainous female supporting character becomes a heartthrob, and the powerful man successfully r

1976, summer.

The atmosphere in the Xiahewan District residential compound was somber.

The Duan family was filled with cries and wails. Duan Jichen's twin brother, Duan Jisong, was delivering goods when he encountered a spy from Xiao Rizi and was persecuted to death.

The Duan family and their neighbors all helped with the funeral arrangements. Duan Jichen and his wife Jiang Ran were busy with all the arrangements. The political commissar even made a special trip to offer his condolences and try to apply for compensation for Duan Jisong.

"Aunt Duan, what's going on with your second son's wife?" a woman from the family compound asked.

Granny Duan's face turned even uglier. Her second son had a childhood betrothal in the countryside, and a letter had just arrived a few days ago saying he wanted to come and get married. Now that her son was dead, wasn't it all because of this vixen?

But she couldn't say such superstitious things in front of everyone. After thinking for a moment, she sighed and said, "She... she's just not meant to be with my family."

Duan Jichen, standing to the side, glanced at Granny Duan, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

After everyone left, he pulled Granny Duan aside and whispered, "Mom, Xia Ying is still on her way; she'll probably arrive in the next couple of days. Why don't we let her stay? I can afford to support her. After all, she's... my brother's; I can support two families!"

Granny Duan angrily slapped his arm a few times and said, "Why should I support that vixen! If it weren't for her, would your brother have died? I won't allow it! Chenzi, you're all I have now, you can't afford to make any more mistakes!"

"Mom, don't worry, I'm here. I'll definitely do better than my brother."

Duan Jichen returned to his room with a heavy heart. Jiang Ran was only wearing a light tank top and shorts, ready to go to sleep.

"Brother Chen, what are you and Mom talking about?"

"It's nothing... Ranran... Go to sleep." Duan Jichen withdrew his gaze, speaking haltingly. He covered himself with the blanket, when suddenly, a warm body pressed against his back.

"Brother Chen, when I received the news, I thought something had happened to you. I was so scared. What will I do without you?" Jiang Ran's voice was full of worry and a little tearful.

Duan Jichen paused for a moment, then gently comforted him. Soon, the room fell silent again, but he couldn't fall asleep at all.

Because he is not Duan Jichen, but Duan Jisong!

The person who got into trouble was Duan Jisong, the deputy regimental commander. That day, he was dressed in civilian clothes and driving the delivery car that Duan Jichen used to deliver goods to buy things for Jiang Ran, but he encountered a spy and got into trouble.

Everyone assumed the one who had the accident was Duan Jisong, but the real Duan Jisong, seeing his frail sister-in-law, knew she wouldn't be able to handle the truth if he revealed it. Since the two looked exactly alike, he decided to go along with the misunderstanding.

As for his beloved fiancée Xia Ying from the countryside, Duan Jisong thought of her fiery personality when she was young, which was incomparable to his quiet and gentle sister-in-law from a wealthy family. If she knew the truth, things would get out of control.

Duan Jisong had been thinking of finding a reason to send the person back.

The next day, Xia Ying was taken to the family compound by a kind person and knocked on the Duan family's door.

Granny Duan refused to open the door no matter what.

"Xia Ying, the second son is dead. We don't acknowledge this marriage. You should leave."

At this moment, Xia Ying, wearing a white dress, stood alone at the door. A gentle breeze blew her half-tied long hair, revealing her fair cheeks and neck, like a pure white jasmine.

Lu Qianqian, who was passing by, couldn't help but stop and secretly glance at Xia Ying not far away.

Soon, she heard a clear, melodious voice like that of a nightingale: "Auntie, you have to return the engagement money and gifts to me."

"What the hell?! You killed my son, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet!"

The voice inside the door roared, startling Xia Ying so much that she couldn't help but take a few steps back, her body swaying like a pitiful little girl who had been bullied.

A protective instinct welled up in Lu Qianqian's heart. She rushed forward and took Xia Ying's arm, beginning to confront the people inside the door.

"What era are we living in? Still indulging in feudal superstitions? Believe me or not, I'll tell the political commissar!"

Old woman Duan inside the door was still a little intimidated when she heard the political commissar's name, but she really didn't want to return it to Xia Ying, as it was a hundred yuan and a fine bracelet.

Back then, so many people in the countryside wanted to marry into her family. If these things hadn't been there, would she have agreed?

You want to go back now? No way.

"Xia Ying, do you have a written agreement? If not, get out of here! If you hadn't said you were coming to marry me, my second son wouldn't be dead!"

Looking at the quiet young girl, Lu Qianqian's voice was full of vigor. She spat and retorted, "What does your son's death have to do with anyone else? I think you just don't want to pay back the money. I'm going to report you to the police, and you just wait!"

"Who do you think you are, sticking up for that jinx! You ask her if she has any evidence. If she can't, I'll have the police arrest you both!"

Lu Qianqian raised her foot to kick the door, but Xia Ying quickly stopped her.

She shook her head and gently patted Lu Qianqian's back to help her catch her breath.

"Don't be impulsive, thank you, but I'd better go now."

Lu Qianqian only saw the beauty weeping, and her anger instantly subsided by more than half, replaced by even greater pity. Seeing Xia Ying trying to leave, she reacted quickly, grabbing her slender wrist.

"I'll help you get justice. Come with me first."

"Wait—" Xia Ying was taken away by Lu Qianqian before she could finish speaking. Lu Qianqian took the luggage from her and carried it on her shoulder.

"I can carry it myself."

"Don't be so polite with me, I'm from the performing arts troupe, I've got plenty of strength."

And so, Lu Qianqian carried her luggage in one hand and held Xia Ying's hand with the other, and went straight home.

As Xia Ying passed the gate of the compound, she saw sentries still standing guard, and she began to have some guesses about Lu Qianqian's identity.

"dad--"

"What are you yelling about? Your dad isn't home yet."

A middle-aged woman in a shirt came out to greet us. She had short hair that reached her ears, wore glasses, and looked very refined.

Lu Qianqian put her things down, arranged for Xia Ying to sit down and rest, and gave her a bottle of soda.

"Oh, who is this young comrade—" Professor Lu, who is also Lu Qianqian's mother, brightened up when she saw Xia Ying and revealed a gentle smile.

"Mom, she is—oh right, little sister, what's your name?"

Lu Qianqian was too anxious and only then remembered to ask for the name.

"My name is Xia Ying, and I'm Duan Jisong's fiancée. I'm here to marry him."

Professor Lu paused for a moment; the name sounded somewhat familiar to her.

"I never imagined he would be killed by a traitorous spy. Now the Duan family disowns the marriage, and I want my engagement gifts back, but Aunt Duan won't accept them. This kind-hearted sister, please speak up for me. Thank you so much."

After listening to Xia Ying's description, Professor Lu finally remembered the major event that had recently occurred.

She was somewhat puzzled: "Isn't it always the groom's family that gives betrothal gifts to the bride's family when an engagement is made?"

"Yes, Yingying is so beautiful, why won't the Duan family give her to them?"

Xia Ying blushed slightly, looking somewhat shy. When she spoke, there was a natural air of melancholy in her voice.

"Because my parents passed away early and my grandmother was in poor health, she thought that Ji Song's older brother, who was in the army, could protect me. So she gave me 100 yuan and a jade bracelet, and only then did Aunt Duan agree to the marriage. This spring, my grandmother passed away and told me to hurry up and get married so that I wouldn't be bullied."

According to the original plot, Xia Ying went to find Duan Jisong, only to be told that he had passed away. Her elder brother, Duan Jichen, persuaded her to take her in and support both families. Xia Ying was initially very touched and worked diligently in the Duan family, taking on all the housework and even helping her sister-in-law take care of her children.

After the college entrance examination was relaxed, Xia Ying wanted to take it, but Granny Duan was afraid that she would run away, so she hid her high school graduation certificate, thwarting her wish.

She became the Duan family's unpaid nanny. When she discovered that Duan Jichen was actually Duan Jisong, she began to cause all sorts of trouble, sabotaging Duan Jisong and Jiang Ran's relationship, and even trying to trip up Duan Jisong. She attempted to report him, but he turned the tables and sent her to prison. She fell ill but received no medical treatment and eventually died in prison.

After hearing Xia Ying's story, Lu Qianqian slammed her hand on the table in anger.

"Mom, do you know what? That wicked old woman said she wouldn't give us anything because we have no evidence. Reporting it to the police won't help either. How can there be such a shameless person in the world!"

After hearing this, Professor Lu's pity for Duan Jisong's murder gradually dissipated.

"Duan Jisong's brother is one of Lao Lu's soldiers. I'll tell him about this. Comrade Xia, don't worry."

Xia Ying immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Professor Lu and Lu Qianqian.

"Thank you, thank you!"

Lu Qianqian immediately stood up and stopped her: "Yingying, don't worry, I will definitely get you justice!"

"However, the guesthouse you're staying at now is quite far from here."

Professor Lu raised her eyes slightly to look at her mischievous little daughter. She knew exactly what kind of fart the little girl was about to let out the moment she lifted her butt.

"There are plenty of rooms in the house, Xia, please stay here for now."

"No need, that would be too much of a bother. I'll just stay at the guesthouse."

Xia Ying waved her hand in refusal, but Lu Qianqian had already picked up her luggage and gone up to the guest room on the second floor.