The Secret of Second Marriage

I flipped the table, and food fell all over the floor.

Everyone present was stunned.

My mom was surprised to see that I didn't even like the divorced man she had gone to so much trouble to introduce to me.

She said angrily, "You're divorced with a daughter, you should be grateful that someone wants you. What are you being so picky about? If you don't get married, your father and I won't be able to hold our heads up in our hometown, do you know that?"

My dad also said, "The person your mom is introducing you to this time is quite honest, completely different from your ex-husband. He usually helps out at the shop, selling steamed buns."

"If you marry into their family, you'll be the boss's wife right away. And if you have a son, they'll hand over one of their steamed bun shops to you two to manage. Man, you won't have to worry about food and drink for the rest of your life."

I felt a mix of bitterness and anger.

I'm a child of divorce, why should I be considered inferior? Judging from the attitude of the other party's parents, they are so picky that they can't stand me. They even said they want to find a hardworking girl to live with their son.

Doesn't this mean that after getting married, I'll have to work for them for free and be their maid for life? I got divorced for freedom, not to be a slave to someone else in marriage.

I smiled and said tactfully, "Hehe, Auntie, I'm not a woman who can endure hardship."

I enjoy shopping for clothes, doing makeup, and getting my nails done. My clothes and shoes are all designer brands costing thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. I'm afraid I'm not a good fit for your son.

"That's not what your mom told me. She said you've been doing your ex-husband's laundry and cooking for 10 years, and you can do all the housework. She even said she was going to hand over our family's steamed bun business to you."

The other woman's mother looked at me with a sharp tongue and a critical eye, and then said...

My goodness, I've really encountered a weirdo. He even said he'd hand over the steamed bun business to me, just to fool some young girl.

But I'm already 30 years old, and I've already been through a marriage.

Isn't what she means by saying that after I marry into their family, I'll have to work for them for free without pay? Just thinking about having to get up before 5 a.m. every day to make bread and steamed buns makes me think this family is too shrewd and calculating.

I politely replied, "I'm sorry, I don't plan to find a partner right now, and I have no interest in cooking or making dumplings."

"I spend over ten thousand yuan a month on rent and utilities, plus all the extracurricular classes I enroll my daughter in, and the monthly skincare, beauty, and other treatments. Can your son afford to support me?"

"Why would a woman like you spend so much money? Besides, your daughter is just a little girl, there's no need to enroll her in any tutoring classes!"

Jiang Man, it's only because our family thinks highly of you that we're doing you a favor. Do you know how good my son is? We own three steamed bun shops, and there are plenty of young and beautiful girls who want to marry him.

I heard your ex-husband is a vice president of a company, earning millions a year. He must give you and your daughter a considerable amount of child support every month, otherwise you wouldn't be living in such a nice house, right?

If you can get rid of all these bad habits of yours, I might consider letting you get along with my son!

The other woman's eyes darted around.

Her son, standing beside her, kept saying, "I'll listen to my mom..."

Turns out he's a mama's boy.

I thought for a moment and said, "Auntie, your son and I are not a good match. I didn't know my parents would suddenly invite you here for a blind date. Your son and I have never met before, yet we're talking about marriage. I think this is absurd."

In short, I don't want to go on blind dates. If you have nothing else to do after your meal, please feel free to leave!

After I finished speaking, I left them all standing in the living room, then took my phone, went back to the bathroom, closed the door, and called my friend Yuxiang, who is the new "big brother" I've come to know in this city.

I said, "Brother, I'm in trouble. Could you send your men to help me this once? I can pay for my own protection."

"Girl, we can talk about the money later. Send me the address, and I'll bring some people over right now."

Yuxiang immediately and readily gave me a reply.

To be honest, as a divorced, single woman raising a child, my biggest fear is encountering danger.

My parents brought a bunch of weird relatives to introduce me to potential partners without my knowledge, and it seemed like they had already made arrangements with them and didn't consider my feelings at all.

Just now, while we were eating, the way that shifty-eyed man they brought looked at me was full of calculation, scrutiny, and lust. His sly smile made me feel disgusted.

I've lived in big cities for so long that I've almost forgotten how treacherous people can be back in my hometown.

As soon as I got divorced, I didn't expect my parents to start scheming for my dowry. They must have already agreed on the dowry with the other party and then came to my home for a blind date. To put it bluntly, they were selling their daughter.

I took a deep breath, opened my phone, found Mr. Jiang's contact information, clicked a few times, but still hesitated to dial his number.

To be honest, I don't want my parents to know that I'm dating Mr. Jiang.

Because I don't want to involve President Jiang. Knowing my parents as I do, I know they'll definitely make exorbitant demands, asking President Jiang for money, favors, and connections...

I really hate my parents. They're greedy and opportunistic, and everything they do is for my brother's benefit. They have no regard for my life or death at all.

They've always been like this since I was a child; my heart has been chilled countless times.

I made a phone call in the bathroom, then washed my face with water to clear my head, just then there was a knock on the door.

"Jiang Man, what are you doing in there? Hurry up and come out to entertain the guests. Today is your blind date... I'm doing this for your own good. Didn't you complain that your ex-husband was a womanizer and had affairs? This time, I'll find you an honest man."

He's just like your brother; besides helping out at the shop, he spends his time playing video games at home. He doesn't talk much, so it's obvious he wouldn't cheat on you.

My mom insists that I go on a blind date with that guy.

When I came out of the bathroom, I was surprised to find that my parents had already cleaned up the mess on the table.

My mom went to the kitchen and cooked a few more dishes. As soon as she came in to greet the family, she said, "Man, you're not young anymore, over 30, divorced. Who would want you? I'm only doing this for your own good. If you don't get married now, do you think anyone will want you when you're 40?"

Stop being temperamental. The man I'm introducing you to is really good. He said he doesn't mind your shortcomings and that he's willing to live a good life with you after we get our marriage certificate.

How about this, we adults will watch TV outside, and you two can go to the room alone to talk and catch up.

"I'm not going. I've said it before, I don't want to go on blind dates, and I don't want to get married. Mom, why have you forced me to do things I don't like since I was little? Are you even my real mother?"

I completely lost my temper.

My mom was so angry she couldn't save face, and she yelled at me, "Wasn't I doing this for your own good?"

My dad also said, "The person your mom introduced to you knows her inside and out! Her family owns a shop and runs a business. You'll be the boss's wife right after you marry into the family. What's there to be dissatisfied about?"

Do you have the right to be picky? When have we, as parents, ever harmed you?

"I don't need you to worry about my affairs."

I said, "Please take your son and leave my house, or I will call the police."

The other woman had been holding back her temper, but when she heard me say that, she finally couldn't help but argue with me.

She said, "Jiang Man, right? Let me tell you the truth, your brother gambled away over 100,000 yuan and owed money. Your mother borrowed money from me to pay off the debt, saying it was for your dowry."

If it weren't for the fact that you're somewhat educated, have a bit of culture, are fairly attractive, and have a big butt that can produce a son, I wouldn't have let my son choose a woman like you.

"If you want us to leave, fine, but you'll have to pay us back!"

"You sold me out of a few hundred thousand, didn't you?"

I glanced at my parents, and once again, my heart sank completely.

I said in a cold and ruthless voice, "From now on, I will pretend that you never gave birth to me, and that I don't have parents like you. I will pay child support in the future, but you can let the court decide first."

For so many years, every time I tried to count on you, all I got in return was cold calculation and disdain. I broke down time and time again, only to be reborn from the brink of despair time and time again.

But what about you? Every time I encounter difficulties, you either turn a blind eye or kick me when I'm down. Every time my life just starts to improve, you come and rob me of everything.

I really don't understand what bad luck I must have had in my past life to have met parents like you!

Parents like you, worse than animals, are better off without!

"Say it again, Jiang Man, go ahead and say it again if you dare! You ungrateful wretch, if it weren't for the old man taking you in, you would have starved and frozen to death on the roadside long ago... and you still don't know how to be grateful..."

My mom suddenly lost control of her emotions and let something slip.

Seeing this, my dad quickly covered her mouth and said, "What are you saying? What do you mean, 'found it'?! Nonsense!"

The old man she was talking about is my grandfather. My grandfather was a retired soldier. I was raised by my grandparents from childhood. My parents basically didn't care about me. They only brought me to live with them after I turned 12, but they still didn't treat me well.

I was shocked.

So I'm not their biological child after all. I was adopted. Where are my biological parents?

My mom said, "I don't care, I've taken the money, and I've used it all to pay off your brother's debts. You have no choice but to marry him!"

"I don't want to get married, can you force me? This is a society governed by law, what can you do to me?"

I sneered.

My mother actually said to that short, fat man in his forties with a face full of scars, "She will be your wife from now on. Take her home. Anyway, both our parents have witnessed and agreed on the dowry and the three gold pieces. Find an opportunity to settle things, and then you can marry her."

The 40-year-old man was talking and then tried to pull me into the bedroom.

He said, "Your mother owes my family money, so you'll be my wife from now on. Jiang Man, I think you're quite pretty, and I have feelings for you... Don't pretend to be innocent. You're a divorced woman, not a virgin. Sleeping with one man is the same as sleeping with two men."

"I'm already being kind by not minding your age. From now on, you can help out at our family's steamed bun shop and take care of my parents. They're getting old, and I want to get married so they can enjoy their retirement... You understand what I mean, right?"

"When a person is shameless, they are invincible! Do you think I, a divorced woman, am easy to bully? Let me tell you, I have surveillance cameras in my house. You came to my door today to force me into marriage, restrict my personal freedom, and even tried to force me into marriage. You have broken the law and will go to jail!"

So what if a woman is divorced? Don't look at divorced women with your filthy eyes.

Divorced women are more mature, more stable, more clear-headed, and more aware of their own choices. How could they possibly marry a man like you who is calculating, selfish, and disgusting?

If you dare touch me, I'll trade my life for yours and drag you to hell!

I fell silent, then kicked him in the crotch, grabbed the scissors I had hidden in my hand, and held them to his throat.

The man was so scared he peed his pants; he never expected me to be so tough.

He instinctively looked at his mother and said, "Mom, I'm scared...this woman is crazy!"

"Son, don't be afraid! She's just trying to scare you!"

Her mother steadied herself and said to me, "You madwoman, put down the scissors! If you don't want to marry my son, give the money back to our family!"

"Whoever borrowed it should pay it back; I don't have any money anyway."

I say.

Just then, my older brother Yuxiang led a group of bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses into the room by entering the combination lock.

After they arrived, my heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, finally settled down, because I knew I was alright.

Yu Xiang, accompanied by seven or eight burly men, walked up to me, bolstering my confidence, and said, "Man, I'm here. This isn't some feudal society; no one will force you to get married!"