My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

"Why don't we break up? You might as well marry my sister."

Lu Qingshan felt a buzzing in his ears.

Who is speaking?

He had just been lying on a bunk bed on the mountain, suffering from late-stage stomach cancer, in so much pain he couldn't even swallow water. A half-bowl of cold porridge sat on the bedside table, and his phone held old photos of Lin Xiulan, who had passed away many years ago.

The next moment, a woman's voice rang in my ears again.

"Lu Qingshan, I'm not joking with you. My sister is already twenty-four, and it'll be hard for her to get married if she keeps dragging this on. You two should just make do."

Lu Qingshan sat up, leaning on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

The walls were made of mud bricks, the windows were old wooden, and an enamel mug sat on the windowsill. On the kang table was half a plate of frozen pears, and two young women sat beside it.

The speaker was Lin Xiumei.

She disliked his poverty in her past life, broke off the engagement, and went to the city to marry Lin Xiumei, the son of the director of the supply and marketing cooperative.

The person sitting next to her had her head down, wearing a faded blue cotton-padded jacket, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes; it was her sister, Lin Xiulan.

"Qingshan, what's wrong?"

A familiar voice called out from the doorway.

Lu Qingshan looked up and saw his mother carrying a sewing basket into the house. Her hair was not yet white, and her back was not bent.

His father, Lu Changgui, followed behind, his pipe tucked into his waistband, his brow furrowed.

Lu Qingshan got off the kang (a heated brick bed), took a few steps over, and hugged his mother.

"daughter."

Wang Guifen was flustered by his embrace and patted his back, saying, "You child, are you delirious with fever? Xiumei is still waiting for your reply."

Lu Changgui coughed lightly, "A grown man shouldn't be so clingy. Let's get this straight first."

Lu Qingshan released his grip and looked at the young faces in the room.

It is now the 27th day of the 12th lunar month in 1983.

Lin Xiumei broke off the engagement, and the Lin family arranged for her older sister, Lin Xiulan, to marry into the family in her place and clean up the mess.

At that time, Lu Qingshan was still arrogant and disdainful of Lin Xiulan, thinking that she was too old and too quiet, and that she was a "trash" sent by the Lin family to get rid of him. He slammed the door and left on the spot.

From then on, Lu Qingshan's life took a downturn.

Without his wife, he became even more idle.

The following spring, he got into a fight and lost his spot at the forest farm. His grandfather, who was already in poor health, passed away from the stress caused by his anger. His parents were extremely worried and went to great lengths to get him a job at the forest farm.

One morning, they both slipped and fell off a cliff. The father died on the spot, while the mother survived but was paralyzed and bedridden.

At this time, Lin Xiulan was already married. Her husband disapproved of her helping Lu Qingshan take care of his paralyzed mother, and would beat her to death every time he got drunk.

Unable to enter the forest farm, Lu Qingshan had to forage for food in the mountains. With two dogs on his leash and the hunting rifle and knife left by his grandfather, he hunted in the mountains. Without his grandfather's hands-on instruction, he faced numerous dangers and nearly lost his life in the mountains several times.

Later, in the winter of her fifty-sixth year, when he hadn't returned for more than ten days, Lin Xiulan went up the mountain to look for him. She was devoured by a pack of wolves, their eyes red with hunger in the winter heat, and never returned.

"Knock knock!"

Lin Xiumei impatiently tapped the table, interrupting his thoughts.

"Lu Qingshan, stop pretending to be deaf. I want to go to work in the county now, I don't want to be stuck in this mountain valley. If you really care about feelings, stop dragging me along. Just marry my sister."

Wang Guifen frowned. "Xiumei, it's one thing to break off the engagement, but why drag Xiulan into this?"

Lin Xiumei pursed her lips. "My sister is willing. She said that as long as the Lu family doesn't mind, she can work, take care of the elderly, and doesn't need a cigarette or a toilet. I think she's just after..."

Lin Xiulan suddenly raised her head. "Xiumei, stop talking."

Lin Xiumei retorted, "Why can't we say? Lu Qingshan gambles with people every day, losing so much he's almost broke. He still hasn't gotten a spot in the forest farm. If it weren't for Mom and Dad being afraid of the villagers gossiping, would a vagrant like him even be able to get married?"

Those words were so harsh that they silenced the room.

Upon hearing this in his previous life, Lu Qingshan spat and left, cursing the Lin family for bullying him.

This time, he stopped his parents, whose faces were grim, and looked straight at Lin Xiulan: "Fine, I'll marry her."

Lin Xiumei was stunned for a moment, then laughed sarcastically, "You actually agreed? Lu Qingshan, you really have no taste."

Lu Qingshan ignored her, walked to the kang table, pushed half a plate of frozen pears in front of Lin Xiulan, and stared straight at Lin Xiulan.

"Sister Xiulan, I used to be a scoundrel with a bad reputation, but I promise I will change. If you're willing, I'll accept this marriage and treat you well for the rest of my life. If you're not willing, I'll go to the Lin family right now and make things clear so as not to delay your marriage."

Lin Xiulan hadn't expected Lu Qingshan to say that. She clutched her worn-out sleeve tightly, feeling the man's burning gaze, and lowered her head even further. After a long while, she finally spoke softly, "You... don't mind that I'm older than you? I'm not good-looking either..."

"When it comes to living together, it's about the people you meet, not your age."

Seeing that neither of them paid any attention to her, Lin Xiumei snorted coldly, "That's easy for you to say. You can't even support yourself, how can you expect to make a living?"

Lu Qingshan looked at her and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Let's sit down and write it down clearly between our two families. From now on, you can go your way in your county, and I'll live my life in the mountains."

"Alright." Lin Xiumei grabbed the scarf. "Two idiots together, that'll save you trouble. But once I get to the county town, don't come knocking on my door trying to arrange a marriage."

Lin Xiulan's face turned pale. "Xiumei, say less."

"Did I say something wrong?" Lin Xiumei glanced at Lu Qingshan. "He's always lost to Zhao Erhu since he was a kid. He can't carry a sack, and he loses arm wrestling too. Uncle Lu, you still want him to take over at the forest farm? With his physique, he'd only embarrass himself there."

Lu Changgui slammed his hand on the table. "Lin Xiumei! This is still my Lu family home!"

Lin Xiumei was so frightened that she took a half step back, her pretty face turning pale. She didn't dare to get angry at Lu Changgui, so she could only glare fiercely at Lu Qingshan.

"I'm telling the truth, Lu Qingshan is a good-for-nothing his whole life!"

After uttering those harsh words, she turned and left the room.

Seeing Lin Xiumei slam the door and leave, Lin Xiulan stood up awkwardly. "Auntie, Uncle, Qingshan, Xiumei said some hurtful things. I apologize on her behalf. I'll go back and explain things to my parents. If you want to back out, I won't blame you."

Lu Qingshan stopped her, "I won't go back on my word. I, Lu Qingshan, am determined to marry you."

Wang Guifen looked at her son and lowered her voice, "Qingshan, this is about living life, not showing off."

Lu Qingshan smiled. "Mother, I wasn't showing off."

"Stop being so glib." Lu Changgui frowned. "You agreed so readily just now, but what are you going to offer to get married? Dowry, banquet, New Year's gifts—all of these cost money. My leg hurts in the rain, and your mother's eyesight is poor. The job placement is still pending; the forest farm has limited spots this year, and the Zhao family is keeping an eye on it."

Lu Qingshan frowned: "Dad, is it possible for the job transfer to work here?"

"Whether it works out or not depends on the management." Lu Changgui took out his pipe, then remembered there was a girl in the room, and stuffed the pipe back into his waistband. "Your grandfather saved the old forest manager in the mountains back then. I'll take you there after the New Year. But once you're in the forest farm, you'll have to carry timber, patrol the mountains, and in winter you'll have to go with the hunting teams. You've been so irresponsible these past few years, it's hard to say whether they'll even take a liking to you."

Lu Qingshan clenched his hand.

Young people have strong bodies and light bones.

But he was truly absurd in his past life. He fought, gambled with his strength, and challenged Zhao Erhu, losing more often than winning. When the villagers mentioned him, eight out of ten sentences were unpleasant.

Lin Xiulan said softly, "Uncle, if it's inconvenient, I can wait. Qingshan, please take care of the important matters first."

Lu Qingshan looked at her and said, "You won't have to wait too long. I'll raise the dowry as soon as possible and marry you."

Wang Guifen glared at him, annoyed. "What makes you say that? Sigh, if your grandfather were willing..."

Wang Guifang glanced at the old man smoking a pipe in the yard, hesitated, then shook her head and stopped talking.

Lu Qingshan realized that this was the time when Hei Zi passed away.

Hei Zi was his grandfather's hunting dog, which he raised for eight years. In his previous life, it was gored to death by a wild boar in Laoyagou at this time.

Later, someone found Hei Zi's copper bell in Laoyagou, along with half a wild boar tusk. After seeing it, Grandpa fell ill that very night, didn't go up the mountain again all winter, and passed away the following spring.

Lu Changgui dared not urge the old man to go up the mountain. It was freezing cold, and without Hei Zi to lead the way and assist him, it would be too dangerous.

He tapped Lu Qingshan on the back of the head, his tone harsher, "I'm asking you a question! How are you going to support your family?"

Lu Qingshan snapped out of his daze. "Dad, I can support myself and my family."

Wang Guifen raised her hand and tapped his forehead. "Your fever hasn't completely gone down yet, has it? You were just asking about filling in for someone, and now you're all high and mighty?"

Lu Qingshan laughed and backed away, "Mother, I'll go into the mountains tomorrow."

Lin Xiulan grew anxious, "What are you doing in the mountains? The snow hasn't melted yet, and there are wild boars over at Laoyagou."

"Put some money in preparation for getting married." Lu Qingshan's throat tightened. "And while we're at it, see if we can bring Hei Zi back."

Lu Changgui's face darkened. "Nonsense! Your grandfather didn't even let you go, what are you trying to prove?"

"I won't go too deep." Lu Qingshan picked up the old hunting knife on the wall, weighed it in his hand, and said, "I'll go with my grandpa. He knows the mountain paths well, and I'm quick on my feet. If we find Heizi, Grandpa will be happy too."

Wang Guifen grabbed his sleeve anxiously, "With your grandfather's temper, if you bring this up, he'll beat you with his pipe."

The group was talking quite loudly when the curtain was lifted.

Grandpa Lu walked in, his worn sheepskin coat still covered in snow, a simple hunting knife hanging at his waist, and an old rope that Hei Zi had used in his hand.

As soon as Old Master Lu entered, everyone fell silent. He glanced at Lu Qingshan.

"You want to go into the mountains?"

Lu Qingshan stepped forward and said, "Sir, I want to get married, and I can also help you find Hei Zi."

After a moment of contemplation, Old Master Lu tossed the old leash into his arms.

"Get up before the rooster crows tomorrow morning. If you can't lift the hunting rifle, get back to bed."