Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

She helped Professor Sun go abroad. Using the Liang family's connections, she secured a fully funded visiting scholar program at an American university for two years. On the day Professor Sun left, he hugged her at the airport and said, "Wait for me to come back, and we'll get married."

He didn't come back.

Three months later, Liang Lu received a letter from the United States. The letter said he had met someone more suitable for him and hoped for her forgiveness. The letter was very polite and courteous, like a resignation letter.

Liang Lu tore up the letter, then picked it up and pieced it back together, then tore it up again, then picked it up again. She did this several times, until finally she collapsed to the ground and cried all night.

Then she discovered she was pregnant. They had already consummated their relationship. She went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said the fetus wasn't doing well and advised her to rest in bed. She didn't rest. She was afraid to rest. If she stopped, she would want to cry, and cry uncontrollably.

A little over a month later, she miscarried. The doctor said she would never be able to have children again.

Liang Lu lay in bed for half a month and lost 20 pounds. Wu Huifen visited her every day, bringing her soup, talking to her, and wiping away her tears.

“Sister Huifen,” Liang Lu said, her voice hoarse as she grasped her hand, “Am I being stupid?”

Wu Huifen shook her head: "It's not that you're stupid, it's that the swindlers are too cunning."

"Can I find someone better?"

Wu Huifen: "Yes. Of course."

Liang Lu believed it.

After being discharged from the hospital, Liang Lu went back to work. She had lost a lot of weight and looked much older. Walking on campus, she didn't attract as many admiring glances anymore. The young men's eyes had changed from awe to pity. She knew what they were saying about her behind her back—"She was cheated out of her money and her body, and even had an abortion." When these words reached her ears, she trembled with anger, yet felt helpless.

She began to visit Gao Yuliang's house frequently to chat with Wu Huifen, and the two became closer.

Gao Yuliang was already the deputy head of the department at that time, and students often visited his home. Liang Lu liked that lively atmosphere, liked being called "Teacher Liang," and liked sitting next to Wu Huifen, listening to the young college students chat.

It was around that time that she noticed Qi Tongwei.

Qi Tongwei, the student union president of the Department of Political Science and Law, often visited Professor Gao's home. The young man was handsome, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a straight posture; he spoke and acted with a dashing air. Liang Lu first met him in Gao Yuliang's living room. Qi Tongwei sat on the sofa, listening intently to Gao Yuliang talk about some case, his brows slightly furrowed, like a mountain.

Liang Lu's heart skipped a beat.

This young man looked remarkably like Gao Yuliang in his youth. No, he was even more handsome, more energetic, and more ambitious than Gao Yuliang in his youth. His eyes burned with fire, clearly indicating that he was no ordinary person.

Liang Lu began to pay attention to Qi Tongwei. Every time she went to Gao Yuliang's house, she hoped he would be there. When he wasn't there, she would ask Wu Huifen, "Why didn't that student from the Department of Political Science and Law come today?" Wu Huifen would say, "He's probably busy; he has a lot of student council activities."

Liang Lu began to find excuses to talk to Qi Tongwei. She asked him what he studied, what his plans were after graduation, and what his views were on political and legal work. Qi Tongwei answered appropriately, neither servile nor arrogant, showing neither obsequiousness nor excessive respect because she was Teacher Gao's friend, nor because she was Secretary Liang's daughter.

Liang Lu was even more tempted.

She consulted with Wu Huifen.

"Sister Huifen, what do you think of Qi Tongwei?"

Wu Huifen looked at her, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes.

“That’s great,” she said. “It has a promising future.”

"You mean..." Liang Lu hesitated for a moment, "...would he...?"

She didn't finish speaking, but Wu Huifen understood.

"Lulu," Wu Huifen's voice was gentle, "how much older are you than him?"

“Ten years old,” Liang Lu said, her voice lowering.

"That……"

“I know,” Liang Lu interrupted her, “but I don’t think he’ll mind. Look at how he treats me, he never…”

She didn't finish her sentence. She suddenly remembered that Qi Tongwei had always been polite to her, calling her "Teacher Liang," pouring her water, opening doors for her—all very courteous, but nothing more. The way he looked at her was no different from the way he looked at Wu Huifen.

"How about," Wu Huifen said, "I'll have Yuliang ask him for you?"

Liang Lu hesitated for a long time before nodding.

A few days later, Wu Huifen called and said that Qi Tongwei already had a girlfriend, a girl in the same department named Chen Yang, Chen Yanshi's daughter.

Liang Lu hung up the phone and sat on the sofa for a long time before finally making up her mind.

What happened next is the beginning of this story, and everyone knows it.

Liang Lu used Liang Qunfeng's influence to suppress Qi Tongwei's job allocation. Qi Tongwei then left Handong and was admitted to Peking University for his doctoral studies.

Liang Lu has lost face again.

Wu Huifen added, "Only by finding someone younger than Qi Tongwei can you regain your face."

Liang Lu looked up at Wu Huifen. Wu Huifen's gaze was sincere, so sincere that it didn't seem like she was offering words of comfort.

"Really?"

“Of course it’s true,” Wu Huifen said. “Your terms are clear, what are you afraid of?”

Liang Lu believed it.

In 1997, Liang Lu, at the age of thirty-eight, married Xiao Gangyu.

Xiao Gangyu is twelve years younger than Liang Lu and is also a prominent figure in the Department of Political Science and Law at Handong University.

Hou Liangping is already taken, Chen Hai has connections, and Xiao Gangyu, who comes from a farming family, is lucky enough to be selected.

The two got married.

In Liang Lu's eyes, Qi Tongwei was a second-best option, and Xiao Gangyu was a forced landing after another. She felt that she had already suffered a great injustice.

Feeling wronged naturally leads one to believe that the other party owes them something, and that debt should naturally be repaid.

Xiao Gangyu was forced to marry a woman twelve years his senior with a terrible reputation. After the marriage, he was limited by Liang Qunfeng's power and could only be subservient and cautious.

When Liang Qunfeng retires and Xiao Gangyu gains power, a backlash is inevitable.

Liang Qunfeng saw things clearly. He knew what kind of person Xiao Gangyu was—a farmer's son who would do anything to climb the social ladder. He didn't want to give Xiao Gangyu any opportunities or resources. He felt that as long as Xiao Gangyu couldn't get promoted, he could only honestly treat his daughter well.

But fate played a cruel trick. After Liang Qunfeng retired, Gao Yuliang rose to power.

Gao Yuliang was transferred from Handong University to the Provincial Procuratorate, and then to Luzhou, rising through the ranks to become a prominent figure in the province. Liang Lu watched as Wu Huifen went from "Professor Gao's wife" to "Mrs. Gao," witnessing Wu Huifen's rise to prominence—and the flame in her heart reignited.

She forced Xiao Gangyu to climb higher.

Liang Qunfeng contacted Gao Yuliang privately, asking him not to promote Xiao Gangyu. Gao Yuliang agreed.

He understood what Liang Qunfeng meant.

Xiao Gangyu later learned of this. The relationship between the father-in-law and son-in-law was completely broken.

Xiao Gangyu made the same decision as Qi Tongwei in his previous life—to side with Liang Qunfeng's enemy. He didn't go to the extreme of mourning at the grave, but instead sought help from Zhao Lichun.

Zhao Lichun accepted him.

Zhao Lichun accepted Xiao Gangyu not because he valued his abilities, but because it would disgust Liang Qunfeng. Liang Qunfeng lost face and completely abandoned his son-in-law.

Zhao Lichun took Xiao Gangyu in, but didn't nurture him properly. Like Qi Tongwei in the previous life, Xiao Gangyu had a weak foundation, rose quickly in the early stages, but was full of pitfalls.

It wasn't until Gao Yuliang joined the Zhao family gang and brought Xiao Gangyu under his command that Xiao Gangyu's path to advancement truly opened up.

Gao Yuliang needed people, and Xiao Gangyu was readily available. He had worked in the political and legal system for many years, possessing both experience and ability.

Gao Yuliang helped him up, and he got back to his feet. From section chief of the Public Security Bureau to president of the Intermediate People's Court, deputy chief prosecutor of the Procuratorate, and then director of the Public Security Bureau, his career progressed smoothly.

But Xiao Gangyu had been suppressed for too long, and once he started, he couldn't stop.

When he joined the Zhao family gang, he was involved with Zhao Ruilong and was completely dragged into it.

Later, when he became the Director of the Public Security Bureau, he even took a 20% stake in the Shanshui Group—how ​​much was that? He himself couldn't even calculate it. The dividends he received over the years alone would be enough to keep him in jail for life.

Xiao Gangyu's rank was promoted, and Liang Lu tried to repair their relationship. She started treating him well, cooking for him, helping him choose clothes, and bringing him late-night snacks when he worked overtime.

But belated affection is worthless. Xiao Gangyu's gaze towards her changed from feigned adoration to indifference, and from indifference to disgust. He didn't argue with her, didn't make a scene, he simply ignored her.

When he gets home, he goes straight to his study, eats without speaking, and sleeps back to back.

Liang Lu knew that this man hated her.

However, Gao Yuliang was indebted to Liang Qunfeng, and Liang Lu and Wu Huifen maintained a good relationship, so Xiao Gangyu dared not divorce. Life went on like this, day after day, just getting by.

Until now.

Liang Lu had just finished a phone call with Wu Huifen when she drove to the provincial party committee villa.

The gatekeeper called Wu Huifen before opening the gate to let her through.

As Liang Lu sat in the car, waiting for the security guard to call Wu Huifen, she felt a mix of emotions.

Many years ago, I received a similar phone call at home. The security guard told me that a couple claiming to be teachers from Handong University had an appointment with me.

I did the same, directing passage via telephone.

She knew that the two men wanted to use her to get close to her father, but she didn't care.

Looking back now, it seems we were somewhat unaware of how fortunate we were.

At this moment, the roles have been reversed, and the offensive and defensive positions have been reversed.

Wu Huifen agreed over the phone, and the security guard opened the gate and gestured for her to drive in. Then he pointed to the visitor parking space next door and told her to park there.

Liang Lu obediently did as instructed.

Previously, she could drive right in and park her car wherever she wanted in front of Villa No. 3. Now she has to park in the visitor's parking space and walk a bit to get to Wu Huifen's house.

She parked her car, picked up her bag, and walked along the familiar road.

She lived here for several years, and her father has been retired for over a decade. Not much has changed here.

The road was still the same road, the trees were still the same trees, and the streetlights were still the same streetlights, but walking on this road today, she felt unfamiliar with it.

We've arrived at Villa No. 3.

She knew this building all too well.

This was the pinnacle of her life, but now it belongs to Gao Yuliang.

It also belongs to Wu Huifen.

Therefore, she rarely comes here, even though Wu Huifen has invited her many times.

Sisterhood is sometimes like this.

Wu Huifen greeted her at the door.

"Lulu, you're here!" Wu Huifen took her hand and looked her up and down. "You've lost weight. You don't look well either. Have you been eating properly?"

Liang Lu smiled and said it was alright.

Wu Huifen led her into the house. The living room had completely changed. The familiar decor and furniture were gone, replaced by a light-colored fabric sofa, several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, and a few pieces of porcelain on the display shelf. The bookshelf occupied an entire wall, from floor to ceiling, filled to the brim with books. Several potted plants sat on the windowsill, and sunlight streamed in through the French windows, making it warm and inviting.