Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 3 Just Waiting to See You Eagerly Courting Rejection

Li Chuxia spoke the absolute truth; throughout both of her lifetimes, she had never once laid eyes on Qin Yang.

In her previous life, the friction between Lin Jiayi and Qin Yang was severe. They hadn't even crossed paths when Lin Jiayi visited her parents after the wedding. Because Qin Yang's work kept him out of town, there was simply no opportunity for Li Chuxia to meet him.

Once the Li Family's business began to flourish, her mother-in-law forbade any contact with the "vampires" of her maiden home. Consequently, she only sent money back, seeing her relatives even less as the years passed.

Eventually, Lin Jiayi divorced Qin Yang, and Li Chuxia remained a stranger to her brother-in-law until the day she died.

The only things she knew were based on rumors: the man was supposedly frigid, lacked any human warmth, and was a total workaholic who would sacrifice his home life for his career.

Relieved that Li Chuxia didn't appear to be lying, Sun Lanlan said, "Working is also good, you get rationed grain, a salary every month. Many people dream of marrying someone with a job."

With a playful glint in her eyes, Li Chuxia glanced sideways and teased, "Then you should strive to find someone with a job, too."

Though she couldn't change everything yet, she could plant a seed of doubt, hoping her dear friend would avoid that scumbag in this reincarnation.

Sun Lanlan’s face turned bright red. "Ah, we’re talking about you here, why bring me into this?"

Seeing that Li Chuxia was genuinely untroubled, Sun Lanlan felt at ease and began unwrapping the paper bundle she had brought along.

"This is my wedding gift for you. Considering your sister is around, your mother probably won't prepare much for your dowry. Keep this cloth and make some clothes out of it."

It was a length of red plaid fabric, roughly four or five yards—just enough to tailor a coat.

A wave of warmth washed over Li Chuxia’s heart.

Earlier that day, her mother and Lin Jiayi had headed to the city to purchase wedding supplies, leaving her behind to guard the house. Li Chuxia knew perfectly well that every item bought was intended for Lin Jiayi.

History was repeating itself. In her past life, the Li Family had offered a bride price of three hundred yuan, claiming they couldn't afford a cent more. Aside from eighty yuan from the Qin Family, they had also provided a single piece of fabric.

Her mother always preached about matching social status; the respect shown by the in-laws dictated the parents' response. They had purchased two new outfits for Lin Jiayi, even confiscating the cloth Sun Lanlan gave just to bolster Lin Jiayi's appearance.

Gently brushing her fingers over the material, she said, "Thank you, Lanlan, having a friend like you is my good fortune."

"What is there to be polite about," Sun Lanlan waved her hand dismissively. "If Qin Yang ever bullies you, just tell me. But he's not home to bully you anyway. It's Li Guangyuan, with his strong and rough stature, I really can't beat him if he bullies you. It's good that you don't have to marry him."

She finished her sentence and burst into a hearty laugh.

Li Chuxia laughed along with her.

Li Guangyuan did indeed possess a violent streak. Early in their marriage, he acted honest because she was so capable. However, as their wealth grew, he became arrogant, sought out other women, and revealed his true, brutal nature.

It wasn't that she lacked the means to divorce him back then; rather, every asset was registered in Li Guangyuan’s name. A divorce would have meant surrendering a massive portion of her hard-earned estate.

She had schemed far too hard to let it all go, so she had enrolled in a Sanda class instead.

Domestic violence? She decided to see who was truly stronger. She beat the man so severely that he never dared raise a hand against her again, eventually trembling whenever she entered the room.

Li Chuxia was ruthless to others, but she was even more merciless toward herself.

Once Sun Lanlan departed, Li Chuxia grabbed her scissors and began cutting the fabric. She was taller and more slender than Lin Jiayi; while she could wear her sister's oversized hand-me-downs, clothes tailored specifically for her would never fit Lin Jiayi.

She had just finished cutting when the mother and daughter returned, clutching net bags stuffed with various goods.

Stepping into the room and spotting the fabric spread across the kang bed, Lin Jiayi snapped, "Where did you get that fabric?"

"Lanlan gave it to me, so I could make a new dress," Chuxia answered calmly.

"Just because it was given to you, you cut it? Was it really given to you by the Sun Family? It was meant for our family. Why didn't you consult Mother before acting on your own? Such fine fabric, and you've ruined it," Lin Jiayi accused sharply.

Mother Lin also looked pained at the sight of the cut material. "Your sister is right. Whatever the Sun Family gives to our family, I have to return it someday. It's all about social obligation. You're grown up; don't you understand this principle? Now that the fabric is cut, what am I supposed to return Sun Family's favor with?"

Li Chuxia set down her tools, her eyes drifting to the bags in their hands as she spoke with feigned regret. "I got it wrong. Lanlan said it was for me; she wanted me to wear the fabric she gave to make a new dress for my marriage. I didn't think too much about it. But now that I think about it, it's not right to wear fabric given by someone else for marriage. Mom will surely prepare it for me. Tomorrow I'll explain to Lanlan. Although the fabric has been cut, it's not a big issue. I'll tell her we've received the Sun Family's favor, and as for returning favors, you don't have to worry, Mom. Since I cut the fabric, whenever the Sun Family needs something, I will go and return the favor."

Lin Jiayi felt a jolt of panic and shoved the bags behind her back. Everything inside was hers.

Mother Lin wasn't worried about sharing the goods; she was feeling stung by the guilt in Li Chuxia’s words. Even worse was the thought of telling Sun Lanlan the family had accepted the gift.

In their culture, wedding gifts were usually presented on the day of the ceremony. Who sends a gift a week early?

She had only been echoing her eldest daughter's complaints, but if this girl actually spoke to Sun Lanlan and the Sun Family withheld a future wedding gift, the Lins would lose out. After all, Mother Lin had already sent gifts when the Sun sons got married.

"Enough, enough, why so much idle talk? It's already cut, just wear whichever one you want. Our family isn't so strict about these things. You make it sound like I'm ungrateful. You're a girl about to get married; why meddle in the family's social obligations? All you need to do is look after yourself and not disgrace the family."

While she scolded, Mother Lin handed the bags to Lin Jiayi, signaling her to hide them away.

Li Chuxia pretended to ignore the exchange, picking up her needle to continue her work.

Lin Jiayi eyed the fabric with blatant jealousy, thinking to herself: *Truly born to be poor—treating a scrap of cloth like a treasure.* She felt she had truly escaped a bad fate compared to her previous life.

Believing that Li Guangyuan was now hers and that Chuxia would suffer under that cold workaholic, Lin Jiayi’s eyes shone with triumph.

"This color is quite festive. Wearing the new dress at the wedding, Qin Yang will surely like it." *Just wait and see how your warmth is met with his icy silence,* she thought.

Li Chuxia replied without looking up, "I hope he will like it."

Lin Jiayi: "..."

How shameless!

She narrowed her eyes. "Second Sister, what do you think the Qin Family will give you as a betrothal gift? I heard the Qin Family is quite wealthy, and Qin Yang earns a salary. When they marry a daughter-in-law, they must give something substantial, right? Aren't Mom and Dad so kind to arrange such a good match for you?"

Li Chuxia looked up, appearing puzzled. "Eldest Sister, did you not wake up this morning, or did you develop amnesia? Wasn't the Qin Family's marriage originally arranged for you? You were the one who refuted it and wanted to switch with me. If you really think the Qin Family is better than the Li Family, go talk to Mom and Dad again, and switch the marriage arrangement back. I think the Li Family is quite good."

Lin Jiayi stammered, "... Who says the Li Family isn't good? Also, Mom said... from now on, we're not to mention the issue of switching the marriage arrangements again ..."

What if the Li Family heard about this and backed out?

Her mother had exerted so much effort to swap the grooms; she couldn't allow this brainless girl to ruin it. She didn't want Li Guangyuan to have a negative opinion of her before the wedding even started.

Observing her sister's shifty eyes, Li Chuxia suddenly realized the truth behind the situation.