I Don't Know Either

Jiang Wei had always had things go her way. Her parents doted on her, and she came from a wealthy family.

But at twenty-three, she fell into the mire and became a divorced, cast-off wife.

It took six whole years to go from school uniforms to a wedding dress, but only half a year for them to grow sick of each other.

She swore off love and flew straight to the capital.

Years later, she would transform into a glamorous female boss, sharp and capable.

Then she would return home in glory and leave everyone stunned.

Before the banyan tree at the village entrance had shed its leaves three times, Jiang Wei brought three men home.

One was a strikingly handsome rich young heir, but far too young.

One was an old-school domineering CEO, and the young heir's uncle.

One was a gentle professor, whose every gesture spoke of refinement.

Even her ex-husband came shamelessly knocking when he heard Jiang Wei had returned.

After they drove him off, Jiang's parents stared in shock at the three men left behind.

Looking at his daughter, now more dazzling than ever, Jiang's father struggled to ask:

"Sweetheart, what have you been up to?"

"I... I don't know either."

*

"It's fine if you don't love me, as long as you don't love anyone else."

- Pei Jiabai

"Don't be afraid. It'll just mean one more person to cherish you."

- Pei Yao

"I've already had your children, so when are you taking us home to meet the family?"

- Fu Anan

Content warnings:

1. The heroine is not a strong female lead. She won't be mistreated, but she has been intimate with men other than the hero, while he has not. The ex-husband is not a romantic prospect.

2. It's old-fashioned and very cliche, with an overdose of Mary Sue elements. None of the characters are perfect.

Coming soon:

Chen Jinyu has a problem lately: her man ran away.

She was only picked up off the street in the first place, so if he wanted to leave, fine. But having him disappear at such a crucial moment, instead of sooner or later, put her in a real bind.

In the waning years of the previous dynasty, famine followed famine, and the realm eventually descended into chaos. One day rebels rose in the south, the next someone proclaimed himself emperor in the north. The fighting decimated the population and left fields wild and empty. Only after great hardship was a new dynasty established.

All that was a matter of national importance, and had nothing to do with Chen Jinyu, an ordinary young woman. But the current dynasty had issued a law to encourage population growth: "If a woman is not married by fifteen, her family will be punished in her place."

Chen Jinyu had been engaged since childhood, but her betrothed's family looked down on the Chen family's decline and had kept putting off the wedding. She was fifteen this year, and if she did not marry soon, her two elder brothers would be punished too. So they picked up a man on the road and brought him home.

They thought that would get them safely through the crisis, but now he'd run off without a backward glance!

Her brothers spent every day running around the house, saying they would pick up (or kidnap) another man for her.

Chen Jinyu refused. What if they brought back another man who scowled all day, forbade this and that, stayed silent during the day, and worked her to the bone at night?

As she looked at the law, a brilliant idea suddenly came to her!

*

After a grand funeral, Chen Jinyu became a celebrated young widow, famous far and wide.

One day, her two elder brothers returned and said they had found her a good match. It was none other than their sworn brother. He might be a wastrel, but his family was well-off, and there were no proper elders in his household.

Chen Jinyu was angry, but he obeyed her every word and... was truly handsome.

But just after the wedding date was set, her former childhood betrothed suddenly passed the three imperial examinations in a row. He showed up with their betrothal token and demanded that they honor the engagement. Otherwise, he threatened to sue the Chen family for breaking their promise and ruin them completely.

Two suitors, but Chen Jinyu could only marry one. What was she supposed to do?

Just as the Chen siblings were at their wits' end, the man they thought had run away, whose grave mound hadn't even settled, returned in armor with an army, declaring that he had come to take his new bride home.

Three groups of people gathered outside the Chen family home and fought tooth and nail.

Chen Jinyu and her brothers ended up battered and dusty, so they packed all their belongings and ran away in the dead of night...

In ancient times there were E Huang and Nü Ying; today there is Jinyu and her three marriages. A tale for the ages!

- Miscellaneous Records of the Yao Era

Theme: Love yourself