My Adopted Daughter Is the Real Heiress [The 1970s]

[Full manuscript in progress...]

On her wedding night, Zhou Yaya became a widow.

A happy occasion turned into a funeral. Her husband's family decided she was a bringer of bad luck and demanded that she return the betrothal gifts and work like an ox and a horse to atone for it.

Zhou Yaya immediately turned to the Women's Federation for help and reported the Liu family for spreading feudal superstition. The Liu family was so frightened they didn't dare make a peep.

Her parents came to urge her to give in, but Zhou Yaya coolly gave them a piece of her mind, too.

It was the first time she had ever talked back to her parents. Always sensible and obedient, Zhou Yaya had never felt so liberated in her twenty years. It was as if she were only now truly alive.

Then Zhou Yaya discovered the truth. Her world was only a book, and someone had already written her ending.

The book's protagonist was a fake heiress who had taken someone else's place and was adored by the entire family. Meanwhile, the real heiress had been abandoned in the countryside, where she lived a life of constant beatings and scolding.

Her stepdaughter was the real heiress in the book, and her ending was a grim one: she died tragically at a young age. As she lay dying, the real heiress thought back on her laughable life and realized that her stepmother had been the only one to show her even a little warmth.

That stepmother was Zhou Yaya. In the book, she couldn't take any more abuse from her husband's family and, brokenhearted, took her own life.

After waking up, the first thing Zhou Yaya did was take her gaunt, battered stepdaughter and split from the family.

If no one else wants her, I do.

Everyone said Zhou Yaya was a fool. She was so young, yet had taken on a burden with no blood ties to her. She'd regret it soon enough.

But they watched as Zhou Yaya and the girl grew healthier and put their lives in order.

They watched as Zhou Yaya earned the favor of the town leaders and got a job as a waitress at the state-run restaurant.

What's more, she took the girl and married a promising young officer, then went with him to live a comfortable life with the army.

And the so-called burden turned out to have an impressive background: she was the granddaughter of a senior military commander!

The Liu family: "!!!"

*

Shen Yue was handsome, came from a remarkable family, and was exceptionally capable. Countless people had their eyes on him and wanted to match him with their daughters or nieces for a happy marriage.

Shen Yue turned them all down, saying he only wanted to serve his country and had no interest in romance. Later, he even adopted a fallen comrade's son, saying he already had an heir and didn't need to start a family.

The leaders in the army were quite worried. With Shen Yue being so impervious to persuasion, they figured he would remain a bachelor for life.

Then, out of nowhere, word got around that Shen Yue, who was on leave, was going to submit a marriage application. Everyone was stunned.

What happened to having no interest in romance and not wanting to start a family???

When they learned Shen Yue was bringing his wife to live with the army, everyone eagerly waited to see what kind of woman had won him over.

Then they saw him holding a soft, adorable little girl in his arms and leading a beautiful young woman by the hand. The woman was holding Shen Yue's son, Ping'an, by the hand.

Shen Yue, usually aloof, sharp-tongued, and sternly impartial, wore a tender smile as he leaned toward his pretty young wife and murmured something that made her beam with delight.

!!! Well, would you look at that! So you do have another side!

Reader note: Alternate setting, everyday family life, military spouse life, raising children.

Theme: Live well.