Chapter 631: Marrying a Femme Fatale

"This one’s from Aeridor Village. She’s a temporary worker at the county textile mill, and her father is the village accountant, so her family’s quite well-off." Raina was also satisfied with this young woman.

Of the three young women, the most capable-looking one came from the poorest family. The other two were from well-off households and both had jobs. Even though they were temporary positions, they could become permanent in a few years. Goldie Thorne didn’t even have a job yet, so in a way, he was the one punching above his weight.

But Goldie Thorne had struck it rich and was now famous throughout Clearspring Township, so naturally, his standards for a partner had to be higher. Raina felt her son could afford to marry a woman with a permanent job, no problem!

"Let’s meet this one, then."

Goldie Thorne looked a little embarrassed. Raina saw right through him and shot him a teasing look. ’It’s just because this one’s the prettiest, isn’t it?’ Still, she was happy with all three candidates, so she had no objections no matter which one Goldie chose.

"Alright, I’ll go let the matchmaker know. This young woman isn’t getting any younger, either. She’s already twenty-three."

Raina wasn’t thrilled about her age at first, but the matchmaker explained she hadn’t gotten married yet not because her standards were too high, but because she’d been trying to get into university. After failing the entrance exams for three years, she took the temporary job at the mill. Besides, she had a relative who was a manager at the textile mill, so it was only a matter of time before her position became permanent.

In that era, being a factory worker was a great source of pride. The wages were high, the benefits were good, and so was the social status. Many people would fight tooth and nail for a factory job. In contrast, professions like civil service and teaching, which are popular today, weren’t nearly as sought-after back then.

The wages at the textile mill were considered quite high, though the work was grueling. It was a three-shift system, with the machinery running 24/7. But the pay was excellent—even higher than what many male workers earned. This was the exact reason Raina was willing to overlook the young woman’s "advanced" age.

Goldie didn’t care about her age; she was younger than him, and that was enough. He was completely smitten by her beauty. ’She’s a real knockout. Especially her eyes... they’re so captivating. If she looks this good in a photo, she must be even more stunning in person.’ He was already getting impatient to meet her.

Tang Xiaonan heard from Jim Thorne about the woman who would soon be meeting with her uncle as a potential match—her future aunt-in-law. From Aeridor Village, father’s the village accountant, a temporary worker at the textile mill, unmarried at a "later" age... and Goldie Thorne had fallen for her at first sight. Her heart sank. ’This is bad,’ she thought.

The inevitable had arrived.

This beautiful, "older" young woman was none other than the femme fatale the author had written into the story for Goldie Thorne!

She was genuinely beautiful; otherwise, someone as picky as Goldie Thorne would never have taken an interest. But her talent for wreaking havoc was just as genuine. From the moment she married in, the Thorne family never knew a day of peace; the house was in a constant state of chaos.

This woman, Beatrice, was lazy and self-indulgent, not to mention promiscuous. The real reason she was still unmarried at twenty-three had nothing to do with university exams. It was because she had gotten involved with a "sent-down youth." In the end, he simply packed up and returned to the city, abandoning her without a second thought.

The heartbreak changed Beatrice. Once she started at the textile mill, she had no interest in actually working. Over three years, she went through several boyfriends, but nothing ever came of it. She eventually became what they called a "leftover woman." Decent men wouldn’t have her, and she looked down on the ones who would. In the end, she reluctantly agreed to marry Goldie Thorne.

The first six months were relatively peaceful. After that, Beatrice’s true colors began to show. She spent money like water and was incredibly particular about her food and drink. If Goldie Thorne earned ten dollars, she would spend twelve. When the family ran out of money, she would go out and borrow more. By that time, Raina’s health was already failing, and she was powerless to control her. To make matters worse, when the Thorne family fell on hard times, Beatrice became even more unrestrained.