Chapter 1 Lecture on Finding a Husband

It was early spring in the year 1980. Sandspire Train Station was buzzing with activity. "Evelyn, you'd better listen up and remember every single word I'm about to say. Got it?" A striking woman, who looked about 30, pulled a pretty young lady aside, away from the crowd. She jabbed her finger on the young lady's forehead. "Ouch! That hurts!" Evelyn Sinclair winced. Pain prickled across her forehead, jolting her awake. She instinctively rubbed her forehead. Still in a daze, she took in her surroundings. She wondered where this place was and who was this woman standing before her. Not far off, a shiny, new diesel train rolled into the station. It looked like it had just rolled off the factory. "The train's here!" someone shouted, sparking a stir in the crowd. A crowd of passengers in distinctly old-fashioned clothing surged toward the newly arrived diesel train. They pushed the two women, already standing at the edge of the throng, right up against a nearby pillar. Evelyn gasped as her back hit the pillar. Amid the mingling scents around her, she suddenly caught a faint yet distinct fragrance, buried beneath the faint smell of smoke. Her mind froze. What a strange scent. She had never smelled anything like this before. Evelyn Sinclair had been a top-tier perfumer in the 21st century, blessed with an extraordinary sense of smell. For years, she had poured herself into creating the perfect, one-of-a-kind fragrance. However, despite countless tries, something had always felt missing. Perhaps this fresh, unique scent would be the key to unlocking her creation. Evelyn's curiosity was piqued in an instant. But after scanning the crowd, she couldn't locate the source of the unusual scent. Just as she was about to step around the pillar to investigate, a suitcase was suddenly shoved into her arms. This snapped her thoughts back to reality. "Hold onto your luggage!" Startled, Evelyn hugged the suitcase. Fragments of chaotic thoughts flashed through her mind like a fast-forwarded movie. As her memory slowly pieced things together, she realized that the elegant woman in front of her was her mother, Susan Hooper. "Mom?" Evelyn called out tentatively. "Now's not the time for 'Mom' this, 'Mom' that!" Susan shot her a look and gripped her hand urgently. "Forget about that engagement with Larry. Just get out of here first! I'll have your eight uncles talk to your grandma and call off the whole thing. We'll return all the wedding gifts." Evelyn's mind spun. Eight uncles? From the same mother? Susan didn't seem to notice Evelyn's confusion. "Remember, always strive for the better. Follow Ms. Wilkinson to Kingsbridge. From here on out, your life is in your hands. "Making money and finding work is secondary. The real goal is to find yourself a good man to rely on. Kingsbridge is full of successful men, and you're beautiful. Make sure to keep your eyes wide open and choose carefully. "Businessmen have money, officials have power, workers have a stable income, students have a promising future, and older ones know how to take care of a woman. The main thing is to know what you want." After a sigh, Susan continued, "Just don't end up like me, stuck with a simpleton who can't do a thing. He can't even protect his own daughter when it matters." A trace of bitterness flashed in her eyes. Evelyn felt dizzy. She had spent 22 years focused on school and work, never even having a boyfriend. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in dating but that no one had ever pursued her. She had gotten a few love letters back in elementary school, but she hadn't understood them at the time. As she grew older, the boys around her seemed almost too shy to even meet her gaze, let alone talk to her normally. Listening to Susan's intense lecture on finding a husband, Evelyn could feel her cheeks warming. "Just remember, don't follow in your grandma's footsteps!" Susan's tone turned serious as she continued to warn Evelyn.