At this time, it's neither too early nor too late in the timeline. The original character is already with that educated youth, and it won't be long before her stepmother introduces her to the man from the neighboring village.
The scene just now involved Ling Jiaojiao, the stepsister, breaking a music box belonging to Second Aunt Ling, who came complaining about it.
Such a music box, in this era, is indeed a rare item.
But it's also a second-hand item that's been resold several times, unlikely worth twenty bucks.
Everyone knows twenty bucks is high; after all, during this era, a worker in a factory only earns twenty to thirty bucks a month.
Just for that broken box, it cost more than half a month's salary.
However, that thing is foreign-made, so you have to take responsibility for breaking it.
Ling Jiaojiao turned around and claimed it was the original character who broke it.
Ling Jiaojiao often pulled these stunts.
