Chapter 4 – There’s a Ghost!

When Mother Li heard what she said, she got so worked up that her face turned bright red. She opened her mouth several times, clearly wanting to lash out, but each time her gaze caught sight of Mother Jiang and Second Sister-in-law Jiang nearby, she swallowed her harsh words back down.

“This child must be throwing a tantrum at me because I scolded her just now,” she said with a sheepish smile to Mother Jiang.

Mother Jiang stared at her silently, her eyes filled with an expression that said she had seen right through her.

Seeing this, Mother Li felt even more humiliated. Using the excuse that someone at home was waiting for her, she fled the house in a flustered mess.

“Third Sister-in-law, you really cut your hand pretty deep. Be careful these next few days and try not to get it wet,” said Eldest Sister-in-law Jiang patiently as she finished bandaging the wound.

Li Yiyi nodded. Since she had a medical background herself, she was fully aware of the situation.

At this moment, Mother Jiang found herself feeling a bit unfamiliar with this third daughter-in-law. In the past, this daughter-in-law would do anything for her maternal family without hesitation.

She had known for a long time that her daughter-in-law was using her son’s salary to support her own family. She had even brought it up with her, but the woman had taken her good intentions as meddling and responded with hostility. Eventually, she gave up trying to say anything at all.

If she had guessed right, that in-law had probably come today to ask for money again—except, strangely, they didn’t get any this time.

What surprised her even more was that instead of lending money, this daughter-in-law had actually asked for the money she’d already given over the years to be returned.

Thinking of this, Mother Jiang scrutinized her daughter-in-law closely as she chatted with the two older sisters-in-law.

Had she really grown up and become sensible?

Unaware that her mother-in-law had always thought her immature, Li Yiyi was telling Eldest and Second Sister-in-law about the rice still left in the pot.

“Big Sis, Second Sis, both kids usually eat at your place. If it weren’t for you two, they might’ve starved to death with a useless mother like me,” Li Yiyi said gratefully from the bottom of her heart.

From the memories of the original host, she’d come to understand how badly the two children had suffered due to their mother’s laziness and greed. They had lived off scraps, often going hungry.

Thankfully, her two sisters-in-law had been kind enough to let the children eat at their homes all these years. It was the only reason the kids had survived.

“We’re all family, no need to say all that,” Eldest Sister-in-law Jiang replied with a smile.

This third sister-in-law really had changed. She would’ve never said something like this in the past.

“Exactly. We’re family, so you must take this rice back for the kids to try.” Li Yiyi seriously shoved the bowl of ham and rice into Eldest Sister-in-law’s hands.

Eldest Sister-in-law caught a whiff of the aroma and couldn’t help swallowing a bit of drool. Ham and white rice—such good food! Even she hadn’t had a chance to try anything like this before.

“But you barely have anything to eat yourselves. I really can’t take it,” she said, trying hard to resist despite her reluctance.

As the two of them pushed the bowl back and forth, Mother Jiang suddenly stepped over and said, “Just take it.”

Eldest Sister-in-law didn’t dare argue once her mother-in-law had spoken, so she accepted the bowl and gratefully thanked Li Yiyi.

Though their family was doing better than most in the village—with their father-in-law as the village head and a younger brother-in-law serving in the army—even they couldn’t just eat meat whenever they wanted.

Clutching the bowl of ham rice, Eldest Sister-in-law felt a surge of hope. At least the kids would get a bit of nutrition today.

“Third daughter-in-law, if there’s really no food at home, come over and take a sack of brown rice,” Mother Jiang said.

Li Yiyi knew how scarce food was in this era. Remembering all the terrible things the original host had done to this family, she felt deeply ashamed.

“No need, Mom. There’s still a bit left at home. And I’m going back to my parents’ place tomorrow. Once I get that money back, I’ll buy more grain,” she said, looking a little embarrassed.

Mother Jiang nodded, seeing that she had a plan and didn’t press further. Instead, she brought up something else.

“As long as you know what you’re doing. Oh, and I sent a telegram to your husband. He might come back for a visit soon. You two should talk things over properly when he does.”

Li Yiyi froze. He’s coming back?
What should she do?
Would he see through her?

Worried about this, she didn’t even remember when Mother Jiang and the others left.

After lunch, the two kids went off to nap in their room.

In the kitchen, Li Yiyi washed the dishes from their meal. But as she stepped out, she spotted someone sneaking around outside her wall—just a head peeking up sneakily.

Narrowing her eyes, she instantly recognized the girl as the village accountant’s youngest daughter—an old maid, according to local gossip.

From the original host’s memory, it didn’t seem like the two had any kind of relationship.

Yet here she was, crouching suspiciously and spying over the wall. Interesting.

With a small smirk, Li Yiyi strolled right under the wall where the woman was peeking.

“Hey, Yang Tao, why aren’t you at home? What are you doing sneaking around and peeking into my yard?”

Caught doing something shady, Yang Tao—nervous and glancing around—was startled to find Li Yiyi standing right below her. She screamed, “Oh my god, a ghost!”

The next thing Li Yiyi heard was a loud thud, like someone had fallen hard to the ground.

She didn’t even have to look to know what happened. From the sound alone, she winced in sympathy.

Still, she was even more curious—why was Yang Tao skulking around and spying?

She quickly turned and headed out of the yard.

Sure enough, when she got outside, she found a young woman sitting on the ground outside her wall.

“Yang Tao, why are you climbing my wall instead of your own? What are you trying to do?” she asked coldly. Since the original host didn’t have anything to do with her, Yang Tao sneaking around like this definitely raised suspicion.

“You… you… are you a human or a ghost?” Yang Tao sat on the ground, pointing at her in horror.

That question sent a chill through Li Yiyi. She narrowed her eyes, staring at the woman on the ground.

What was going on?
Could this woman… somehow tell she wasn’t the original soul?

As Li Yiyi was still wondering whether Yang Tao had the ability to see through her as a soul from another world, she suddenly heard her mutter, “That’s impossible… At this time, you were supposed to be dead. How are you still alive?”

That snapped Li Yiyi out of her earlier fear. If anything, Yang Tao’s words sparked a new suspicion.

Judging by what she said, could Yang Tao be… someone who was reborn?

That would mean she came sneaking around today to see if Li Yiyi was dead or not.

What she didn’t know was that the original host really had died.
The one standing here now was her—Li Yiyi, a soul from another world.