Chapter 1: Return to 1977

The year 2028.

On the day that Hua Guo’s (China’s) famous economist, Lin Ruo Qiao, climbed to become the richest person in the world,

she donated all her wealth to the country.

When interviewed, she gave a relieved smile.

“I am not as great as everyone thinks. All my struggles in life were just for my son and husband.”

Her jet-black hair was pinned up. Though she was already 68 years old, her beauty remained — as if time had completely forgotten her.

Only the weary and lonely look in her beautiful eyes revealed her age.

The entire internet was moved to tears; who didn’t know that Lin had lost her son and husband long ago?

It was said that her husband was a soldier.

Was this donation a way to accumulate merit, or to fulfill her husband’s last wishes?

Everyone said Lin was deeply devoted, but they lamented that time could never be reversed.

Many who had thoroughly read The Biography of Lin Ruo Qiao

wished they could travel back to Lin’s darkest days to rewrite the fate of her family of three.

But unfortunately…

this was something only Lin herself could accomplish.

Lying in her rocking chair, Lin Ruo Qiao gazed at the faintly visible moon outside the window and gently closed her eyes.

At forty years old, she had finally waited for this day.

“System, are you sure I can return to the year 1977?”

“Host, your faith value has exceeded the budget. I was unsure at first, but now it is confirmed, however…” the system said, “I cannot control the exact time period.”

“Then hurry up, don’t dawdle.”

She couldn’t wait any longer.

“Alright, host.” The system complied.

1977, Nanyang Village, Zhao Family.

Inside a 4 to 5 square meter earthen house, on a four-post wooden bed,

Lin Ruo Qiao gasped deeply and suddenly opened her eyes.

Darkness so thick she couldn’t see her own hand.

A sudden smell of moldy earth hit her nostrils.

Instinctively holding her breath, she realized her mouth was gagged, and her hands and feet were tied to the four bedposts.

She was momentarily stunned.

“System?”

What was going on?

Had she really returned?

“You have successfully traveled back to 1977. The system’s energy is depleted and it will soon enter sleep mode.

Space can still be opened, but from now on you’re on your own. Please find the other half of the system quickly to complete the fusion,”

the system said, then fell silent.

At that moment, low voices suddenly came from outside.

“Don’t be anxious. That shameless woman tied you up. Be careful not to wake your father and little sister.”

“Mom, you’re the best. I’ll definitely let Qiao Qiao give you a big, fat grandson.”

“Hmph, if you weren’t so stubborn about only wanting that shameless woman, Mom wouldn’t let my precious grandson come from her belly.”

“Hehe, Mom is the best, but with Fourth Brother…”

“Don’t worry. Even if he finds out, that’s because his wife cheated on him. If he dares to cause you trouble, Mom will tear him apart.”

Listening to the vague conversation outside, Lin Ruo Qiao’s pupils contracted.

Memories surged like a tide, bursting out from the depths of her mind.

She remembered.

August 27, 1977.

That night was the beginning of her family’s destruction.

Because they received news that her younger brother Zhao Sihai had been injured and discharged from the military.

Zhao Third, who had always harbored ill intentions toward her, could no longer stay calm.

Using the excuse of “borrowing a womb” to have Fourth Brother raise a child for him,

he persuaded Grandma Zhao to help him trap Lin Ruo Qiao.

That night, Lin Ruo Qiao’s four-year-old son Zhao An’an caught a cold.

Lin Ruo Qiao asked Grandma Zhao to discuss taking her son to the health clinic,

but Grandma Zhao knocked her unconscious and tied her up.

Her son was also tied up and locked in the kitchen.

In her previous life, she fought desperately to escape but was caught by people Zhao Xiaohui had brought.

She was slandered by the Zhao family and dragged to the police station.

It was only when Zhao Sihai, who had just returned, exchanged a clean break from the family and his job allocation to Zhao Third, that the Zhao family changed their stance.

But when they found their son,

he was barely alive. After being sent to the hospital and rescued, he became mentally disabled.

Zhao Sihai risked going to the black market to sell goods to raise money for treatment, but was reported by Zhao Third.

When she received the news and rushed to town, she was told her son had drowned and died.

At that time, she was utterly devastated and fell gravely ill.

In a daze, she was taken back to the north by Elder Qin, who was about to return to the city, for medical treatment.

When she recovered and was discharged from the hospital, she learned from Bai Zhenkou, who had gone to inquire, that Zhao Sihai had gone mad. After killing everyone in the Zhao family, he turned himself in and was executed by firing squad.

After a period of depression, she was sent abroad.

Four years later, when she returned to China due to an accident, she was unexpectedly bound to a system.

It was the old pocket watch her son had clutched when he drowned—Elder Qin had brought it back and given it to her.

The system told her it was originally supposed to bind with her son, but failed because the host had died, and half of its data was lost.

As long as she accumulated enough faith value, it could send her back in time.

She could rewrite fate. The only condition was to find the other half of the system and complete the fusion.

That became her sole reason for surviving and striving for decades.

To rewrite fate…

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes fixed fiercely on the door, fists clenched tightly.

Not enough.

A dagger appeared in her right hand, and with a swift motion, she cut through the ropes.

Listening to the babbling voices outside, she turned her gaze to the side of the bed, where the calendar covered a section of the wall.

It was a window that had been abandoned and sealed up.

You like scheming?

You like putting on a show?

You want to make a scene?

Fine, then I’ll help you make it a big one.

Outside the room, Zhao Third impatiently brushed off a few more words from his mother and couldn’t wait any longer. He turned and pushed the door open, hunched over as he stepped inside.

Granny Zhao stared at the door that had just closed. Her already harsh face grew even more twisted and sinister.

“Pah, little slut. You’re getting off easy. Just wait and see how we’ll deal with you in the future!”

As soon as Zhao Third entered, he turned on his flashlight.

Seeing no light, he slapped it a few times against his palm.

A dim, orange-yellow glow flickered onto the bed, right where a lump under the quilt was visible.

His eyes lit up. “Heh heh, Qiao Qiao, Third Brother is here. Tonight I’ll really take care of you…”

He reached out, but his palm was pricked by something sharp.

It didn’t hurt much—he thought it was just a trick by Bai Ruoqiao. Instead of getting angry, his smile grew even more lewd and obscene.

“Qiao Qiao, don’t fight it. Tonight, you’ll be mine no matter what.

What’s so great about Zhao Sihai? He’s just a dog the Zhao family adopted. If you’re with me, I guarantee Mom will treat you like royalty. Heh heh~”

At that moment, Zhao Xiaohui, under the pretense that there was a thief in her sister-in-law’s room,

had called the village chief and brigade leader, leading a large crowd toward the Zhao house.

Looking at the crowd in front, Zhao Xiaohui pretended to wipe away tears and curled her lips into a faint smile.

At this moment, Third Brother should’ve succeeded by now.

Bai Ruoqiao, from tonight onward, you’ll be a ruined woman everyone can shame.

Let’s see if Brother Yu’an still likes you then!

“Xiaohui, don’t worry. We’ll definitely catch that thief,”

Aunt Liu saw her shoulders trembling and thought she was scared, so she comforted her.

Zhao Xiaohui choked out a sob. “Auntie, I’m just… just worried about my sister-in-law. She’s all alone with a child. If that thug does something to her…

Wuwuwu, it’s all my fault. I was too scared and panicked and just ran out.”

Her voice was loud, and everyone nearby naturally heard her.

People looked at each other, expressions shifting.

Yeah, it had been a while already.

A single woman and a child, and Bai Ruoqiao was known for her beauty. It was hard to imagine what might have happened…

They also heard Zhao Sihai was coming back soon—now that would be a spectacle.

Some who had never gotten along with Bai Ruoqiao wore gloating smiles, as if waiting for drama.

Only those who had good relations with Bai Ruoqiao or Zhao Sihai looked genuinely anxious and worried.

Back at the Zhao house.

In Zhao Sihai’s room, Zhao Third had been talking for a long time without hearing a single response.

Finally losing his patience, he frowned and reached out to pull off the blanket.

“Whether you want to or not, tonight you have no choice. Just accept it.”

As he spoke, he lunged forward—

Only to realize something was wrong.

“Why is it a pillow?! Qiao Qiao? Qiao Qiao! Bai Ruoqiao?!”

Finally sensing something off, Zhao Third’s face changed dramatically and he rushed toward the door.

“Mom, Bai—”

BANG!

A loud crash of a chair falling interrupted Zhao Third’s words.

Followed by Granny Zhao’s usual sharp and vicious voice.

“What are you doing? What are you all doing at my house?!”

Zhao Third’s body went rigid, and for a moment, he didn’t dare make a sound.