Chapter 2

After graduating from high school, Xu Ruhua of her first life responded to the call to work in the countryside. After struggling for two years in the rural areas, she finally couldn’t take it anymore and agreed to marry the factory director’s son, who had been previously married, to return to the city.

However, not long after her marriage, the college entrance exam system was reinstated. Her new husband turned out to be abusive and infertile. Proud and unable to share her suffering, Xu Ruhua ultimately died from domestic violence at the age of forty.

In contrast, her younger sister, Xu Niannian, who was far less talented and intelligent, married well, stayed in the city, and lived a smooth and easy life.

Reborn, Xu Ruhua decided to take back the happiness her sister enjoyed.

This time, she set her sights on her former life’s husband, He Conghao, who grew up in the same residential area as they did.

Xu Niannian, aware of the timeline, realized that by the time she arrived, her older sister might have already been reborn.

This time, her older sister not only improved her grades quickly but also learned to dress better.

The original protagonist’s father, Xu Aiguo, was the director of a textile factory, and their family lived in a three-bedroom apartment. The protagonist’s mother had died in an accident while pregnant, leading her father to marry a stepmother. To honor his late wife, the stepmother moved into their home and became part of the family.

To show her thoughtfulness, the stepmother let her own daughter sleep in a small makeshift room in the living room, while the protagonist and her stepsister shared a bedroom. People in the neighborhood praised Xu Xiuhong, saying she was a virtuous woman, treating her stepdaughter better than her own daughter.

The protagonist’s hunger strike stemmed from her stepsister. She had seen her stepsister holding letters exchanged between them, and in a fit of anger, they fought.

Technically, the protagonist had beaten Xu Ruhua while Xu Ruhua didn’t fight back. This scene was witnessed by He Conghao’s mother, who quietly helped Xu Ruhua up afterward.

Not long after, the protagonist received a breakup letter from He Conghao. In a rage, she started a hunger strike, demanding that Xu Ruhua break up with He Conghao, knowing her mother would listen to her.

Xu Ruhua, however, knelt and said it was a result of their mutual love, begging the protagonist to let them be. Her mother was torn, standing there in confusion.

Being used to everyone indulging her, the protagonist refused to accept this, going on a hunger strike to pressure her parents to make Xu Ruhua break up with He Conghao. After all, she was the favored daughter in the household, and everyone took her side.

At this moment, she was interrupted by a call from outside: “Time to eat!”

The shout broke Xu Niannian’s train of thought. She rubbed her still-hungry stomach and went to the living room.

It was noon, and sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the floor.

The stepmother was surprised to see Xu Niannian up, asking, “Aren’t you going to sleep a bit longer?”

Xu Niannian swallowed while looking at the plain meal on the table and replied, “No, I’ve slept for days.”

The stepmother told her son, Yaozu, “Go get a bowl of rice for your sister.”

Only four bowls were on the table, meaning they hadn’t planned for her to eat lunch.

“Really acting like a spoiled princess.”

Her nine-year-old brother muttered. Xu Niannian glanced at him, “Stop using such words, or someone will come and take you away.”

His face paled at the thought, and he dared not speak again.

Yaozu returned from the kitchen, calling out, “Mom, there’s no more rice.”

The stepmother looked a bit flustered, not expecting Xu Niannian to join them for lunch. “Then bring a bowl over.”

Yaozu returned with a bowl, and his mother distributed portions from the other bowls. Food wasn’t as plentiful as in later years, so Yaozu was upset as his portion shrank.

At that moment, Xu Ruhua came home from school, greeted Xu Niannian with a smile, and said, “You’re finally out for a meal! As for me and Conghao, I’ve called him and discussed it; it’s not that I don’t want to break up—he just…”

Xu Niannian replied nonchalantly, “Hmm, it’s just a man. You can have him; there are plenty of men out there.”

Xu Ruhua’s eyes widened in surprise, washing her hands by the basin as she wondered why Xu Niannian didn’t react as she usually would, fighting her.

Word had spread in the neighborhood that He Conghao disliked Xu Niannian’s temper and preferred the gentler Xu Ruhua. People said Xu Ruhua was gentle and frugal, while Xu Niannian was never seen doing any chores.

Xu Ruhua was still mulling this over when her father came home. She rushed to take his bag, an act she’d repeated many times, making his expression soften.

His eldest daughter had shown great improvement this past year, making him proud. As for He Conghao, either daughter marrying him was fine by him.

Seeing Xu Niannian eating at the table, he remarked, “I thought you were going to starve yourself to death, yet here you are.”

Xu Niannian, feeling her stomach growl, replied, “Yes, it was all my fault.”

Caught off guard by her sudden change in attitude, Xu’s father swallowed his retort.

Finally, with everyone seated, Xu Niannian started eating heartily, paying no mind to their stares. Xu Xiuhong noticed the pork scraps being eaten up and remarked, “Niannian, if you eat that much after a fast, you’ll get a stomachache.”

“No worries, just a few pork scraps.”

This body craved meat, though there was only pork scrap to make do.

Xu’s father coughed lightly and, looking at Xu Niannian, suggested, “Since you’ve quit school, why don’t you consider getting married?”