Chapter 1

In the early morning, dew adorned Lujia Village, where wildflowers swayed in the warm breeze of early summer over the fields.

At the easternmost end, Lu Dashan’s newly built thatched-roof house was half-hidden among the coarse blooming begonias.

Around noon, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family had only rested a little on the kang (traditional heated bed) before getting up to do the family’s laundry.

In the neighboring courtyard, separated by just a wall, the new kang where Old Lu Family’s famous “high-maintenance” third daughter-in-law, Jiang Chunzao, was still sound asleep.

But, unlike before when she would sleep without a care, this time, Jiang Chunzao, who had never had nightmares, was unexpectedly haunted by one.

In her dream, Jiang Chunzao lay disheveled in a dim, dilapidated room.

Having not had a drop of water in days, the once-beautiful woman’s face was pallid, and her mouth was covered with blood blisters.

She lay weakly on the bed, extending a trembling hand toward her son and daughter standing in front of her, her eyes red with regret: “Momo, Shitou… it’s all Mom’s fault…”

Before she could finish, her children cut her off coldly: “You severed ties with us long ago. You abandoned me and my brother. Don’t you remember?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chunzao coughed up blood, a wretched smile spreading over her haggard face.

Yes, fifteen years ago, she’d been blinded by greed, choosing so-called freedom over her children and husband.

This was her retribution, her punishment!

As she thought of this, the rusty taste of blood rose in her mouth.

With excruciating guilt tearing her apart and the anguished cries of her children echoing, her vision faded to black…

In the spacious room, the rustic furniture, and the greenish roof beams, everything seemed both familiar and foreign.

Jiang Chunzao had been awake for a while, lying on the kang, staring blankly at the beams above her head.

What was going on?

Hadn’t she, out of overwhelming guilt, gone without water for three days and two nights, finally drawing her last breath before her children in that dilapidated house?

And now, how was it that she opened her eyes and awoke again?

The previously worn-down old house was now bright and spacious, and her face…

Jiang Chunzao looked at her reflection in disbelief, her youthful, beautiful self staring back, stirring waves of shock in her heart.

Could it be that what Lu Lin had told her in the past life was true?

In fact, Jiang Chunzao had learned this from her ex-husband, Lu Lin. In her previous life, he said that the world she had lived in for lifetime was actually part of a book.

In this book, Jiang Chunzao’s parents were always protective of their children. As for Jiang Chunzao, she had been spoiled by her parents.

Reflecting on her past life, she realized how selfish she had been—so much so that her children grew to resent her, and her husband became indifferent toward her.

Overwhelmed with regret, Jiang Chunzao rolled off the kang and felt the urge to bang her head against the wall.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the yard next door.

“It’s so late, and you’re all still lying on the kang! Get up quickly! Don’t you see the pigs crying out of hunger? What’s wrong with you all? Do you expect me, an old woman, to support you? You lazy lot! The Lu family doesn’t feed idle people!”

In the Lu family’s yard, the energetic Old woman Lu stood with her hands on her hips, shouting at the family members napping inside the house.

The eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Dashan, was an honest man who typically obeyed his parents. Hearing his mother’s words, he was the first to rise from the kang, wash his face in the yard, and head to the fields with a hoe.

Seeing her eldest son’s quick obedience, Old Lady Lu felt a surge of pride. However, her mood soured as her gaze shifted to the eastern room, where her second son and his wife remained silent. She grew angrier and raised her voice again.

The second son, Lu Ershan, and his wife, Liu Hongyan, had originally planned to pretend they hadn’t heard anything, peeking quietly from the kang.

But as Old Woman Lu’s scolding grew louder, Liu Hongyan reluctantly got up, grumbling to Lu Ershan in a low voice: “It’s noon, and everyone in the village is napping. But your mother can’t stand to see the family resting for even a moment!”

Lu Ershan yawned, but his eyes narrowed at her complaint. He snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting, you stupid woman? When my mother speaks, you listen! If you dare keep grumbling, I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Not daring to argue with her husband, Liu Hongyan opened the door and forced a smile as she addressed Old Grandma Lu in the yard.

“Mom, I was inside sewing soles for Mu Mu’s shoes and fell into a deep sleep. I didn’t hear you earlier. Please don’t be angry.”

Grandma Lu glanced at Liu Hongyan, who was giving her a fawning smile, and snorted. Does she think I don’t know what this lazy woman is up to in the house? Pretending to mend shoes for the family? She’s probably just slacking off, hoping to ignore what I told her to do!

With this thought, Grandma Lu’s expression grew even colder toward Liu Hongyan.

“The southern field up front still isn’t fully weeded. The eldest daughter-in-law is washing clothes, so you, the second daughter-in-law, should go weed that southern field by yourself today.”

Liu Hongyan’s face soured instantly. The old lady was deliberately giving her a hard time!

The southern field was more than an acre—why should she do it all alone?

Resentment simmered inside her, but she didn’t dare show it. Instead, she rolled her eyes and put on a fake smile for Grandma Lu.

“Mother, that southern field is over an acre. I can’t finish it on my own. How about I ask Third Sister-in-law to come help?”

Liu Hongyan shouldn’t have said it. At her words, Grandma Lu’s face darkened instantly, and she jumped up, furious.

“Liu Hongyan! Are you trying to make things worse for me? Hoping I’ll drop dead sooner? You think dragging that ungrateful wretch from the Old Third’s family into things will rile me up, is that it?

Lu Ershan! Where’s that useless boy? Are you just going to stand by while your wife drives your old mother to her grave?”

At Grandma Lu’s outburst, Lu Ershan hurried out from the house. He grabbed the startled Liu Hongyan and gave her a solid beating until she howled, crying out in pain.

Even Grandpa Lu, who was sipping tea in the main room, couldn’t stand it any longer. He got up, hands clasped behind his back, and walked out with a frown.

“Enough, woman. It’s midday—settle down already.”

Hearing her husband, Grandma Lu huffed but didn’t respond, turning to go back inside.

Lu Ershan watched his mother leave, muttered a few mock scoldings, and then pulled the tearful, face-hiding Liu Hongyan out of the courtyard with a hoe.

Back in the main room, Grandpa Lu saw Grandma Lu seated on the eight-immortal chair and went over to talk her down.

“What are you doing this for? The Old Third’s family may have separated from us, but Old Third is still our son, and Shitou and Moli are still our grandchildren. They show their respect during the holidays, don’t they? What are you so mad about?”

Grandma Lu’s eyes flared up in anger as she glared at Grandpa Lu and started ranting.

“Mad? You’re asking why I’m mad!

“If it weren’t for that shrew from Old Third’s family, would Old Third have ever separated from us?”

Grandma Lu seethed, her voice rising. “Old Third’s a captain in the army! He had a bright future ahead, and now that he’s separated, all we get is a pittance once a year. With no more money in the household, how are we supposed to save up for our Eldest Grandson’s future wedding? And all because of you, old man! You’ve got your own son but choose to dote on Old Third, who isn’t even your blood!”

Grandpa Lu, face splattered with her angry spittle, finally lost his temper. He slammed the table hard.

“Old Third might not be our blood, but he’s still my elder brother’s son—my own nephew. He’s as good as my own son! And when Old Third’s family wanted to split, why didn’t you stand up to her butcher father?”

With that, Grandpa Lu turned and walked back inside, leaving Grandma Lu glaring furiously.

As if!

Old Third’s father-in-law, the butcher, was a brawny man, big enough to lift her with one finger. Could she afford to cross him?

It was all that Jiang Chunzhao’s fault. If it hadn’t been for that troublesome woman, Old Third would never have broken away from the Lu family!

And Old Third was an ingrate too. She only took him in back then because of the army benefits and the title of “martyr’s family” that came from his real father’s sacrifice. If it hadn’t been for those perks, she’d never have bothered with a freeloader like him!

Thinking about it all over again, Grandma Lu ground her teeth in frustration.

——————

In the neighboring courtyard, Jiang Chunzhao, who had been feeling so frustrated she wanted to bang her head against the wall, was suddenly moved to tears by the loud fuss from the Old Lu Family’s courtyard.

She really had come back to her younger self!

Jiang Chunzhao listened intently to Grandma Lu’s rant. Just now, Grandma Lu had mentioned that the Third Family had split from the Old Lu Family. Does this mean she’s returned to the time right after they separated households?

In her previous life, Jiang Chunzhao had never gotten along with the Old Lu Family—especially not with Grandma Lu and Liu Hongyan. The three of them were constantly at each other’s throats, bickering daily over who should receive Lu Lin’s military pay.

On that day, during a family meal, Grandma Lu had made a snide remark to Jiang Chunzhao about Lu Lin’s salary. Jiang Chunzhao, always ready to stand up for herself, rolled up her sleeves and fired back. One side called her a “disrespectful shrew,” while she retorted, “You’re not even my real mother-in-law! Why should I respect you?”

Jiang Chunzhao’s sharp words left Grandma Lu shouting in anger, and the argument eventually escalated into a full-on demand for separation. When her family heard that she wanted to split from the Old Lu Family, they quickly came to her side, determined to support their daughter.

Jiang Chunzao was the Jiang family’s eldest daughter, and her parents doted on her. Her father, a lifelong butcher with broad shoulders and a strong build, only had to stand in front of the Lu family to make Grandma Lu back down immediately. With her family backing her up, Jiang Chunzao confidently represented the Third Family in splitting from the Old Lu Family.

After this wave of excitement, Jiang Chunzao suddenly remembered something important.

Where were her little ones, Shitou and Xiao Moli? She’d been awake for a while, yet hadn’t seen her two little brats around the house.

Where could her babies be?