Widow Chen fell face-first onto the ground, completely dazed. For a while, she didn’t even feel the pain—her head was just buzzing.

After a long moment, with Fu Guihua’s help, Widow Chen sat up.

The pain hit her like a wave, and she clutched her head, wailing loudly.

As soon as she opened her mouth, a clump of bloody matter fell out.

“Pfft!”

Shen Zhihuan had been listening to Widow Chen’s unique wailing voice with amusement. But when she turned her head and saw what had happened, she burst out laughing.

Widow Chen’s two front teeth were broken in half, leaving a dark, gaping hole in her mouth. Combined with the blood trickling from the corners of her lips, she looked absurdly comical.

The image suddenly reminded Shen Zhihuan of a zombie comedy movie she’d seen in her past life.

The people on the ox cart had been holding back their laughter, but Shen Zhihuan’s chuckle set them all off.

Everyone was familiar with Widow Chen’s sharp tongue. She never had anything nice to say and relished tearing others down.

If a family had a beautiful daughter or daughter-in-law, she’d accuse them of being flirty or promiscuous.

Even seeing a married couple walking together would make her sneer that they were shameless.

If a man and woman merely talked, she’d spread rumors that they were having an affair.

When confronted, she’d cry, throw tantrums, and even threaten to hang herself, accusing others of bullying her as a widow.

Her unreasonable antics made her a nightmare for anyone who crossed her.

No wonder none of her daughters—Li Daniu, Li Erniu, and Li Sanniu—could find a match despite being of marriageable age.

No one wanted to marry into a family with such a meddling troublemaker.

“Dahua, stop crying. Everyone’s watching, and your clothes are stained with blood. If you don’t wash it off soon, the stain might never come out,” Fu Guihua said, trying to stifle her laughter as she helped Widow Chen up.

Widow Chen stopped crying to check her clothes.

When she saw pea-sized bloodstains on her cherished printed blouse, her heart twisted with pain.

Ignoring her headache and aching mouth, she wiped her bloody lips and hurried back onto the cart with Fu Guihua, urging Wang Baotian to move quickly.

This blouse was brand new, and if the stains didn’t come out, it would be a significant loss.

Wang Baotian sighed in relief and snapped the reins. The ox cart jolted back into motion.

Xiao Weidong, still frightened by Widow Chen’s bloody face, snuggled closer to Shen Zhihuan.

The cart was already crowded, and now with Weidong squeezing in, Shen Zhihuan inadvertently leaned toward Su Ziyu.

That slight touch…

The warmth that had begun to subside in Su Ziyu suddenly flared back up.

His body stiffened, his heart pounded furiously, and the tips of his ears turned red.

“Don’t be scared,” Shen Zhihuan whispered as she pulled Weidong into her arms and gently patted his back.

Weidong nodded and nestled quietly in her embrace, avoiding any further glances at Widow Chen.

Perhaps it was Widow Chen’s bloody appearance that killed the mood, but the cart fell silent.

Only the sound of the wheels turning and the creaking of the cart’s wooden planks echoed in the stillness.

Just as they entered Panshi Village, the ox cart came to a sudden stop.

The passengers, startled by the halt, instinctively looked up.

“There’s no room. The cart is full,” Wang Lianhua said impatiently, frowning at Wang Chunmei, who stood in the middle of the road leaning on her crutch.

Wang Chunmei’s presence immediately darkened the mood.

Shen Zhihuan cast a quick glance at her and then resolutely turned her head away.

Li Qiuhua’s reaction was identical when she saw who it was.

“Widow Li, when are you going to pay back the 80 yuan you owe us?” Wang Chunmei sneered, ignoring Wang Lianhua and focusing on Li Qiuhua’s turned back.

Shen Zhihuan rolled her eyes inwardly.

Didn’t they agree to repay by the end of the year? Was Wang Chunmei afraid she wouldn’t live that long?

Seeing Li Qiuhua about to get off the cart, Shen Zhihuan held her back and stepped down herself. She pulled out a wad of large bills, counted out ten ten-yuan notes, and handed them to Wang Chunmei.

“Here’s 100 yuan. The extra 20 is interest. Count it carefully now. If you claim later that there’s fake money or a missing note, I won’t acknowledge it,” Shen Zhihuan said, her voice soft but chillingly indifferent.

Paying 20 yuan in interest on an 80-yuan loan?

The passengers were all stunned.

Even Su Ziyu raised an eyebrow, watching her petite frame with an amused expression that he didn’t even notice.

Wang Chunmei’s expression grew complicated as she carefully examined and counted the bills multiple times. Satisfied, she stuffed the money into her pocket and forced a smile.

“Zhihuan, don’t take it the wrong way—”

“Thank you!” Shen Zhihuan interrupted, bowing slightly before turning and climbing back onto the cart without another glance.

That “thank you” was not for herself but for the original owner of her body.

No matter what, Wang Chunmei and her husband had lent money to Shen Zhihuan’s family. Gratitude was due.

Now, with this debt repaid, she could close that chapter of the original owner’s life.

Her new life was just beginning.

“Sister, does this mean we’re no longer in debt to the Su family?” Xiao Weidong asked, looking up at her.

“Yes,” Shen Zhihuan replied with a smile. “We don’t owe anyone anymore.”

Li Qiuhua’s eyes reddened as she looked at her children, relief and pride filling her heart.

From behind, Wang Chunmei’s indignant voice rang out.

“Shen Zhihuan, what kind of attitude is that? My family lent you money, and now you’re acting ungrateful!”

Without turning her head, Shen Zhihuan retorted with a faint smirk, “Wang Chunmei, how about I have a little chat with the factory manager about your son Su Zijie? Or maybe I’ll visit the township head, Liu Zhentang. Isn’t his house near—”

Before Shen Zhihuan could finish, Wang Chunmei hobbled away as fast as her crutch could carry her, looking like a ghost was chasing her.

Watching Wang Chunmei’s flailing crutch, Shen Zhihuan’s lips curved into a faint smile.