Chapter 1: Beating Up the Scumbag

Winter of 1983, a certain military district garrison in Beijing.

The winter solstice, icy and snowy.

Last night’s heavy snowfall blanketed the ground, rooftops, and bare trees in a thick layer of white.

Temperatures plummeted to below minus twenty degrees Celsius, instantly chilling pedestrians bundled in thick cotton-padded jackets.

The howling wind shrieked, its chilling sound alone sending shivers down one’s spine.

Hua Yuanyuan, her expression impassive, seemed captivated by the wind outside, her gaze fixed on the glass window.

She pulled tighter the cotton-padded jacket she’d worn for years, yet still felt the cold seeping up from her feet.

Cold, icy cold feet.

Her legs were devoid of warmth, her upper body equally chilled, an inner coldness permeating her entire being, as if she were submerged in an icy river…

Sigh—

Life!

“Comrade Hua, things have come to this, we still need to look ahead…”

She had to clean up the mess left by the original owner.

One jumped from a building, the other jumped into a river; both were acts of jumping.

The original owner, who jumped into the river but was rescued, was truly lucky to be alive.

The river was covered with thick ice, but she jumped directly into a hole where people usually drew water.

Luckily, her own father came to fetch water, saw her, and without a word, jumped in after her…

If it had been a stranger, they wouldn’t have followed her into the icy water to save her.

Her husband’s and her own families lived in the same village, which was the only advantage.

She woke up in the middle of the night and ran away, taking a train to this place.

When the original owner arrived and saw people, she would cry, make a fuss, and threaten suicide…

She cried her heart out, fainted from the distress, and when she woke up, she was Hua Yuanyuan, who had jumped from a building in her previous life.

In the middle of the night, Hua Yuanyuan, with her eyes wide open, accepted the fact that she had survived and transmigrated.

Besides acceptance, there was no other choice.

As for how she would navigate her future, being reborn and living again, how she would live this life—those were all questions for later.

Ahem…

She picked up the steaming teacup on the table and took a sip. It was pleasantly warm, the perfect temperature.

Standing up, she turned her body, raised her hand, and splashed the water onto the man’s face beside her.

…

The room fell silent, everyone staring at her.

Surprise, shock, incomprehension…

Zhang Xiaofang, the political commissar’s wife, who had been talking just moments ago, fell silent, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, then gave up.

She had been talking for half an hour, the only one speaking, with no one else saying a word.

The woman who had been throwing a tantrum, crying, and kneeling to beg him not to divorce her yesterday, was now silent.

She seemed lost in thought, unaware of her surroundings.

Wang Changjiang wiped the water from his face, his lips pursed, his eyes filled with disgust. He cursed inwardly, “This crazy woman!”

Silly and crazy, the more she acted out, the more sympathy people had for him.

He had been worried that this woman would cause trouble and affect his reputation.

When he saw her yesterday, he was truly shocked.

He had planned to go home for the New Year and quietly get a divorce.

His comrades knew he had an arranged marriage, not a love match, and that there was no emotional foundation.

He hadn’t gone home once after his marriage because he was avoiding his wife.

He thought no woman could endure such a life, and that she would eventually ask for a divorce.

Unexpectedly, she showed no intention of getting a divorce.

He couldn’t wait any longer, so he wrote a letter to his family, and he knew what would happen.

His family didn’t keep it a secret, she found out, and came here to make a scene.

He had to admire her; she had never traveled far, yet she found this place, and didn’t get lost.

She wasn’t as stupid as he thought.

It was contradictory. She’s not stupid, so why did she endure five years of widowhood without getting a divorce?!

The political commissar’s wife glanced at her husband, seeing his eyes twitching, and bravely continued her monologue.

Political Commissar Liu Shengli was helpless. If it hadn’t been for the commotion yesterday, this wouldn’t have been his concern. Luckily, he had called his wife over.

It was inconvenient for men to deal with female comrades, and some things were inappropriate for them to say. He thought women would communicate better, and this step was right.

Comrade Hua was certainly not someone to be trifled with!

He couldn’t help but resent Wang Changjiang for not handling his family affairs properly, making a big fuss about it!

He thought of the gossip his wife had whispered in his ear, could it be true?

There were five people in the office.

Wang Changjiang and Hua Yuanyuan, the involved parties; Political Commissar Liu Shengli and his wife Zhang Xiaofang; and Hao Liyue, a battalion commander of the same rank as Wang Changjiang.

After splashing the water, Hua Yuanyuan surveyed the group, turned, and headed for the broom behind the door…

Zhang Xiaofang’s eyes widened, her mouth agape, before she could react, a scream rang out.

“Ah—, Hua Yuanyuan, you… are crazy, you’re really hitting him!”

Wang Changjiang shielded his face with his arm, dodging the blows, while feigning helplessness!

After taking a few blows, it really hurt.

He cried out even more miserably, while Liu Shengli initially said, “Talk it out, don’t resort to violence.”

Hao Liyue didn’t say a word, nor did he try to stop the fight, he even stood up and took a few steps back, as if to say, “Knock yourselves out, don’t bother me.”

Only Zhang Xiaofang went behind Hua Yuanyuan, attempting to intervene.

However, it wasn’t very effective, lacking any method.

She had no experience in breaking up fights, and while trying to pull them apart, she also prevented herself from being hit.

Her hands were ineffective, but her mouth was busy, “Comrade Hua, stop it—”

“Comrade Hua, stop it—”

“Comrade Hua, let’s talk things out…”

Intermingled with the enraged roars of the battered Wang Changjiang.

“You crazy woman…”

“Ah… crazy woman!”

“If you hit me again, I’ll fight back?!”

…

In the end, Wang Changjiang didn’t dare fight back. If he hit this woman, it would be a hassle if she stubbornly refused to divorce him, especially with his superiors present!

He endured the pain in his arms, back, and buttocks…

Hua Yuanyuan’s body had been exhausted these past few days, otherwise she wouldn’t have died. She lacked the physical strength.

Imagining this scumbag as the scumbag from her past life, she unleashed her pent-up resentment.

She swung the broom wildly, and when Zhang Xiaofang forcefully stopped her, Hua Yuanyuan took the opportunity to stop.

Scumbags are scumbags, they deserve it!

Seeing her finally stop, Wang Changjiang straightened up, turned, and coldly looked at her, “Hua Yuanyuan, our divorce is your fault, not mine. I was forced, and don’t think I don’t know about your dirty deeds.”

Hua Yuanyuan panted, trying to recall what he was talking about, but found nothing.

“Tell me!”

Her voice was hoarse, like a crow’s.

No, it was even worse than a crow’s caw.

“Hua Yuanyuan, I’m saying this for your own good, if I tell you, there’s no turning back.”

Wang Changjiang looked righteous, his eyes filled with disdain and disgust.

“Tell me.”

Hua Yuanyuan calmly looked at the stinking man the original owner had married. This was something the original owner wanted to ask, she, a stranger, didn’t want to waste time with this scumbag.

Wang Changjiang seemed pressed by her questioning, “I’ve known about your affair with other men before your marriage.”

…