Chapter 22

The Next Day

After breakfast, Gu Zhenqi took the opportunity before everyone headed to the fields to express her desire to visit her parents’ home.

Since her rebirth, the people she missed the most were her parents and her three older brothers.

In her previous life, she had left the village under humiliating circumstances due to her own recklessness.

Her parents and brothers were deeply hurt by her actions, and ultimately disappointed in her irresponsible behavior.

After she left, they had little contact. The only times they met were when major events happened at home.

Once was when her father fell gravely ill and passed away in the hospital.

Another was years later, when her dying mother, still worried about her, called her back one last time.

After that, her three brothers completely cut ties with her. They never met again—not even at her death.

Since Heaven had given her a second chance, this time she was determined to repay the filial piety she failed to fulfill in her previous life, and with interest.

“Of course you should visit your family. We should bring more things with us—I can’t let them keep supporting us,” said Wang Guiying as she took out twenty yuan from her pocket and handed it to Gu Zhenqi.

“Take it and buy something nice to bring home. You can’t go back empty-handed, or people will laugh at us.”

Gu Zhenqi tried to decline. “Mom, I have money. I already prepared everything I’ll take back. You don’t have much, keep it for yourself.”

“Zhenqi, just take it—it’s a token from our family,” Wang Guiying insisted.

“Yeah, take it,” echoed Ge Yun and Fan Chun. “We’ve been eating food your family sent. It’s only right to give back too.”

Over time, Ge Yun and Fan Chun had completely let go of any earlier judgments they had about Gu Zhenqi.

Especially since she took over the kitchen—their lives had become heavenly.

Not only was the food abundant, it was delicious.

To avoid exposing her dimensional space, Gu Zhenqi would always say the good things came from her family.

Little by little, this built a great reputation for her family in her in-laws’ household.

Unlike the sisters-in-law’s families who took everything for granted, Wang Guiying, Chen Guo, Chen Qiang, Ge Yun, and Fan Chun always felt uneasy about accepting too much.

So when the chance arose, they were eager to make sure she didn’t return empty-handed.

Any relationship requires give and take to be harmonious and lasting.

There’s no such thing as one side endlessly giving while the other endlessly takes.

Wang Guiying’s hand holding the money remained outstretched. Everyone at the table—Chen Guo, Chen Qiang, Ge Yun, and Fan Chun—watched her.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Zhenqi took the money and smiled. “I’ll make sure to bring your kindness to my family.”

Then she turned to Ge Yun and Fan Chun and said, “Big Sis-in-law, Second Sis-in-law, I’ve already prepared all the food the house will need while I’m away.”

She then looked at Wang Guiying. “Mom, you should lock the kitchen cabinet later. We shouldn’t let our guard down. If any of the sisters-in-law come back upset from their in-laws’, they might sneak in and go through things while no one’s home.”

“Alright, I’ll do as you say. There’s an old lock I brought with me when I married into the family—it’ll do just fine.”

With everything settled, it was time to head to the fields. Wang Guiying, Chen Guo, Chen Qiang, Ge Yun, and Fan Chun all left for work.

Zhang Mengyan cleaned up the dining table and kitchen, then found the largest basket in the house.

Returning to her room, Gu Zhenqi changed Ruiduo and Fei’an into neat, clean clothes.

She also styled Ruiduo’s hair into two little ponytails, tying them with pretty red ribbons.

With the big basket strapped to her back and holding a child in each hand, she locked the door and headed toward her parents’ home.

When she passed curious villagers, she responded warmly, “Just going back to my parents’ place.”

Not long after she left the village, a nosy neighbor rushed to report to the Chen family.

“Something’s wrong! Sis-in-law, your third son’s lazy wife left with a huge basket on her back while no one was home. Who knows how much she’s taken—maybe she’s cleaned you out!”

Wang Guiying, always protective of her own, was instantly irritated by the “lazy wife” and “cleaned out” remarks.

She snapped back without hesitation, “My third daughter-in-law is as beautiful as a fairy, giving our Chen family heirs—we’d rather spoil her than have her work. Not like your daughter-in-law, tsk, tsk, with that face—no wonder you have to turn off the lights to stomach her. If I remember right, she’s been married nearly three years, right?”

“So what—”

“No signs of pregnancy yet. What is she, a hen that can’t lay eggs?”

“You—Wang Guiying, what’s that supposed to mean?! I was being kind, giving you a heads-up! No need to insult me. Hmph, biting the hand that feeds you!”

“Was it kindness? Or are you just stirring the pot? Only you know the answer to that.”

Straightening up, Wang Guiying raised her voice for all to hear, “Listen up, everyone! Zhenqi is my daughter-in-law, legally married into our Chen family. We’re happy to pamper her and support her. If anyone keeps trying to gossip and spread lies, don’t blame me for not being polite!”

“Who do these gossipy women think they are? Does any of this concern them? Got too much time on their hands,” someone muttered.

“Exactly. Some people just hate to see others doing well. Bad to the bone.”

Ge Yun and Fan Chun immediately voiced their agreement with Wang Guiying.

“You really are something else,” the nosy woman scoffed. “I won’t bother with your family anymore.”

“No need,” Ge Yun retorted. “We mind our own business. Everyone should focus on their own households instead of meddling in others.”

“Right. If you’ve got time to gossip, go watch your own daughter-in-law. Getting you some grandkids should be the real focus.”

The woman was fuming. If she had known they’d react like this, she never would’ve brought it up.

Before leaving, she spat out one last insult: “You’re all lunatics—pampering a lazy woman. So what if she’s pretty? That doesn’t feed anyone. Any woman can give birth!”

“She’s just bitter ‘cause she’s ugly,” Wang Guiying shot back. “Your brother’s wife hasn’t had a child either.”

The woman nearly choked in rage and stormed off.

“People like that—twisted inside. Can’t stand seeing others doing better. Want everyone to be miserable with them.”

“Yeah, like she’d be happy if others were thriving. She only smiles when others are unlucky.”

“Mom, sounds like Zhenqi already left the village.”

“Must be. Otherwise we wouldn’t have run into someone like her.”

And indeed, Gu Zhenqi had already left. At that moment, she was cheerfully chasing a butterfly with her children.

Suddenly, Ruiduo shouted, “Mommy, look! What’s that over there?”