Chapter 10 A Surprise

Song Jianjun’s expression immediately darkened.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Have you ever seen me get close to any young woman? If I had feelings for her earlier, would I have gone and proposed on your behalf?”

“Why do you always assume it’s someone else’s fault? Have you never considered that maybe the problem is you? That maybe she made such a scene because she’d rather marry me than marry you?”

Song Fu glared angrily at Song Jianjun. Deep down, he knew everything his uncle said was true—he had long known that Wang Huimin didn’t want to marry him—but he just couldn’t swallow the bitterness in his heart.

Song Jianjun didn’t want this matter to ruin the relationship between him and his nephew, so he tried his best to soothe him.
“Xiao Fu, I had no intention of stealing your bride. If I really wanted her for myself, I wouldn’t have put your interests first every time. But she truly doesn’t want to marry you. You shouldn’t force it.”

“Now that things have blown up like this, both you and Zhang Chunyan have ruined reputations in the village. If you don’t get married, it’ll be hard for either of you to find a spouse in the future. I’ll do my best to help make this marriage happen for you.”

No matter how hard it was to accept, Song Fu understood how much his third uncle had done over the years—for him, for his siblings—and he had genuinely tried everything to secure Wang Huimin’s hand in marriage, even spending the family’s entire savings.

But now, the bride he was about to marry was suddenly going to become his third aunt. He simply couldn’t accept it.

He shot Song Jianjun a glare and turned around to leave. He didn’t want to stay in that house a second longer.

Song Jianjun knew he just needed time to cool off, so he didn’t stop him.

Soon, it would be time to pick up Xiaolong and Xiaoxue from school. He stood up and headed into the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

—

Meanwhile, Wang Huimin returned home with Tian Yongmei and Wang Qingcai. Along the way, although Tian Yongmei didn’t look happy, she didn’t say anything. As long as Huimin didn’t cause trouble and the bride price was secured, that was all that mattered.

Back home, they went about making dinner as if nothing had happened that day. Even Wang Huishu was uncharacteristically quiet.

The Wang family’s house consisted of east and west rooms, a kitchen, and a small back room.
The east room belonged to Wang Qingcai and Tian Yongmei.
The west room, being sunnier and more comfortable, naturally belonged to Wang Huishu.
Wang Huimin, of course, was stuck in the shabbiest little back room.

Later that night, just before bed, Wang Qingcai unexpectedly came to the back room. That surprised Huimin.

Wang Qingcai had always been a weak man, bullied by Tian Yongmei for most of his life. Huimin had inherited some of his passive nature—if it hadn’t been for the events of her past life, she wouldn’t have grown a backbone in this one.

Seeing that she didn’t even call him “Dad,” Wang Qingcai knew his younger daughter harbored deep resentment toward them.

He sighed, “Xiao Min, I know you blame me and your mother. You think we always favored your sister… but we had our difficulties too. Back then, your aunt…”

Hearing yet another long-winded excuse coming, Wang Huimin raised her hand to cut him off.
“Enough. I know exactly what you’re going to say. You’ve both said it a hundred times over the years—I’m not interested.”

“What I am interested in now is this: I’m about to get married, and after receiving all that bride price money, are you really not planning to give me a single coin in dowry?”

Wang Qingcai looked momentarily ashamed.
“Well… if it were up to me, of course I’d want to give you a dowry. But you know how our family is…”

The moment he said “but,” Wang Huimin knew nothing she wanted would follow. She wasn’t even surprised.

Her face turned cold.
“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing more to say. Once I marry, I’ll belong to someone else’s family.”

“You sold me for that much money—that’s more than enough to repay whatever you spent raising me. From now on, I have nothing to do with this family.”

Seeing the bitterness on her face and the way she clearly didn’t want to talk to him anymore, Wang Qingcai could only sigh and quietly leave.

—

Lying in bed, Wang Huimin replayed everything that had happened that day. This rebirth had changed her mindset completely—and things were turning out very differently from before.

Maybe Song Jianjun would come tomorrow to talk about setting the wedding date. That would be wonderful. She couldn’t wait to leave this house.

Still wide awake, feeling a bit thirsty, she got up to fetch water—only to pause as she suddenly heard a strange sound: the faint trickling of water.

That was odd. This tiny back room was dark and cramped, with no heated bed platform—just a makeshift wooden bed on top. There were rat holes all around under the bed. There definitely shouldn’t be the sound of flowing water.

She listened carefully again, and confirmed she wasn’t imagining it.

Just as she was wondering what was going on, a mysterious spring suddenly appeared before her. Water flowed from it continuously, with a thin mist hovering over the surface.

Wang Huimin stared, stunned. The spring didn’t disappear, so she grabbed a nearby water jar to test it.

Sure enough, she could scoop water from it with ease. The spring was right next to her, within reach.

She held up the jar, marveling at the crystal-clear water.

Taking a sip, she instantly felt a cool, refreshing sensation spread through her body. The water tasted sweet—far better than the well water they usually drank.

She ended up drinking three jars full before stopping. Something told her the water held a special power—it made her feel energized and alive.

She was certain this miraculous spring had something to do with her rebirth. Heaven was truly watching over her.

Lying in bed, she couldn’t sleep from the excitement. Every now and then, she glanced at the spring, her mind filled with dreams of the happy life that awaited her.

—

The next morning, shortly after breakfast, Song Jianjun came over, carrying a few gifts. He had come to discuss the wedding date.

For some unknown reason, Wang Huishu didn’t show up. But both Wang Qingcai and Tian Yongmei were home and eagerly welcomed him in.

After a few pleasantries, Song Jianjun got straight to the point.
“I came today to talk about setting the wedding date with Xiao Min. Uncle, Auntie—what are your thoughts?”

Before either of them could speak, Wang Huimin jumped in,
“I’ve already looked at the almanac. Two days from now is a good day. I’ll go with you to register today, and in two days I’ll move in with you.”

Her eagerness made it seem like she would have left with him that very moment if not for the paperwork. Even though they had practically sold her off, the Wang couple still felt a little embarrassed.

Tian Yongmei immediately shot her a glare.
“The adults are talking here—why are you butting in? Go wait on the side.”

Wang Huimin ignored her completely and said to Song Jianjun,
“Don’t listen to them. If you agree, I’ll register with you right now.”

Even Wang Qingcai was starting to lose face.
“Xiao Min, marriage is a big deal. You can’t just rush it. You can’t settle such a matter in just a few words. We’ll discuss it—so please don’t interrupt.”

Wang Huimin’s face remained cold.
“Yes, marriage is a big deal—but selling your daughter apparently isn’t. You already took the money, so where’s the ‘product’? Shouldn’t you hand it over promptly? What’s left to discuss?”

“Two days is plenty of time. What are you stalling for? It’s not like discussing it will magically make you give me a dowry or send me off in style.”

She didn’t care anymore. She said whatever was on her mind, no matter how harsh. But it still wasn’t a fraction of the suffering she endured in her past life.

If she couldn’t live well, then no one else in this house deserved to either.