Chapter 2: Reborn

“You wretched girl! You’re a disgrace!

A proper family was arranged for you, but they refused because of your attitude.

Yet you insist on clinging to that poor orphan boy from the village? Are you trying to turn the heavens upside down?!”

An old woman’s voice rang out harshly.

It jolted Zhang Xiulian out of her “dream.”

“Hiss… it hurts…”

A burning pain stung her forehead, leaving her confused.

Wasn’t she Zhang Xiulian, the one who died from a bowel obstruction, her body poisoned from being constipated?

How could she still feel pain after death?

She struggled to open her heavy eyelids—and the sight before her left her dumbfounded.

Not far away, kneeling on the ground and crying in anguish, was her eldest daughter, Zhao Lili—the very one who had jumped into a well to end her life after being forced into marriage.

“I’ve… been reborn.”

Zhang Xiulian paused in disbelief but slowly accepted this nearly absurd reality.

She had been reborn into her 49th year.

Because in her previous life, it was on May 5th, 1982, that she lost Zhao Lili forever.

For decades afterward, she had replayed that day in her mind countless times.

If only she had stood up for her daughter back then… her daughter might have survived.

Now, having returned to this moment, she was determined to save her daughter’s life—no matter what it cost, even if that meant sacrificing her own.

Ignoring the searing pain on her forehead, Zhang Xiulian sprang to her feet and rushed toward Zhao Lili.

“Mom! Mom, you’re awake!” her youngest daughter Zhao Pingping cried out in joy.

But Zhao Lili looked back in terror as Zhang Xiulian ran toward her.

Her mother had always favored sons over daughters. Just a moment ago, Zhao Lili had pleaded with her father Zhao Debao on her own behalf—only to be kicked unconscious onto a stone bench.

Now that her mother had awakened, she was certain things would go back to the same—all the blame pinned on her.

Zhao Lili thought grimly: rather than be married off to someone she didn’t love and still be scolded, it would be better to just end it all.

Resolute, she stood up and ran toward the edge of the well.

“Lili! Don’t do anything foolish!” Zhang Xiulian screamed, reaching out to grab her daughter’s arm.

Just a step away from the well, Zhang Xiulian lunged forward, managing to pull her daughter back with force.

She clutched her tightly in her arms.

“Lili, you foolish girl… no matter what’s happening, there’s always a solution.

Please don’t ever do anything like this again…”

With Mom making the decisions, she definitely won’t force you to marry someone you don’t like.

Mom really doesn’t want to endure the pain of losing you again.

Zhang Xiulian stroked her daughter’s thin, bony back and shouted crazily.

In her mother’s arms, Zhao Lili felt the warmth of maternal love for the first time.

She couldn’t even remember how long it had been since her mother last held her.

It seemed in her mother’s eyes, she was just a ruthless work machine.

Besides working in the fields, she was only responsible for taking care of her younger siblings.

When her mother found out she didn’t want to marry the village chief’s son, her mother only gave a faint word of approval.

Now, why had her mother suddenly taken such a firm stand on her side?

“You make the decisions? Who do you think you are to make decisions? This is our Zhao family, not some outsider’s place for you to run!” That old, harsh voice rang out again.

Even if she turned to ashes, Zhang Xiulian would remember that voice — it belonged to the cruel mother-in-law Liu Dani who had tormented her in her past life.

She comforted her daughter in her arms, then turned to glare at Liu Dani, her bloodshot eyes burning like fire.

“Outsiders can’t make decisions? Then why are you, old woman Liu, here stirring trouble? If I don’t protect my daughter, do you expect me to just watch her be forced to death by you all?”

“You… you’re insane! How dare you talk to me like that!” Liu Dani slapped her hands and shouted angrily.

She simply couldn’t believe her ears.

Since marrying into the Zhao family, Zhang Xiulian had always endured in silence, like a sealed gourd.

But today, this silent gourd actually dared to talk back!

At that moment, a man standing beside Liu Dani rushed forward and yelled at Zhang Xiulian, “Are you out of your mind? Lili’s marriage was arranged long ago between me and Mom. What are you interfering for? Apologize to my mom now, or I won’t spare you!”

That man was none other than Zhang Xiulian’s husband, Zhao Debao.

“Hmph.”

Zhang Xiulian sneered coldly, refusing to respond.

Just like in her past life, Zhao Debao showed no respect toward her.

Zhao Debao had thought that with just one word from him, his wife would obediently kneel and apologize to his mother like before.

But all he got was a cold sneer.

Zhao Debao’s face darkened, fists clenched tightly as he charged toward Zhang Xiulian.

Zhang Xiulian extended a hand, shielding her daughter Zhao Lili behind her, calmly facing Zhao Debao.

Zhao Debao raised his fist high.

She suddenly lifted her leg sharply, aiming for Zhao Debao’s lower body.

She kicked hard.

Steady, precise, ruthless.

“Ow!”

Zhao Debao screamed painfully, clutching the injured area, and knelt straight down in front of Zhang Xiulian.

His face was pale, his eyebrows furrowed into a deep crease, his expression twisted in pain.

Zhang Xiulian looked at his painful expression and felt very satisfied inside.

In the previous life, you often abused me, now in this life, you’ll get a taste of being beaten.

“How dare you kick your husband’s lifeblood? You wicked woman, I’ll fight you!” Liu Dani grabbed a big broom from the corner of the yard and swung it at Zhang Xiulian.

At this time, Zhang Xiulian was only 49 years old, and years of farm work had made her very strong.

In her previous life, she was often bullied by her mother-in-law because she didn’t want to fight back.

Now that she has been reborn, she has finally realized: a kind person is bullied, and a docile horse is ridden.

She does not actively bully others, but she also won’t let others take advantage of her.

Zhang Xiulian raised both hands, caught the broom with one hand, and with a single motion swung both the broom and Liu Dani aside.

Poor Liu Dani was thrown to the ground like a rag.

Her eldest son Zhao Wen hurried over to his grandmother Liu Dani, pushed the broom aside, and helped her up.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed that his normally honest and well-behaved mother dared to kick his father and throw his grandmother to the ground today.

He had been coldly observing the situation just now, because if his eldest sister could successfully marry out, his bride price would be settled.

But unexpectedly, after his mother woke up from being kicked down by his father, she seemed like a different person and sided with his eldest sister.

This was unacceptable—no one could become an obstacle to him marrying Wu Cui.

Zhao Wen supported his grandmother with one hand and pointed at his mother Zhang Xiulian with the other, angrily scolding her, “Mom, how can you be so foolish? If eldest sister doesn’t marry the village chief’s son to exchange bride price, how can I get married and give you a great-grandson?

Eldest sister will get married sooner or later; it doesn’t matter who she marries, she’ll marry whoever offers more.

And you dare to lay hands on grandma and dad? You’re simply going too far!”

Zhang Xiulian looked at the aggressive Zhao Wen in front of her and recalled how this unfilial son coldly refused to help her in her previous life. She dug her nails into her palms, grinding her back teeth fiercely.

“I didn’t even pay attention to you earlier, but you, this unfilial son, have delivered yourself to me! Then today, old debts and new debts will be settled all at once!”

Zhang Xiulian shook her wrist, picked up the door stopper at the entrance, and said through clenched teeth.