Chapter 1: Working Like a Horse

Tang Wanning sat on the edge of the bed, sorting through her mother-in-law’s belongings one by one. A closer look revealed her eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying hard. Just then, a small photo slipped out from a pocket and fell to the ground. Wanning instinctively bent down to pick it up, but the moment her eyes landed on the photo, she froze as if struck by lightning. The hand holding the photo trembled uncontrollably.

Immediately after, she felt a metallic taste surge up her throat, and a mouthful of blood spilled from her lips. In disbelief, she muttered, “Zhenhua… Zhenhua had already died, hadn’t he? How… how can this be…” Before she could finish, she fainted completely, with only the panicked cries of her younger brother echoing in her ears:

“Sis, sis, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me, wake up, please wake up…”

…

When Tang Wanning opened her eyes again, she saw her mother, Su Meijuan, watching her with a face full of worry, eyes brimming with tears. “Ningning, you scared me to death. If anything happens to you, how could your father and I go on living?”

Looking at her very much alive mother, Wanning’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Her mother had died five years ago—so what was happening now?

Before she could make sense of it, the door was pushed open with a bang. A handsome young boy rushed inside, his voice full of panic and concern: “Mom, where’s my sister? I heard from Auntie Huang she fainted in the fields…” Before he could finish, Tang Huaixu saw his sister sitting there, looking at him in confusion. Without another word, he hurried over and grabbed her hand.

“Sis, you scared me to death.” Huaixu sniffled, his voice choking. “Why don’t you come home? I’ll take care of you from now on.”

Looking at her young mother and younger brother, Tang Wanning finally realized—she had been reborn. Reborn into the time just one year after her marriage to Xu Zhenhua.

In her previous life, Zhenhua had returned home when his father fell gravely ill. His father’s condition didn’t improve but worsened, and his mother, Bai Xiuying, insisted on arranging a marriage to “ward off misfortune.” At first, Zhenhua refused, but unable to withstand his mother’s threats of suicide, he had no choice but to propose.

Wanning’s parents felt such a marriage wronged their daughter and wanted to refuse. But Wanning pleaded earnestly, and since Zhenhua seemed good to her, they reluctantly agreed. Strangely enough, Xu Dingbang’s illness miraculously improved on the day of the wedding, bringing joy to both families—a double blessing.

But that very afternoon, Zhenhua was urgently summoned back by his superiors for duty, without even consummating the marriage. A month later, news came from the army that he had died in action.

Even so, Wanning never remarried. No matter how her family persuaded her, she insisted on staying with the Xu family to care for his parents.

It wasn’t until after Bai Xiuying’s death, while Wanning was sorting her belongings, that she discovered that photo—only to learn Xu Zhenhua had never died. Not only had he survived, but he had married another woman and lived happily with children and grandchildren!

At that thought, Wanning burst into tears—crying for her own foolishness, for the way she had wronged her parents and siblings all those years, all for a heartless man.

But heaven had granted her another chance. This time, she would tear the scumbag apart, honor her parents, and ensure her siblings lived good lives!

At her side, Su Meijuan grew frantic seeing her daughter weeping so bitterly. “Ningning, what’s wrong? Did you suffer grievances in the Xu family? If so, just tell me—I’ll get justice for you!”

Tang Huaixu also chimed in, “Sis, if you’ve been wronged, don’t keep it to yourself. You’ve got me and Mom here for you.”

Looking at her family’s concern, Wanning only felt more foolish about her past life. She had neglected her own loving parents and devoted herself wholly to Zhenhua’s parents instead.

But she knew now wasn’t the time to settle scores with the Xu family. What she needed first was to piece together everything that had happened and make them pay the price.

“Mom, little brother, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Su Meijuan’s face showed doubt. “Really fine?”

Her voice firm, Wanning replied, “Really. If something’s wrong, I’ll tell you. Don’t worry.”

At her assurance, Su Meijuan finally relaxed. “You must be hungry after the long day. I’ll go make you something to eat, and you should rest.”

Wanning smiled, dimples showing. “Alright, thank you, Mom.”

After a few more words of concern, Huaixu left with her.

Once the room was quiet, Wanning began piecing together her past life. She remembered that after the army reported Zhenhua’s death, his parents had wept endlessly. Yet a year later, in 1987—just three days after she fainted in the fields this time—they received a phone call.

After that call, they seemed as though they had won the lottery—suddenly cheerful and even setting out on a trip the very next day. Back then, Wanning had wanted to join them to help care for them, but they flatly refused.

Thinking about it now, that phone call was highly suspicious. Why else would grieving parents, who had been drowning in sorrow, suddenly be so full of joy and energy to travel?

Most likely, that call had come from Xu Zhenhua himself. And as for why they hid it from her, it probably had to do with the woman in the photo.

Her heart twisted painfully. This was the man she had loved wholeheartedly—who not only ruined her life but also made a fool of her and her entire family.

“Wanning, are you alright? I heard you fainted in the fields, so I rushed right over.” Bai Xiuying’s voice was full of feigned concern as she entered.

Looking at her mother-in-law’s fake display, Wanning could only find it laughable. If she truly cared, why would she come empty-handed? Even if the family was poor, couldn’t she at least bring an egg?

But in her past life, Wanning had been too blind to see the truth, moved to tears by just a few words of false concern.

This time, though, she couldn’t afford to break things openly yet. She needed to uncover the truth before taking revenge.

“Mother, the doctor says I’ve been overworking myself for too long and need proper rest, otherwise my health will collapse sooner or later.”

Bai Xiuying froze for a moment. Normally, Wanning would insist she was fine and continue working herself to exhaustion for the Xu family. Her own parents and brother, worried for her, would step in to force her to rest while they helped with the Xu family’s work.

But today—what was this? The “worthless girl” not only didn’t volunteer to return but even hinted at taking a long break?