Chapter 1: Long Legs

For someone who had spent half a lifetime in a wheelchair, regaining the use of her legs—how could that feeling even be described?

Wearing a brand-new green uniform, her slender waist cinched by a red sash, Chen Siyu cautiously attempted to hook her shoes with her foot.
Not only did her foot move, but the five toenails painted with balsam flower dye flexed so nimbly that she was astonished.

At that moment, voices drifted in from outside the door:
“Enough, stop telling me Siyu isn’t our real daughter. Now that she’s going to the countryside and Nianqin’s taking her spot in the troupe, you should be satisfied, right?”

“Mom, it’s not about Nianqin taking her spot. Both girls passed the exam, but Siyu’s qualifications were slightly better, so she got prioritized. But she’s not my biological child, and she’s always stirring up trouble in the compound. I’ve tolerated it because her father once saved our lives, but how could she harm her own sister?”

Before the sentence was even finished, her adoptive mother, Feng Hui, entered the room:
“Siyu, tell Grandma yourself—weren’t you just eager for Nianqin to leave? You even pushed her down the stairs when seeing her off, didn’t you?”

Looking at her foster daughter, Feng Hui’s eyes were filled with sorrowful disappointment and bitter resentment.

This child’s father was her husband’s cousin, who had once saved their entire family during the war. She had raised Siyu from infancy, loving her as her own. Even when her biological father returned to claim her, Feng Hui refused to give her up.

But Siyu was never content; she always had to outshine her elder sister Nianqin in everything.

Both girls had passed the Cultural Troupe exam, but due to policy, only one child per household registration could be admitted. The other had to be sent down to the countryside.

Her husband, Chen Gang, decided to give the spot to their biological daughter Nianqin and send her to the countryside. Nianqin was set to depart today, but Siyu couldn’t wait for her to leave—she had to give her a push on the stairs, causing Nianqin to sprain her ankle. Now, she was still in the hospital.

After raising her for eighteen years, Feng Hui realized she had nurtured an ungrateful wolf.

As a ballerina, Chen Siyu had considered herself a cripple ever since the car accident took her legs.

But that crippled state was only in terms of mobility.

Her life remained rich and fulfilling—at forty, she still had a 25-year-old, six-pack-abs boyfriend who cooked and discussed philosophy with her. She also retained her position as the top choreographer and principal at the ballet company.

Yet, despite a vibrant soul, her body was undeniably broken. So, Chen Siyu had developed a fondness for reading novels.

At this moment, what unfolded before her eyes was a scene from a “foster daughter literature” novel she had started the night before.

In the book, Chen Siyu was the foster daughter—a side character who relied on her beauty to flirt aimlessly, a delicate and dramatic girl.
The reborn female lead, Chen Nianqin, was her adoptive sister.

In her past life, when the family had to choose which daughter would be sent to the countryside, the parents had chosen the female lead.

In the countryside, Nianqin, answering the nation’s call, married a rural youth in a so-called glorious urban-rural union. But that man turned out to be a domestic abuser, forcing her to labor endlessly and beating her frequently. In the end, Nianqin died in childbirth, taking her unborn child with her.

Before her death, she blamed all her life’s suffering on the foster sister who stayed in the city.

Upon being reborn, Nianqin schemed to sprain her own ankle and framed Siyu for it, ensuring Siyu was sent to the countryside while she remained in the city, becoming a proud Cultural Troupe member.

As for the foster daughter, Chen Siyu—she followed the original tragic path, enduring a life of hardship in the countryside. Unable to return to the city, she would eventually die with regret and resentment in the land where she had poured her youth and sweat.

Back when reading this story, Chen Siyu—sharing the same name as the character—had once wondered what she would do if she were the foster daughter destined for such suffering.

Miraculously, with a mere blink, she found herself in that very scene.

At this moment, Chen Siyu was utterly dazzled by her own long, nimble legs, and couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.

She had transmigrated into a book, becoming a cannon fodder female character. Although it was a hellish starting point, she now possessed a pair of flawless, long legs.

For someone who had spent twenty years confined to a wheelchair, this was nothing short of a divine blessing.

Feng Hui, who was still fretting over her biological daughter’s injury, became furious when she saw her adopted daughter smiling. “Siyu, your sister’s leg is broken, and you can still smile?”

Chen Siyu quickly suppressed her smile, pressed her lips together, and sighed softly.

Just then, Grandma Chen, leaning on her cane, shuffled in unsteadily and clasped Siyu’s hand. “Siyu, I know you’re a bit headstrong, but pushing your own sister down the stairs? That’s not something you’d do, is it?”

Feng Hui, hearing her mother-in-law’s soft-heartedness, hastened to remind her, “Mom, I’ve already said there’s an eyewitness. If you don’t believe me, I can call them over right now and we can confront Siyu together.”

She shot a glare at Siyu and said, “Young people’s sweat should be shed in the countryside. The red tassels on their uniforms should bloom amidst golden wheat fields. Yes, your parents once saved our lives, and we should repay that kindness by sending Nianqin to the countryside. But now that she’s injured, we won’t blame you for it. All we ask is that you take her place and go instead. Is that so wrong?”

She added deliberately, “Besides, you have a whole swarm of admirers trailing behind you, and all of them are big shots. Why don’t you go beg one of them and see if they can pull some strings to get rid of this countryside quota?”

But Chen Siyu had no intention of going to the countryside. In her eyes, a dancer’s duty was to always bloom under the stage lights.

To dance, she had to stay in the city.

The policy was as ironclad as it could be. As for those admirers buzzing around the original Chen Siyu, they were just like the pretty boys she had dallied with in her previous life—good for pleasing the eye, but expecting them to pull strings? Dream on.

However, the original Chen Siyu did have a half-brother from her biological father’s side—a gifted young pianist. Unfortunately, because of his mother’s problematic background, he was currently undergoing re-education. In the novel, the reborn female lead would eventually rescue him.

In the story, this younger brother served as the female lead’s personal goldmine and her golden finger.

The novel described him like this: “A brilliant pianist, a loyal little brother.”

The original book was a rebirth revenge story. The reborn female lead would snatch away all of the cannon fodder female’s suitors, admirers, and even her own brother, who would later become utterly devoted to the female lead.

Technically, as the cannon fodder, Chen Siyu wasn’t supposed to interfere with this “golden finger.”

But the reborn female lead harbored a deep grudge against Chen Siyu over the countryside matter and, after Chen Siyu was sent down, would use her rebirth advantage to exact ruthless revenge. In the end, Siyu would walk the same doomed path, dying of illness in the countryside.

Though stealing the reborn female lead’s golden finger was a bit underhanded, after twenty years in a wheelchair and now given a second chance at life, Chen Siyu wasn’t about to just lie down and accept death at the hands of a vengeful reborn protagonist. To survive, she needed to find her biological brother and figure out a way to stay in the city.

With this thought, her eyes welled up with tears. “Mom, I’m sorry!”

Given that she had raised Siyu herself, Feng Hui softened upon hearing her apology. “It’s good you know you’re wrong.”

But Chen Siyu, now controlling her agile legs, knelt in front of Grandma. “I’m just a foster daughter, not related by blood. Nianqin is your real daughter. As long as Sister Nianqin is happy, I’ll accept whatever outcome.”

Of course, she wasn’t the one who pushed Nianqin. It was Nianqin herself who, after being reborn, regretted going to the countryside and staged her own fall to avoid it.

Chen Siyu wasn’t stupid—she wasn’t about to take the blame.

Grandma inhaled sharply in anger. “Feng Hui, we are a revolutionary family. There’s no such thing as forcing a confession through coercion.”

Feng Hui grew anxious. “Mom, Nianqin is an honest child. She never lies. Besides, there’s a witness.”

Grandma let out a long sigh. Having watched the two girls grow up, she knew their characters well. Siyu loved both Feng Hui and Nianqin, treating them as her real mother and sister. Grandma couldn’t believe Siyu would push her sister down the stairs without a reason.

Seeing the atmosphere deadlock, Chen Siyu gently said, “Mom, it’s not that I refuse to go to the countryside. You know I have another family. If I transfer my household registration over there, I won’t need to go down anymore.”

Feng Hui frowned. “Your biological father’s family? No way. Their class background is terrible. If you transfer over, you’ll end up living in a cowshed!”

Grandma nodded gravely. In these times, class status was crucial.

Although Siyu’s biological father was a war hero, his remarried wife had such a problematic background that it ruined the whole family’s standing. Returning to that household would be even worse than going to the countryside.

More importantly, if Siyu didn’t go to the countryside, Feng Hui and her husband would have to provide another portion of living expenses to support an extra daughter, which would be a heavy burden on their already strained finances.

After weighing the pros and cons, Grandma’s heart was starting to lean toward sending Siyu down.

Chen Siyu sniffled and said, “I know my family’s class standing is bad. But if I go to the countryside, I’ll never see Grandma again…”

She choked up, adding, “I’ve been sleeping next to Grandma since I was little. I’ve never been apart from her. I can leave this house, but I don’t want to be too far from Grandma.”

Grandma, being soft-hearted by nature, couldn’t hold her ground with Siyu pleading like this.

Patting Siyu’s shoulder, she relented. “Alright, alright, you’ll stay in the city. So what if it’s a Stinking Old Ninth family? At least it’s an independent household. Transfer your household registration there, keep a low profile, behave yourself, and from now on, I’ll make sure your father gives you living expenses every month.”

Feng Hui gasped sharply.

Nianqin was about to enter the arts troupe, which would require a lot of money.

Now Siyu wanted to stay in the city, meaning they’d have to provide for another mouth. With just the couple’s meager wages, how could they possibly afford it?

But before she could voice her objections, Siyu came over and clung to her arm, extending her slender, fair wrist. “If I stay in the city, Mom will have to pay for my living expenses too. That’s a heavy burden for you. Forget it, I’ll just go to the countryside and save Mom some money.”

Looking at Siyu—her skin as delicate as the creamy custard from a state-owned restaurant, where even a slight scratch would leave red marks; a breeze could flush her cheeks, and she was so thin that a gust might blow her away—Feng Hui couldn’t help but shudder. If she really sent Siyu to the countryside, who knew how many days she’d survive?

Feng Hui’s heart softened. She sighed and said, “Fine, you won’t go to the countryside. Go find your younger brother, and I’ll help you handle the household registration transfer.”

Chen Siyu was still kneeling. She shuffled backward on her knees and solemnly kowtowed three times to her grandmother.

This wasn’t an act—she once had a kind-hearted grandmother just like this one.

Then, she turned to kowtow to Feng Hui as well, but Feng Hui quickly reached out to lift her up. “Enough of that. If your dad comes back from the hospital and finds out I personally sent you to the cowshed, he’d probably shoot me on the spot.”

Sending their biological daughter to the countryside was a decision made by her husband, due to a life-saving favor owed to his cousin. He firmly refused to let Siyu be the one to go.

If he found out that she had personally sent Siyu to the cowshed, he would surely be furious.

Feng Hui was now forcing herself to send her foster daughter away.

“Mom, when I meet Dad later, I’ll talk to him. Grandma, you don’t have to worry about giving me money every month. Our family isn’t well-off, and with Nianqin joining the performing arts troupe, she’ll need money for pomade, face powder, and rouge. Things aren’t easy at home.”

Since she was leaving, Chen Siyu didn’t want to drag this out and shifted the topic to money.

Her biological father had paid living expenses when he entrusted her to the Chen family.

Chen Siyu wasn’t planning to take any more money from her foster mother, but since she now had nothing to her name and didn’t know what her biological family’s situation was like, it was only reasonable to ask for some living expenses before leaving.

The old lady let out a heavy cough. “Siyu’s mom?”

Feng Hui instantly understood. “Alright, alright, I’ll go get the money… the household can barely keep food on the table, sigh!”

As her daughter-in-law left the room, the old lady reached tremblingly for the keys hanging from her neck.

Chen Siyu understood what her grandmother was trying to do and quickly said, “Grandma, you shouldn’t do this…”

But a large, wrinkled hand firmly grasped hers. Grandma Chen said, “Class background is more important than life. To avoid suspicion, your mom won’t be able to help you in the future. If you don’t take this money, you won’t survive with your class status.”

As she spoke, she stuffed a large handful of grain coupons, cloth tickets, and cash into Siyu’s hands.

This was the wisdom of the elderly—sharp-eyed and clear-headed.

By all rights, Chen Siyu shouldn’t take her grandmother’s money. But now, with nothing of her own and no idea what awaited her with her biological family, she thought it over and accepted the money and tickets from her grandmother, sincerely saying, “Grandma, once I get settled, I’ll repay you every cent.”

This old lady was too kind. In the future, once Siyu’s financial situation improved, she would repay her double, no, triple the kindness.

Just then, Feng Hui came back in, carrying a quilt folded into a tofu block. “Xinjiang cotton, five jin. Use it sparingly.”

As they headed downstairs, Feng Hui carefully placed Siyu’s beloved green military cap on her head, then handed her three yuan in grain coupons, two yuan in sugar coupons, and eighty cents in cloth tickets. She said, “Take these for now. Once you start earning wages, Mom will give you more.”

She had thought Siyu would complain about how little it was and throw a tantrum. But this foster daughter, who had always been pampered by boys for her beauty and grown up spoiled, was unusually sensible today. She obediently accepted the money and said, “Thank you, Mom.”

“There’s no spare money at home. From now on, you’ll have to rely on yourself,” Feng Hui added.

Chen Siyu hugged Feng Hui, crying softly against her chest. “Mom, you’ve always scrimped and saved to raise us. Your daughter feels guilty. The more I think about it, the more I feel like an ungrateful wretch.”

The original Siyu had always been indulged by Feng Hui, but she was naturally flamboyant, constantly coaxing boys into buying things for her. Nianqin, too, was a bit dim-witted, willingly playing the role of her little sidekick. Chen Gang, her husband, because of that life-saving favor from his cousin, also spoiled Siyu excessively, raising her to become wild and willful.

Feng Hui had never wanted to send her own daughter to the countryside in the first place.

Now that Siyu was leaving, and Nianqin no longer had to go, of course she was relieved.

She also knew her mother-in-law must have secretly given Siyu money. But hearing Siyu speak like this softened her heart again.

She said, “You must be thrifty. If you ever run into trouble, come find Mom. No matter what it costs me, I’ll help you.”

This was precisely what Chen Siyu wanted to hear. She needed to set up her own household, stay in the city, and join the performing arts troupe. Only then could she return to the stage she had been away from for over a decade. And for that, Feng Hui’s help was indispensable.

“You’re the best mother in the world!” Gratitude needed to be shown openly, and flattery had to be laid on thick.

Thinking of how she had watched this child’s antics since she was young, how she had followed her around like a little tail, Feng Hui, being human, was now on the verge of tears. After all, this was a child she had nursed herself, and now she was sending her into the fire pit.

But she couldn’t allow herself to waver. Feng Hui said, “You shouldn’t have pushed Nianqin down the stairs. There’s nothing I can do about it either.”

“Mom, the so-called witness Nianqin mentioned, isn’t it Fang Xiaohai? A few days ago, he harassed me, and I whipped him with a belt. If it weren’t for his father pleading, I would’ve reported him for being a filthy hooligan long ago.” Chen Siyu said seriously.

Feng Hui was stunned. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Really?” Then she quickly added, “But Nianqin never lies.”

People’s hearts are naturally biased towards their own flesh and blood, so Feng Hui preferred to believe Nianqin.

But Fang Xiaohai did have a prior conflict with Siyu—could his testimony be trusted?

On the other hand, Nianqin aligning herself with someone who held a grudge against her sister, how credible was that?

If Siyu really laid everything out in front of Grandma and Chen Gang, who would they choose to believe?

Feng Hui was a female cadre, and inherently a principled person.

Even if she was biased towards her own daughter, she would still do what needed to be done to help Siyu in the future.

Now, it was time for Chen Siyu to see what the “cowshed” really looked like.