Chapter 1: Transmigration

Xia Daohua was jolted awake by pain.

The moment she opened her eyes, she saw the culprit—a beautiful young girl with cloud-like black hair tied into two buns, and a fair, delicate oval-shaped face.

The girl’s features were gentle and refined, and she looked strangely familiar.

But right now, this girl was holding a chipped, coarse porcelain bowl and, with a worried frown on her face, feeding Xia Daohua spoonful by spoonful of traditional Chinese medicine!

One glance at the inky-black, tar-like concoction in the bowl, and Xia Daohua instinctively shut her mouth tight, refusing to drink any more of it no matter what.

The girl noticed that Xia Daohua had opened her eyes but then turned away and clamped her mouth shut, clearly trying to dodge the medicine. With a bang, she set the bowl down on the table, then stood up with a swish, turned around, and shouted toward the door:

“Dad! Mom! Grandpa! Grandma! Daohua’s awake!”

Her voice was crisp and loud, making Xia Daohua flinch inside—this young lady clearly had a bit of a fiery temper!

But unexpectedly, this fiery young lady didn’t throw any punches. Instead, she turned back with a bright face and eagerly showered Xia Daohua with concern:

“Daohua, does your head still hurt? Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?”

Before Xia Daohua could process all these questions, the thick, old cotton curtain over the doorway was lifted, and a group of people came rushing in, bringing with them a gust of chilly wind.

Leading the way was a strong, broad-shouldered middle-aged man with a square face, thick brows, and large eyes—he had an honest, reliable look about him.

Following closely behind was a gentle-featured, fair-skinned middle-aged woman.

By her side were two small children—one with two tiny buns on her head, the other too young to have grown any hair yet.

Then came an older couple who looked very much alike, the man with a square face and the woman with a round one.

At the very end, a middle-aged woman with narrow eyes, high cheekbones, and thin lips entered. She had a tall, slender figure, but her sharp features gave off a rather mean impression.

Everyone wore thick, padded jackets and pants, covered by coarse blue outerwear with loose sleeves and wide trouser legs. Though clean, their clothes were patched in many places, and the patches didn’t match.

Both men and women wore their hair in buns. The men had plain cloth headscarves, while the women wore carved peachwood hairpins. At first glance, it looked like a realistic historical drama costume set.

Xia Daohua opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, a barrage of questions drowned her out:

“Daohua, you’re awake?”

“Daohua, how are you feeling? Does anything hurt?”

“Daohua, does your head still hurt? Do you remember how you got hurt?”

“Daohua, I saved half a sugar ball for you. Once you finish your medicine, you can have it!”

“Daohua, …”

Amid the flood of excited and concerned voices, a sharp, unpleasant tone suddenly cut through:

“Oh, look at our Daohua—just fell and hit her head, and now she’s being treated like a precious young lady!”

“All that bright, shiny silver flowing out like water, just for a few bowls of bitter medicine, and no one in the family even blinked an eye!”

“My poor Erlang! He’s almost nineteen and still doesn’t have the money to marry a wife!”

The room fell silent instantly.

The round-faced old woman’s expression darkened, and she scolded sternly:

“Second daughter-in-law, if you don’t know how to talk, go chew on a grass root and shut up! No one will mistake you for a mute if you keep your mouth shut!

Daohua is your own niece! Would you really be so heartless as to stand by and watch her bleed from the back of her head, just to save money for Erlang’s wedding?”

The sharp-faced woman immediately shot back, clearly unconvinced:

“We’re just poor farmers—when did our kids become so delicate? When other children fall and bump themselves, we just rub a little plant ash on it and move on!

But look at our Daohua—she’s so precious! Just a cut on the head by the well, and she’s rushed off to Pujitang! That kind of place—do dirt-eating peasants like us even belong there?”

The round-faced old lady’s expression turned even darker:

“We did try plant ash on Daohua, but the blood kept pouring out—it wouldn’t stop!

When we got to Pujitang, Physician Wang gave her two stitches and the bleeding stopped. After just three days of medicine, she woke up!

Now that she’s fine, you’re the one kicking up a fuss?

What? You’re upset that Daohua survived? If you’re so heartbroken over the money, why don’t you go find Physician Wang and ask for it back! Go ahead! Go! Go! Let’s see you try!”

As she spoke, the old lady even gave the sharp-faced woman a couple of shoves.

The woman staggered back repeatedly, not daring to push back or really go confront Physician Wang. Her voice lowered a bit, but the complaints didn’t stop:

“Mother, how could you say such a thing? Daohua is my own niece—of course I care about her! But as the elder of this family, shouldn’t you treat everyone fairly?

Big Brother and Sister-in-law’s family live in town, eating and drinking well—I never said a word. After all, Dalang is a scholar, the hope of the Xia family! If we’re going to make something of ourselves, bring glory to our ancestors, we have to count on Dalang becoming a top scholar and an official.

I understand that. I’ve heard Father say it a thousand times, and I agree.

Dalang is warm and cozy every day with his plump wife, and their baby is almost due! But my poor Erlang is still all alone, a bachelor after all these years!

I’ve tolerated it.

Because Erlang isn’t good at studying, he’s destined to dig in the dirt. He can’t compare to Dalang, that’s for sure.

But Erlang—he’s still your grandson!

He may not compare to Dalang, but does he not even measure up to Daohua, a little girl?

Daohua is a good child, I admit that. But she’s still just a girl.

Let me say something harsh—our Xia family has plenty of girls. She’s not the only one. Fourth Brother alone has three daughters!

Just the silver spent on Daohua’s treatment could’ve been enough to get Erlang a wife!

It’s not that I, as her second aunt, didn’t want to help Daohua get better—it’s just that I can’t stomach the unfairness!

Why is it that when it comes to Daohua’s treatment, you have the money, but when it comes to Erlang’s marriage, there’s none? In every nearby village, boys Erlang’s age are all married already!”

As she continued, her voice rose again, loud enough to make everyone’s ears buzz.

Xia Daohua sat there, completely dazed and confused.

Just last night, she had gone out drinking with friends. Sure, she had a bit too much to drink—but how on earth did that lead to time travel?!

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(End of Chapter 1)