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“Xiaobao, do you think she… will die?”
“Waaah… brother, I’m scared.”
“Xiaobao, don’t be scared, Xiaobao, don’t be scared, be good~”
The little boy gently patted the little girl’s back, his voice soft and soothing. “Stay here, I’ll go check.”
“No, brother, don’t go, I’m scared…”
The little girl stared with wide, round eyes, tears welling up, looking like a sticky rice dumpling—so pitiful it pulled at the heartstrings.
“It’s okay, don’t be scared, brother’s here.”
The little boy comforted her again, stroking her head, instructing his sister to wait quietly while he stepped forward to check.
This vicious woman had slipped into the river earlier that morning. The splash was big, and luckily a passing neighbor rescued her.
When the village doctor hurried over, he checked her quickly, then shook his head with deep regret and said, “So young… what a pity! Have the family buy a coffin early and prepare for the worst.”
Afterwards, the woman was carried home by the villagers, barely clinging to life.
She lay there on the bed, motionless, until now.
The eldest child stepped forward, reaching out his chubby little hand to tug at her clothes. Just as his hand was midair, the person on the bed suddenly coughed violently!
Then she abruptly sat upright!
Like a corpse suddenly coming back to life!
“Bro… bro!” Xiaobao cried in horror, covering his mouth.
The eldest child’s pupils widened; he froze as if struck by lightning, his arms trembling, calves shivering uncontrollably. His legs went weak—he couldn’t take a single step!
The woman on the bed was awake!
She wasn’t dead!
After a while…
“Hiss…” the woman on the bed suddenly raised her hand to her forehead, letting out a soft groan.
Wen Shiyang lifted her eyes, examining the unfamiliar surroundings and the strange furnishings—
Her eyes widened in shock!
Why did this place look so shabby? Not even as nice as the newly built outhouse in her mansion!
This was not her fourteen-room luxurious residence!
The emperor had granted her a prime piece of land, and she hadn’t even moved in before… it was gone?
Why was her fate so miserable?
Wen Shiyang recalled everything from the past, her fists clenching in frustration as she thumped herself twice, then held her head in despair!
She really was hopeless!
Even receiving a reward in the past hadn’t stopped her from delighting in it too much!
She had once laughed at Fan Jin for going crazy after passing the provincial exam—now thinking back, she was no better!
Truly, the pot calling the kettle black!
The eldest child stared blankly, utterly confused by the woman’s strange behavior. It was as if her body were being controlled by someone else.
But their fear of this woman had always been ingrained, like roots buried deep in the heart—impossible to uproot!
He dared not act recklessly.
Before the woman fully regained her senses, the eldest child quickly turned, grabbed Xiaobao, and tried to run.
He feared she would suddenly lash out and hit him and his sister.
Wen Shiyang had had her fill of despair, then lifted her eyelids, preparing to take a closer look at this place.
All of her previous life’s memories had already flooded into her mind!
Actually, being in this person’s body was somewhat shameful.
At eighteen, she had been sold by her own eldest uncle to an old man in the neighboring village, who then sold her out of the province to be married to a mentally disabled son of another family!
She would rather die than submit. By the time she was escorted to the neighboring province, she was starving, too weak to even try escaping.
Fortunately, at the transaction, the man who was now her husband intervened. Tall, strong, and in uniform, he intimidated everyone when he threatened to call the authorities!
He rescued her, gave her some money, and told her to return to her parents.
She told him she had no parents, no home.
Perhaps pitying her—or seeing a kindred spirit in another unfortunate soul—he brought her back home.
And he gave her a legitimate place in the household, as the bride he had married from afar.
Through conversations, she learned he was a military man, upright and honest.
At first, when he was home for a few days, she behaved well—doing laundry and cooking, even earning praise from the matriarch for being a sensible bride.
But the moment he left, her true nature emerged.
Her temper turned bad and cruel; she threw pots and smashed dishes, even hitting the children!
Any slight displeasure would result in her stabbing the children with needles to vent! Seeing them cry and kneel for mercy gave her a perverse sense of satisfaction.
It was like a farmer and snake story come to life!
And then she remembered the children…
Children?
Yes, this household had two children!
Wen Shiyang suddenly snapped awake, looking around with a frown. Why couldn’t she see the two children anywhere?
Just as she was about to look away, the bamboo basket in the corner by the wall started trembling slightly.
Wen Shiyang instantly understood.
She swung her legs off the bed and walked toward the basket.
“Brother, she’s… she’s…” the little girl whispered in a low voice, trembling violently all over.
Halfway through, the little boy forcefully covered her mouth, stopping her from making a sound.
Through the cracks of the bamboo basket, the boy could easily see the woman walking toward them. But all he could do was curl up there, helpless, watching her approach.
He hugged his sister tightly, eyes shut, silently begging that she would use all her strength on him and not hurt his sister.
The footsteps grew clearer.
The eldest clutched the trembling little sister tighter.
The footsteps suddenly stopped—
The next second, the bamboo basket was lifted up.
One second…
Two seconds…
…
There was no familiar slap or loud scolding.
The eldest opened his eyes in disbelief, and what met his gaze was still the face of the vicious stepmother.
Only now, her eyes were clearer and gentler than before.
“Mom… we were wrong, we’ll go chop wood and make fire right away!” the eldest shouted out, his voice still trembling.
The little sister only looked at her shakily, eyes filled with tears but clearly trying hard not to let them fall.
Wen Shiyang watched the two children clinging to each other and was reminded of when she was young, getting scolded for not practicing properly, with her sister protecting her.
It was truly a loving scene.
Under the eldest’s terrified, fixed gaze, Wen Shiyang suddenly reached out and ruffled his messy hair, lightly patting it until dust rose.
Cough, cough — a bit dusty.
“I’m not letting you chop wood or make fire today. Get up.” Wen Shiyang gently patted the little girl’s head, full of pity.
These two kids were really something!
Her voice was soft and gentle, so unlike the rough, hoarse voice she used to have.
The eldest stared at her in horror, disbelief written all over his face.
“Are you hungry?” Wen Shiyang guessed from the original’s memories.
It had been almost a whole day since falling into the river, and outside it was already getting dark.
She thought for a moment, recalling the original owner’s stash of peach crisps secretly hidden in the wardrobe.
She only took them out when the kids were away, to satisfy her own cravings.
“Wait a moment, I’ll get you something to eat.” Wen Shiyang turned and rummaged through the wardrobe.
After what felt like ages, she finally found several pieces of peach crisps wrapped in kraft paper under an old jacket.
She sighed in relief, “Hidden pretty well!”
She opened the package and counted about seven or eight pieces.
Satisfied, she took all the crisps out — if she was going to let them eat, they should eat well.
Consider it their first meeting gift from her.
The original owner was ill-tempered, and whenever something trivial happened, she took it out on the two kids. The kids were so scared they avoided her like a cat avoids a mouse, trying to hide whenever they saw her from afar.
This relationship needed to improve, or life here would be even harder for Wen Shiyang—unfamiliar and lonely without anyone to accompany her.
She spread the peach crisps in front of the siblings, speaking softly, “You must be starving. Here, take and eat.”
The two children stared at the treats, swallowing hard.
Xiaobao was tempted and reached for them but was stopped by the eldest.
He looked timidly at Wen Shiyang, voice full of grievance, almost pleading, “Mom, are you going to sell us to the old man in the next village? We won’t run away. We’ll work hard and not be lazy. Please don’t sell us…”
Wen Shiyang was stunned. The lie the original owner used to scare them popped into her head—only meant to make them obedient and hardworking.
The kids actually believed it.
Hearing his brother, Xiaobao’s eyes filled with tears, and his trembling hand withdrew, his face full of fear.
She did not want to be sold, especially not to the old man next door!
Wen Shiyang felt a lump in her throat, a bit uncomfortable.
She patiently replied, “No, it won’t happen. Don’t worry, eat up! No one will sell you.”
Seeing they still dared not move, she sighed softly and placed the peach crisps on a nearby wooden bench.
She stood and said, “I’m putting it here for you. I’ll check the yard first. You eat first.”
Without hesitation, she got up and walked toward the door.
Watching her slender figure walk away, the two children looked at each other, utterly confused.
They didn’t understand what kind of trick this was.