Chapter 17

Tang Yajun held a syringe and, moving quickly, jabbed it into Tang Hewei’s exposed skin. Before he could even react, she pushed the liquid inside all the way through.

Tang Hewei collapsed onto the table before he could utter a sound.

It was a drug that would put someone to sleep instantly, and when he woke up, he wouldn’t remember anything that had just happened.

Tang Yajun gave him a shove to make sure he was truly unconscious, then walked to the window to glance at the courtyard outside. Seeing no movement, she finally relaxed.

She boldly opened her space and took out the metal detector she had prepared long ago, sweeping it around the room.

No wonder the original owner was always broke—every penny had gone to feeding this useless leech.

He talked about eloping with her, but what would they live on—thin air?

As she was mocking inwardly, the detector beeped.

Tang Yajun lowered her head to check. Beside a cabinet, one of the bricks clearly showed signs of being loosened.

She pried the brick up, revealing a hollowed-out cavity underneath. Inside sat an old biscuit tin.

Opening it, she found a small ledger.

“March 12, received 20 yuan from Tang Yajun.”
“April 11, received 25 yuan from Tang Yajun…”

Page after page, all were records of money she—the original—had given him.

Tang Yajun walked over and gave Tang Hewei a solid beating to vent her anger.

The entries showed that ever since the original owner had married into the Lu family, she’d been handing him money almost every month.

When she flipped to the last page, her brows furrowed— the latest entry noted that Lu Zhengang had given him 100 yuan.

For no reason, why would the Lu family’s second uncle be giving Tang Hewei money? The two shouldn’t have any connection.

At the bottom of the tin were stacks of cash, a few gold ingots, and two silver bracelets.

She made a rough count—it was clear Tang Hewei had never bought any boat ticket. He had simply been swindling money.

Tang Yajun stuffed the tin and ledger into her space, laid the brick back into place, and smoothed it so no flaw showed on the surface.

She swept the house once more with the detector, but found nothing else.

Then she pocketed the 200 yuan lying on the table in front of Tang Hewei.

She hurried out of the Tang house and pedaled away on her bicycle from the mouth of the alley.

Once her figure disappeared, Cui Shan stepped out from behind a wall and entered the Tang family courtyard.

A while later, he came back quickly, walked into another alley, and reported the situation to Lu Chongjin, who was waiting in a jeep.

The icy expression on Lu Chongjin’s face finally eased when he heard Cui Shan say that Tang Hewei had been beaten black-and-blue and knocked out.

Meanwhile, with her money retrieved, Tang Yajun was in high spirits and pedaled all the way home at speed.

When she arrived at her gate, she saw Director Liu from the Agricultural Research Institute standing there, anxiously craning his neck to look around.

The moment he spotted her, his face broke into a smile. “Ah, finally! I’ve been waiting for you. Is your elder brother back yet?”

Tang Yajun opened the gate and invited him into the yard.

Director Liu, mindful that it wasn’t proper for a man to enter when there were no others at home, stayed outside to speak.

“Yajun, I won’t beat around the bush. I’m here to invite your brother to join our Agricultural Research Institute.”

Her face lit up. “My brother hasn’t returned yet, but perhaps there will be news any time now.”

Director Liu said, “There’s no rush. These couple of days I’ve been busy applying to add more posts. Once it’s approved, I’ll let you know.”

Then he looked a bit regretful. “It’s my fault—got too caught up in work and almost forgot about your matter. Nearly missed out on an excellent talent.

That produce you gave me the other day was really outstanding. Everyone at the institute who tasted it was full of praise.

Could you sell me some more? I’d like to take it to the senior official who signs off on the approvals. If he tries it, things will move along more smoothly.”

“That’s no problem at all. Please wait a moment, I’ll fetch it for you,” Tang Yajun said, then went inside.

A few minutes later she came out carrying a basket full of fruits and vegetables, this time with several extra varieties.

Director Liu beamed and offered to pay, but she politely declined.

He didn’t insist. He just said that once her brother returned, he should go directly to the institute to report.

With her mind at ease, Tang Yajun went to the post office and sent a telegram to her brother.

The few words were coded—something only her senior brother and she would understand.

She urged him to take this opportunity to apply for medical retirement while recuperating, perhaps securing a spot in the first batch of returning sent-down youths.

In the days that followed, she accompanied Lu Chongjin in his rehabilitation training without fail, hoping he would soon regain the ability to move freely.

One day, Cui Shan brought good news: Tang Yashan’s name was indeed on the first returnee list, and he would be home soon.

Meanwhile, the crops in her space’s experimental field were thriving. But after her last experience, she didn’t dare sell them again.

Instead, she harvested part of them and dried them into fruit snacks. Easier to store, convenient to carry, and handy for her to nibble on for vitamins.

The Lu household never lacked for food, but variety was scarce—nothing like the fun of having little snacks.

She took a few bags of dried fruit over to Lu Zhongyun next door, sharing the news that her elder brother was coming back.

In the original owner’s memories, she only vividly recalled those she disliked; for Lu Chongjin’s second sister, there wasn’t much impression.

After a few interactions, however, Tang Yajun found her kind and warm. And because she cared deeply about her brother’s news, Tang Yajun felt an unexpected fondness.

Hearing the news, Lu Zhongyun was more emotional than Tang Yajun had been when she first learned it, bursting into tears.

Her tears pattered onto the ground, as if hammering into Tang Yajun’s chest, making her heart ache too.

She still hadn’t figured out what exactly lay between Lu Zhongyun and her brother Tang Yashan.

When they met, who knew how it would turn out?

Curious as she was, Tang Yajun dared not show a trace of it, afraid of adding pressure to Lu Zhongyun and complicating things.

She comforted her and then returned home.

That night, before bed, she asked Lu Chongjin about it.

He sighed, saying only that she would know in time. His evasiveness only piqued her curiosity further.

She’d been putting in hard work helping with his rehab—if not credit, then at least effort—and yet he wouldn’t even be honest about such a small matter.

Annoyed, her hands began to wander across his body.

Any trace of sleepiness in him was instantly wiped away by her teasing.

Turning his head toward her, he met her mischievous grin.

Stretching out an arm, he pulled her into his embrace.

Spoiling her, he said, “Don’t make trouble. I have to travel tomorrow and won’t be back for a few days. Stay home, wait for your brother, and don’t run off.”

Tang Yajun stiffened for a moment in his arms, then gradually relaxed.

Something occurred to her, and she lifted her head to ask, “Can I tell Lu Zhengang about your trip?”

Lu Chongjin narrowed his eyes at her.

She hurried to explain: “If I shouldn’t, I won’t say a word.”

“It’s fine. Use this news to lure him out—better to keep him occupied elsewhere than stirring up trouble here.”

At his words, Tang Yajun suddenly remembered— in just a few days, it would be the date when, in her previous life, the original had been drowned in the lake.

A chill spread through her body, and she shivered uncontrollably.