Chapter 14: I’m Back!**

Qian Meili’s sister-in-law was named Zhou Qingsao. In the Qian family, she had little say because her maternal family was poor and couldn’t provide financial support.

But the news she brought home was taken very seriously.

“Eldest, go to the hospital and tell Fourth Sister about this! She needs to come up with a plan quickly.” Qian Zhaodi immediately ordered her eldest son.

Qian Weiguo knew how serious this was and sprinted out the door.

The entire Qian family understood: If Sheng Chunxiang married someone else—especially Pei Qingyuan—then she would no longer help Li Jianshe.

That meant they could no longer take advantage of her.

Their family was big—six grandsons, one granddaughter, and all the adults, making a total of sixteen people.

For the past three years, if it weren’t for Sheng Chunxiang’s money, they would have been starving.

Sheng Chunxiang had no brains, but if they didn’t take advantage of her, someone else would.

—

After leaving the courtyard, Pei Qingyuan still had time, so he bought roast duck, braised pig’s trotters, and pig’s head meat for 25.62 yuan.

He carefully wrapped everything in oil paper and put it in a cloth bag.

Then, the two of them went to the train station. Pei Qingyuan bought two sleeper tickets for 19.50 yuan.

To get from Beijing to Xiba Village, they had to take a five-hour train ride to the city, then a two-hour bus ride to the county, followed by a one-and-a-half-hour coach ride to the town.

From there, they still had to take an ox cart for another hour before reaching Xiba Village.

Since they would be on the train for over ten hours, they had to eat well, drink well, and rest properly.

Sheng Chunxiang hadn’t traveled such a long journey in ages. She thought she would be completely exhausted this time.

But after all the traveling, she was still energetic and refreshed, without a hint of fatigue.

How was this possible?

Was it because she ate and slept well?

After thinking for a while, she finally realized—it must be the effect of the spiritual spring water.

Wow.

She had thought the system was scamming her, but it turned out she had struck gold.

She glanced at Pei Qingyuan. The grown man had gotten motion sickness and thrown up several times. Now, he barely had the strength to walk.

There was no way to take out water suddenly, so she would wait a bit.

At this moment, dawn was breaking. As they walked into the village, they didn’t even see a single village dog.

But at the Sheng family’s house at the edge of the village, smoke was already rising from the chimney, and the smell of food filled the air.

“Cough… the chili is too spicy…” A thin, malnourished middle-aged woman squatted on the ground, coughing uncontrollably, unable to get up.

“Yuanyang, take a break. Let me do it.” A tall, thin man came in, his voice hoarse.

Min Yuanyang pushed him away with her dry hands. “No, no… cough cough… you still have to work in the fields later. I can handle this… cough cough…”

In the kitchen corner, two young women in their early twenties were busy.

One was washing clothes in freezing water, her hands red from the cold.

The other was fixing a wall, using her bare hands since there were no tools.

Oh boy…

The whole family of four was dressed in tattered clothes, emaciated to the bone, and looked sickly.

They worked numbly, their eyes devoid of any light.

Outside the kitchen, an old woman with triangular eyes held a whip, cursing non-stop.

“A whole family of useless eaters! Hurry up and set the table! If the food isn’t good, watch how I deal with you!”

“Today is my daughter-in-law’s birthday! If any of you dare to steal a bite, I’ll break your mouths!”

“Sheng Fugui, go to the river and catch me a big carp! We need fish soup later!”

The tall and thin old man carried a fish back and rasped, “I already caught one.”

The old woman grew even angrier. “What kind of tone is that? Always looking like you’re at a funeral, as if I owe you eighty thousand dollars!”

“And don’t you dare feel wronged! Your whole family owes me! You’re just repaying your debt!”

…

The neighbors were used to this kind of noise, hearing it multiple times a day.

---

Following the original owner’s memories, Sheng Chunxiang walked from the village entrance to the center, finally running into a few villagers.

“Who are you…?”

The elderly man, having short sleep due to age, was already up early, wandering around the village. Seeing Sheng Chunxiang, he could hardly recognize her.

Sheng Chunxiang didn’t know him either, but she introduced herself loudly, “I’m Sheng Chunxiang, the youngest daughter of Sheng Fugui and Min Yuanyang.”

Old folks were hard of hearing—if you didn’t speak loudly, they wouldn’t catch a word.

Pei Qingyuan added, “I’m Sheng Chunxiang’s fiancé, from the Forty-Nine City. I’ve come to take my in-laws to the city for a good life.”

Along the way, he had learned about the Sheng family’s situation. The two had agreed—they must take the whole family to the city.

Having lived a second life, Pei Qingyuan saw things more clearly.

A son-in-law from the city coming to take his in-laws away—what an honor! Let those people eat their hearts out with jealousy!

The villagers who overheard were completely stunned.

“Chunxiang! So you really are living a good life in the city! And now your parents and siblings will have a good life too!”

“But you came back too late… I’m afraid they won’t last much longer.”

“Hurry and check on them! Today is your older cousin-in-law’s 30th birthday, and your parents are busy serving them.”

…

Older cousin-in-law’s 30th birthday?

That sounded strange.

Sheng Chunxiang didn’t waste words. She quickened her pace, and Pei Qingyuan, carrying a large bag, followed closely.

In the blink of an eye, she arrived at the Sheng family’s courtyard.

Standing in the middle of the yard, she could already hear the laughter and cheers coming from the main hall—everyone was celebrating a woman’s birthday. A large cake sat on the table.

In these rural times, having chicken, duck, and fish was already a sign of a well-off family.

A birthday cake? That was something only the richest people could afford.

But according to the original owner’s memories, her parents and uncle’s family weren’t wealthy at all.

Amidst the laughter, other voices rang out.

“Sheng Fugui, I found your daughter a great marriage match. The groom’s family is offering a 200-yuan bride price.”

“I also got your son a good job in a mining company—he’ll make 150 yuan a month!”

“Since today is my daughter-in-law’s special day, you all get to share the good fortune.”

“Why are you all looking so glum? For your sake, I’ve worn out my tongue, speaking on your behalf!”

…

Min Yuanyang quickly looked at her husband. The four members of their family exchanged glances, clenching their fists—finally making up their minds.

With no hope left in life, they would take everyone down with them!

Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open from the outside.

No one knew how it was kicked, but the whole door panel fell to the ground, shattering into pieces!

Sheng Chunxiang strode in, head held high.

Her eyes landed on her family, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. “Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Big Sister, I’m back.”

“Don’t be afraid! I’ve got your backs!”

No wonder the village chief and the others had spoken like that. No wonder the villagers had warned her. If she had come a moment later, she might not have even seen their corpses.

From Forty-Nine City all the way here, she had never seen people worse off than her family.

Even the refugees looked healthier than them.

The people sitting at the dining table were a world apart from the Sheng family.

They were well-dressed, well-fed, and full of smug laughter.

Meanwhile, Sheng Fugui’s family stood to the side like servants from a past era.

They weren’t just skin and bones; their eyes held no trace of hope. Their clenched fists showed they were ready for one last fight!

It had only been three years—how had things gotten this bad?

When the original owner had left for Forty-Nine City, they had still been living decent lives!

The entire Sheng family stared at Sheng Chunxiang in shock.

Was this their Xiangbao?

She really seemed to be living well. She was no longer timid or fearful.

She hadn’t forgotten them. She hadn’t abandoned them to enjoy a good life alone. She had come back for them!

Most importantly, she was alive.

They had thought she was lost, yet they had no way to search for her.

They had already made up their minds—after dealing with that wretched family, they would follow her into the afterlife.

“Sheng Chunxiang!”

“You little wench! How dare you break my door!”