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In less than half an hour, Pei Qingyuan and Sheng Chunxiang’s newlywed room was covered in red.
Red curtains, red bed sheets and duvet covers, brand-new cotton quilts, red tablecloths, enamel mugs, a thermos, a table lamp…
Everything needed for a wedding was there—if they could think of it, Zhao Guihua had already prepared it.
“Husband~ isn’t this a bit wrong?” Sheng Chunxiang clung to Pei Qingyuan’s arm, speaking in a soft and coquettish voice.
Pei Qingyuan had lived two lifetimes, but it was the first time his wife had spoken to him like this. He felt half his body go numb.
Cough cough… “Xiangxiang, don’t feel guilty. My stepmother prepared this for me. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Even if she doesn’t say it, I understand her intentions.”
If Zhao Guihua were here, she would have been so furious she’d vomit blood.
All these items were originally meant for her younger son, Zhao Qingshen, when he got married. Every single thing had been carefully selected over the years, and it had taken her a long time to collect them all.
The total cost? At least a thousand yuan.
When Sheng Chunxiang walked in earlier, she had taken a glance and immediately spotted the new wedding supplies hidden under the bed and inside the wardrobe. Well then, why bother going out to buy new ones?
She covered her mouth and smiled daintily, imitating the demeanor of a refined lady. “Husband~ you really understand your stepmother. I’ll listen to you, hehe…”
Pei Qingyuan looked at his delicate little wife, his Adam’s apple moving slightly. He decided he’d take a good bath later and perform well tonight.
This lifetime, he wanted a house full of children and grandchildren. More than that, he wanted those who had schemed against him to pay the price.
Zhou Qincao was washing dishes in the kitchen, while Li Taohua, heavily pregnant, was wiping the windows.
“Sister-in-law, so Sheng Chunxiang really got her marriage certificate with Pei Qingyuan. What should we do now?” Li Taohua supported her waist, letting out a long sigh.
Zhou Qincao scoffed. “What else? We’ll do whatever Father and Mother decide. Our opinions don’t matter.”
She had even spent money to rush back home, but the old couple didn’t appreciate it. Instead, they scolded her for wasting money.
They even said that since her sister-in-law and Li Jiancheng were in the hospital, their health came first.
Fine.
Let them wait then.
By the time they got out, everything would be set in stone!
If they couldn’t take advantage of Sheng Chunxiang anymore, she wasn’t going to be the one working like an ox for the family.
Sheng Fugui, Sheng Yongkang, and Pei Qingyuan sat together, eating and drinking, laughing heartily. The atmosphere was lively.
Meanwhile, Min Yuanyang was in the bedroom with her two daughters, speaking in hushed voices.
Sheng Chunxiang was still worried about them getting bullied, so she explained the courtyard’s situation.
Min Yuanyang’s face turned cold. “That’s just ten or so families, a few dozen people. How many scumbags were there in Xiba Village?”
“Xiangbao, don’t worry. Your father and I can handle ourselves.”
“But you—if your in-laws dare to mistreat you, come find me.”
“I was foolish before, but after what I’ve been through, I’ve realized the truth. If you’re too kind, people will walk all over you. When faced with injustice, you have to fight back!”
Sheng Chunxiang gave her a thumbs-up. “Mom, you’re amazing!”
People might not listen when you tell them, but life teaches its own lessons. One experience was enough to open someone’s eyes.
Besides, Min Yuanyang had suffered three years of misery. With the help of the spirit spring water, it would be stranger if she hadn’t changed.
Sheng Chunxia chimed in, “Xiangxiang, if anyone bullies you, just tell me!”
“I used to be an idiot, but after eating that cake and trying city food, I feel like I’ve recovered!”
“Just watch! I’m going to live like a real person from now on.”
Sheng Chunxiang nodded eagerly. “That’s right, none of us in the Sheng family are weak!”
Sheng Chunxia became even more energized. “Big Brother said he’s going out tomorrow to see if he can find a job. You should ask Brother-in-law if he has any connections.”
Sheng Chunxiang’s eyes lit up. Her elder sister even knew to think about job connections—she really wasn’t stupid anymore!
Suddenly, Min Yuanyang asked, “Xiangbao, your grandfather had a job, right? When he passed away, shouldn’t that job have been left to you?”
Sheng Chunxiang was surprised. “Mom? How did you know?”
Min Yuanyang had never left the village and only knew how to work hard. She shouldn’t have known about these things.
“You silly child. Didn’t I say my mind is clearer now? Earlier today, when I was going back and forth to the bathroom, I overheard people in the courtyard talking about an old man who passed away. His job was passed down to his child.”
Sheng Chunxiang hugged her. “Mom! I admire you more and more! You’re going to have a bright future!”
Min Yuanyang had never been told she had a bright future before. She was so excited that her confidence soared.
“Of course! If I survived disaster, then blessings must be coming. Stick with me, and we’ll all live well!”
She had let herself down before, and she had let her children down even more.
From now on, she was going to make it up to them.
Sheng Chunxiang nodded. “Mom, you’re right. My grandfather had a job, but I haven’t figured out exactly how he passed away yet. But after he died, the job was given to me…”
Actually, it had been given to the original host of this body. But she had been so gullible that the Li family tricked her into giving it up.
Sheng Chunxiang punched the quilt in frustration. “That Li Jiancheng family is truly shameless!”
Min Yuanyang narrowed her eyes. “Can you get the job back?”
Sheng Chunxiang nodded. “Yes. I’ve just been too busy these past few days to deal with it.”
“Mom, don’t worry. Tomorrow, Qingyuan and I will go to the steel factory and get the job back.”
Li Jiancheng was still just an apprentice after three years, and he had even spent money to buy his formal worker status.
If her big brother took the job back, he could at least become a supervisor.
At the dining table, the father-in-law, eldest brother-in-law, and younger sister’s husband were all drunk, their tongues heavy, addressing each other as “big brother” and “little brother.”
Sheng Fugui almost crawled under the table, but Pei Qingyuan was quick to react, catching him in time. “Xiangxiang, Dad drank too much. Come help me.”
Min Yuanyang was the first to rush out, carrying Sheng Fugui on her back.
Without looking back, she said, “It’s already dark, Xiangbao, Qingyuan, you two lovebirds should go back and rest.”
“Chunxia, carry your big brother back. I’ll clean up later.”
Sheng Chunxia lifted Sheng Yongkang with one hand and carried him to his room.
Sheng Chunxiang and Pei Qingyuan, the young couple, were dumbfounded.
“Xiangxiang, our parents, big brother, and big sister all seem pretty strong.”
Pei Qingyuan swallowed several times. He felt like he either needed to be extra careful or work harder.
Sheng Chunxiang scoffed, “Of course! Where do you think I got all my strength from?”
Actually, that wasn’t true. The original owner of her body was the only normal person in the family—strong and mentally sharp.
Pei Qingyuan lowered his head and grinned foolishly. “Then… then I can rest assured.”
Sheng Chunxiang was confused. “What do you mean? Rest assured about what?”
Pei Qingyuan blushed, twisting his small frame like a wrung towel. “I mean… our future kids will definitely inherit your strength.”
“Wife, Mom told us to hurry back and rest. We should be obedient and be good kids.”
Before Sheng Chunxiang could respond, he scooped up his delicate wife and ran off.
Tonight, no one in the family would be coming home.
Enter the house.
Close the door.
Draw the curtains. Turn off the lights. Sleep!
Pei Guokang lay in the hospital bed, his face extremely grim.
Zhao Guihua and her two children surrounded him. Zhao Jiancheng’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, and his eyelids were puffed up like lightbulbs.
Zhao Guihua and Zhao Qingya were in slightly better shape, but they were still covered in bruises.
“Jiancheng, go rent a place outside,” Pei Guokang finally said after a long silence.
Zhao Jiancheng snapped his head up. “Dad! Why should I be the one to move out?”
Pei Guokang: “If you don’t move out, do you expect me to?”
Zhao Jiancheng protested, “I’m your son too! Dad, you can’t be so biased!”
Pei Guokang sighed. “But you’ve disgraced yourself.”
Zhao Jiancheng looked at Zhao Guihua, but his mother remained silent. Furious, he squatted down, covering his head with both hands, and started wailing.
The air pressure in the room dropped to its lowest. No one said another word.
Min Yuanyang sat up. Her husband, Sheng Fugui, was still sound asleep, and their two children were peacefully dreaming.
She changed into an outfit she had brought from Xiba Village.
If the villagers saw her in it, they would know—it was a big day.
Because every time Min Yuanyang slaughtered chickens, geese, fish, or pigs, she would wear this outfit.
After getting dressed, she picked up a small bundle. Inside was a small knife, used for digging wild vegetables.
She stepped outside, glanced at the house across from hers, and a smile of happiness spread across her face.
Xiangbao was right there. Unlike herself, her daughter didn’t have to suffer anymore.
