Chapter 1

1970, The Tang Family (Entirely Fictional, Not Based on History)

“Wanwan, your father is still locked up, and who knows when we might be sent to a labor farm. Your dad and I have already published a notice in the newspaper to sever ties with you and your younger brother.”

“We’ve never met Lu Huaijing, but he’s the child of a martyr, comes from a family of three generations of poor farmers, and is a soldier himself. Marrying him ensures your background won’t be a problem.”

“Your father and I are doing this for your own good. Why can’t you understand? If it weren’t for your father being reported, we wouldn’t have resorted to such desperate measures.”

“…”

A splitting headache.

It felt like her head was about to explode!

The constant nagging buzzed in Tang Wan’s ears, while unfamiliar memories were forcibly crammed into her mind.

She struggled to open her eyes and was greeted by a strikingly beautiful face.

Her mother, Qin Su, was hurriedly stuffing a colorful stack of ration and money vouchers into a cloth bag before thrusting it into Tang Wan’s hands.

“Wanwan, hurry up and leave! Lu Huaijing is waiting for you at the entrance of the state-run restaurant across from our house. Go with him immediately and get your marriage certificate.”

“When you get there, don’t mention us. Even if you run into us by accident, pretend you don’t know us.”

“Mom…”

Tang Wan’s voice was dry and hoarse. The original owner of this body had chosen to end her life by smashing her head against a wall after learning she was to marry a man she’d never met.

Now, Tang Wan, who had died choking on water in the modern era, had taken over this body. Her head still throbbed with the pain of the injury.

There was no time to talk more with Qin Su, as loud banging at the door startled both of them.

Qin Su’s hands trembled as she frantically pushed a suitcase toward Tang Wan. “It must be the street office. Wanwan, go now!”

“Mom, take care!”

Tears glistened in Tang Wan’s eyes, though she couldn’t tell if they were her own emotions or those of the original owner.

Qin Su didn’t escort her out but instead wiped her hands and headed toward the door. Their residence was a former servant’s quarters of the Tang family’s mansion, a short walk from the main entrance.

Tang Wan didn’t have time to examine her surroundings. Instead, she glanced down at the tiny red mole on her hand.

The space was still there! She exhaled in relief. Before her death, she had been a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and the owner of a large mall.

She had also acquired a mysterious space that contained her mall and all the supplies she had collected, preparing for what she thought would be the apocalypse.

Wasting no time, Tang Wan began clearing out the room. Clothes, books, and personal belongings all went into her space. She even tossed the suitcase her mother had prepared into the space.

Only then did she notice the modest size of their residence—a three-bedroom, one-living-room layout. After her father handed over all their property and assets to protect himself, the family had moved into the servant’s quarters next to the villa.

Tang Wan quickly entered her parents’ room. She left only their essential clothing behind, taking everything else into her space.

When the street office came, nothing would be left. Better to benefit herself than others.

Knowing her mother would stall for time, Tang Wan pushed open the door to the last room based on her memories.

This was the study and also her younger brother’s room. Most of his belongings were already gone since her parents had sent him to her uncle’s house when trouble began.

Her father had been reported, and the study might contain incriminating evidence planted to frame him.

With a wave of her hand, Tang Wan cleared out the entire study. Then, she approached a painting on the wall and took it down.

Using a hammer she retrieved from her space, she lightly tapped the wall. A hidden mechanism was revealed. Turning it, she triggered a stunning sight.

A bookshelf in the room slowly slid aside, revealing a secret passage leading to an underground room.

The Tang family, with their deep roots and clever strategies, had planned for contingencies long ago. The original owner’s father had told her about this place.

Tang Wan dashed inside, almost running. To her astonishment, the underground room was filled with dozens of tightly packed sandalwood chests.

No wonder her parents insisted on staying in the servant’s quarters!

Hearing Qin Su’s loud voice defending herself outside, Tang Wan quickly tossed all the chests into her space.

Retracing her steps, she glanced at the kitchen before leaving and didn’t even spare the pots and pans.

The sound of footsteps and things being smashed grew louder. Tang Wan climbed out of the guest room window and sprinted toward a nearby villa.

The villa had already been confiscated and was now public property. People were fighting for the right to move in, so it remained unoccupied.

Fortunately, her family had prepared for such an event—Tang Wan had taken the key from her mother’s room.

As she climbed into the villa, she caught a glimpse of the people entering the servant’s quarters. Qin Su was shoved to the ground.

A surge of anger swelled in Tang Wan’s chest. She wanted to rush over and rescue her mother, but reason prevailed in the next moment. If she went out, she’d surely be caught as well. Only by protecting herself could she later work to change her family’s fate.

With that thought, Tang Wan turned her attention to the villa. It still contained furniture and even the piano that the original owner had once used.

The wealthy families of the past used high-quality wood for their furniture, which would become priceless in a few decades.

Not wanting to let those people benefit from it or see the furniture smashed, Tang Wan cleared out the contents of the three-story villa in one go, transferring everything into her space.

She also found a hidden room where she retrieved a box of journals and several sandalwood chests left behind by her grandfather.

As she watched the intruders vent their frustration by smashing the servant’s quarters, Tang Wan slipped out of the Tang residence through the back.

She carried the suitcase her mother had prepared.

The streets were crowded with people. Tang Wan glanced at the drab cityscape, with its gray buildings and walls plastered with propaganda slogans, and for a moment, felt disoriented.

Only now did the reality of being in the 1970s sink in.

In the distance, she spotted a tall figure standing at the entrance of the state-run restaurant. Although he wasn’t wearing a military uniform, his imposing presence was unmistakable.

With his close-cropped hair, chiseled features, and long legs, he was exactly Tang Wan’s type.

At the moment, Lu Huaijing occasionally glanced down at his watch, frowning slightly as he looked in the direction of the Tang residence.

He was debating whether to go to the Tang residence to fetch his fiancée when a striking figure appeared before him.

Tang Wan was indeed beautiful. Her parents had once been affluent and had taught her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting in private.

She exuded an intellectual charm, with milk-white skin that added to her delicate appearance—though the white bandage wrapped around her head marred the otherwise perfect image.

“Hello, are you Comrade Lu?”

Tang Wan stopped in front of Lu Huaijing. His furrowed brow finally relaxed slightly. “That’s me.”

Initially resistant to this arranged marriage, he suddenly found himself thinking that if it was her, it might not be so bad.

If not for the special circumstances, how could someone from his rural background ever be matched with such a delicate and refined young lady?

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” Tang Wan said, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward the Tang residence. She saw members of the street office leave empty-handed, cursing as they walked away.

Her mother, Qin Su, was pushed into the middle of the crowd, where some passersby, unaware of the full story, even spat on her.

That stunningly beautiful face now looked utterly disheveled. The harsh insults hurled at her were unbearable.

Qin Su’s eyes briefly met Tang Wan’s but quickly shifted away as if she were looking at a stranger.

A pang of pain shot through Tang Wan’s chest. She couldn’t stop herself from taking a step forward, but in the next moment, someone pulled her back.

“Don’t let your parents’ love and sacrifice for you go to waste,” Lu Huaijing said, quickly letting go of her hand in a gentlemanly manner before stepping in front of her to block the prying gazes of others.

“Don’t worry, I’ll inquire about their situation later.”

“Thank you,” Tang Wan replied, her voice still hoarse. Her beautiful eyes glistened as if freshly washed by tears, and the corners were tinged with red. Her tone was soft and faint.

“Comrade Lu, could you accompany me to pick someone up?”