Chapter 2

After carrying half a bucket of water home, Li Hehua collapsed into a chair, gasping for breath, unable to move.

This body was truly too overweight. Not only was it fat, but it was also far weaker than the average obese person. Even the slightest exertion left her breathless and clumsy—clearly the result of years of overeating and laziness with no exercise.

Ah, how I miss the feeling of being as light as a swallow.

No, she had to lose weight. This body was hers now, and she couldn’t bear to stay like this. She’d be too embarrassed to go out—and even if she did, she’d be stared at and whispered about. She couldn’t endure that. She had to slim down and regain her slender figure.

To lose weight, she needed to combine diet and exercise. Diet wouldn’t be a problem, her family only had coarse rice. Even if she wanted to overeat, there was nothing else available.

As for exercise, she could fetch multiple buckets of water a day. The walk to the well wasn’t short—carrying ten buckets would be equivalent to an hour of running. She could also do yoga before bed. With this routine, her exercise volume should be substantial. If she stuck to it, she’d definitely lose weight.

Having finalized her weight loss plan, Li Hehua suddenly felt a surge of optimism. The excitement of having a small goal helped ease her frustration at inexplicably being transported to this era.

To live is to have a purpose. Since she was already here and going back wasn’t an option, she had no choice but to make the best of it. She resolved to live each day to the fullest, striving to improve herself and ensure this second life wouldn’t be wasted.

Giving herself an encouraging gesture, Li Hehua stood up and went to work.

Carrying the water to the kitchen, her first step was to pour some into the basin and meticulously scrub the filthy container.

The basin was truly disgusting. The water turned black with just a slight swirl. Determined to clean it thoroughly, Li Hehua suppressed her nausea and vigorously scrubbed the walls and bottom until the water couldn’t get any darker. Only then did she drain it and refill it with fresh water for a second scrubbing. She repeated this process three times before the basin was finally clean.

After washing the basin, she went to the wooden chest in her room and pulled out a rag so worn it was practically falling apart. Dipping it in clean water, she began scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom, leaving no surface untouched—from the stove to the cabinets.

For her, any part of the house could be messy, but the kitchen had to be spotless. A dirty kitchen made her skin crawl and ruined her appetite—a common affliction, perhaps, for anyone who loved to cook.

Even after using all the water she’d fetched, the kitchen still wasn’t completely clean. Reluctantly, she grabbed the bucket and headed back to the well, scrubbing until dusk. Only then was the entire kitchen finally clean.

Surveying the transformed space, Li Hehua nodded in satisfaction, a wave of accomplishment washing over her. She clapped her hands, then began preparing her simple dinner.

There wasn’t much to do—just rinse the brown rice, add water to the pot, and let it simmer into porridge. Brown rice porridge it would be for supper.

The earthen stove cooked the rice porridge quickly. Before long, it was ready. Li Hehua hastily ate two bowls in the kitchen, using the firelight from the boiling water, then washed up with the hot water. Only then did she drag her weary body to bed to rest.

The room was completely dark except for the moonlight streaming through the window, preventing total darkness.

Li Hehua gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting far away.

She must be dead in the modern world. Her last memory was a massive truck hurtling toward her, followed by a blinding sea of red. In that situation, not even a god could have saved her. That’s why her soul had come here, into this body.

Having arrived here, the only thing she couldn’t let go of was her family. She wondered how heartbroken her parents must be to learn of her death, and her grandfather, who had doted on her as his youngest granddaughter. Would the elderly man be able to bear the truth?

Fortunately, her brother was still there. Strong and capable, he would surely manage the family affairs and care for their parents and grandfather. But even he would be devastated. After all, among the entire family, her brother had been the one who cherished her most.

The pain her passing had inflicted on her family would take an immeasurable amount of time to heal.

As she pondered this, tears welled up in Li Hehua’s eyes. Realizing her face was already streaked with tears, she hastily wiped them away.

I can’t cry. I need to be strong. Even if I’m alone in this strange world, I have to be okay. I have to live diligently. Even if my family never knows, I need to give them peace of mind.

Forcing herself to push aside her grief, she began to assess her current situation. All she knew was that the original owner of this body was named Li Hehua, had family, and didn’t seem to be particularly well-liked. Beyond that, she knew nothing.

Her next step was clear: gather as much information as possible about the original Li Hehua without revealing her ignorance. Once she had a firm footing, she could figure out what to do next.

Lost in these thoughts, her eyes gradually closed, and she drifted off to sleep. When she awoke the next morning, the sun was high in the sky—likely around nine or ten o’clock.

Li Hehua scrambled out of bed, quickly brushed her hair, and went to the kitchen to fetch water for washing up. After rinsing her face, she measured out some coarse rice and started another pot of porridge to fill her stomach.

After forcing down two bowls of coarse rice porridge, she picked up her water bucket and headed out to fetch more water. What she’d drawn yesterday had barely been enough, and today she needed to fill the tank completely.

However, as soon as she stepped outside with the bucket, she regretted the timing.

Yesterday, she’d gone to fetch water at night and hadn’t encountered anyone. But now it was mid-morning, and the village was bustling with activity. Many villagers were chatting under the big tree, and when they saw her heading to the well with her bucket, they all stared. Their gazes were filled with disdain, curiosity, and outright disgust. It felt like a thousand needles pricking her back.

Good heavens, what kind of person was the original owner of this body? she wondered. Why does everyone seem so unfriendly toward her? Even the children hate her! How did she manage to alienate everyone so thoroughly?

Forcing herself to remain calm under the villagers’ piercing stares, Li Hehua walked past them until she reached the well at the sparsely populated eastern edge of the village. Only then did she let out a deep sigh of relief.

But her relief was premature. A woman was already standing by the well, glaring at her with a mixture of loathing and contempt.

The woman appeared to be in her forties or fifties, gaunt, with clothes hanging loosely on her frame. The skin on her face sagged slightly, accentuating her sharp eyes. Her gaze seemed to devour Li Hehua, making it clear she was not someone to be trifled with.

Li Hehua could tell this woman and the original owner of her body had definitely not been on good terms.

Before she could decide how to respond, the woman sneered. “Well, well, the sun must be rising in the west today! You, of all people, coming to fetch water? Must be putting on a show for someone, eh? Hmph!”

Bitterness and sarcasm oozed from her words. Li Hehua hesitated—should she retaliate or stay silent? Clearly, this woman harbored deep malice. Best not to provoke her carelessly. Adults weren’t as easily fooled as children.

She chose to ignore the woman and went straight to the well, tying the rope to her bucket and lowering it down.

This disregard only enraged the woman further. Her words grew even sharper: “What are you pretending for! Everyone knows what kind of woman you are. You’re just scared Tieshan’s back and will divorce you, aren’t you? Let me tell you, even if you put on this act, he’ll still divorce you! Marrying someone like you must be the worst luck he’s had in eight lifetimes!”

The words were vile, cutting straight to the bone. But Li Hehua wasn’t angry—because she knew the woman wasn’t talking about her, but the body’s original owner.

Still, the implications were serious. From the woman’s rant, she learned that the original owner had been married to someone named Tieshan. He had likely been away and now returned with intentions of divorce. Their relationship must have been severely strained.

But if the original owner had a husband, why hadn’t she seen him yet? She’d been here two days, and the house was empty. What was going on?

Lost in thought, she failed to notice the woman’s rising rage. Suddenly, the woman shoved her.

Unprepared, Li Hehua stumbled—straight toward the gaping well.

If I fall in, I’m dead!

Instinct kicked in. With surprising agility, she grabbed the stone rim and clung on, ignoring the blood that welled up from her scraped fingers. Miraculously, she stopped herself just in time.

Once steady, she stepped away from the well, her heart pounding, cold sweat pouring down. Looking at her bleeding hands, she realized the danger she’d just escaped.

And the culprit stood right beside her.

Li Hehua’s gaze turned icy.

She’d endured the woman’s insults because they were meant for someone else. But this time, her life had been in danger. If she hadn’t reacted quickly, she would’ve died a second time.

“Apologize now, and I’ll let it go,” she said, her voice cold.

The woman hadn’t meant to push her into the well. Her expression showed guilt—but when Li Hehua demanded an apology, her shame turned into rage. “Pah! You want me to apologize? You deserved it! Who told you to be so fat you can’t even stand straight?”

Li Hehua had never been so angry. Normally even-tempered, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She marched forward and shoved the woman several steps back.

The woman, stunned, shrieked, “How dare you push me! You bitch! I’ll kill you!”

She lunged. Li Hehua grabbed a wooden bucket and hurled it at her. With a loud thud, it hit its mark, and the woman staggered back again.

“I’m warning you,” Li Hehua said coldly. “Push me again, and I’ll fight you to the death. Let’s see who kills who first.”

Her decisiveness startled the woman. Looking at Li Hehua’s sturdy frame, she realized she was no match. Her eyes darted around—and suddenly she dropped to the ground, clutching her thigh and wailing.

“Oh, my miserable fate! Li Hehua bullies my daughter and now bullies me too! Help! This old woman is going to be beaten to death!”

Li Hehua stared in disbelief. Just moments ago, this woman had tried to attack her—now she was acting like the victim.

Is this the legendary ‘cry, make a scene, and threaten suicide’ routine?

But Li Hehua didn’t intend to play along. Let her wail alone.

She filled her bucket halfway with water, hoisted it, and walked home—completely ignoring the woman still howling behind her.