“Comrade Zhang, here’s your little niece—Zhao Mo,” Team Leader Zhao said to Zhao Mo, who was looking up timidly at Zhang Yunxi. “Zhao Mo, come over and call her Auntie.”

The seven-year-old girl had dry, yellowish hair, a thin and small frame, and clothes covered in patches. She stood in front of Zhang Yunxi, her big eyes filled with confusion.

Zhang Yunxi looked at her.

It still felt like a lifetime ago.

Five days ago, Zhao Mo had been dominating the business world.

She was a self-made entrepreneur, a businesswoman worth billions!

But the Zhao Mo in front of her now would be exploited by her biological father, abused by her stepmother, denied even a single day of schooling, and worked to the bone every day. By the time she turned eighteen, her unscrupulous father would sell her off to a crippled man for 300 yuan!

She resisted desperately, and while fleeing, she encountered a wealthy businessman who forcibly took her as his mistress.

After that, she met the male lead, and their love story became one of emotional and physical torment.

“A-Auntie?” Zhao Mo’s intuition told her that the young woman in front of her meant no harm, so she cautiously greeted her.

Zhang Yunxi snapped out of her thoughts and nodded, giving her a warm smile.

In her past life, she had been abandoned at an orphanage by her parents due to a rare illness, and the orphanage couldn’t afford to treat her.

It was Zhao Mo who had appeared.

She survived because of Zhao Mo.

It was also because of Zhao Mo.

She learned to read and write, went to university, entered a big company, and fought her way up to become Zhao Mo’s assistant!

Zhang Yunxi’s gratitude toward Zhao Mo was beyond words. Five days ago, Zhao Mo had sent her a link, saying, “The female lead in this story, aside from having a male lead, has an identical childhood experience to mine.”

She had eagerly clicked on it.

Only to be infuriated.

Especially by the unrealistic male lead, which made Zhang Yunxi so angry that she wrote a 3,000-word rant criticizing the author.

Zhao Mo’s life, which should have been a triumphant story of a strong female lead, had been twisted by the author into a tale of a submissive wife enduring abuse. What nonsense!!!

And then, of all things!

The author had transported her to the 1970s.

The original owner of her body had just lost her parents, and her house had been seized by her uncle and aunt. Unable to bear it, she had jumped into a river. When Zhang Yunxi woke up, she had desperately swum to the shore.

As she collapsed on the riverbank, anger filled her chest.

She had just graduated from university and was finally able to share Zhao Mo’s burdens, only to be sent back to the 1970s.

After the memories fully flooded her mind, the only thing Zhang Yunxi found comforting was that the original owner was Zhao Mo’s aunt. She immediately decided to find Zhao Mo.

The only way to find Zhao Mo was to become an educated youth sent to the countryside!

And time was tight.

Zhang Yunxi had climbed back into the room the original owner was about to lose, packed up the quilts, clothes, and daily necessities, and dragged her bags to the Educated Youth Office to wait for it to open. Early the next morning, she completed the formalities and hurriedly joined the group heading to the countryside.

After five days.

She finally saw Zhao Mo!

In her past life, Zhao Mo had saved her. In this life, she wouldn’t let Zhao Mo be bullied by anyone!

“Oh, so it’s my sister-in-law! What a rare guest! Come, come, sit down. Zhao Mo, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour some water for your aunt!” Yuan Guixiang, hearing that Zhao Mo’s aunt had arrived—a strikingly beautiful girl—hurried back from the fields. Her hands, covered in mud, grabbed Zhang Yunxi’s hands, which were holding her belongings. Her slanted eyes gleamed with greed. “Sister, we’re all family here. Don’t be shy.”

With a forceful tug, she tried to take the things Zhang Yunxi was carrying.

An educated youth coming from the city must have brought plenty of things. Since she was here, she might as well leave them behind!

Zhang Yunxi smiled and forcefully pulled her hands free. “Of course.”

“Auntie, here’s some water.”

Zhao Mo handed a bowl of water to Zhang Yunxi, her small hands as thin as twigs.

Zhang Yunxi’s heart ached, but with both hands occupied and Yuan Guixiang eyeing her like a wolf, she didn’t dare put anything down.

Yuan Guixiang sneered, secretly pleased. So what if she was a pretty girl from the city?

Once she arrived, her belongings weren’t leaving.

“Team Leader, could you help me with this?” Zhang Yunxi asked Team Leader Zhao, who was standing nearby, frowning as he smoked his pipe.

Yuan Guixiang’s face stiffened.

Why was the team leader here?

Team Leader Zhao held his pipe in one hand and took the things from Zhang Yunxi with the other. “Hurry up.”

“Got it.” Zhang Yunxi took the bowl from Zhao Mo and drank it all in one go. She then shoved the bowl into Yuan Guixiang’s arms, took Zhao Mo’s hand, and walked out.

Zhao Mo’s hand twitched slightly. Her aunt’s hand was so clean and fair.

Her own hands were dirty.

Zhang Yunxi noticed her hesitation and said gently, “Do you know where the educated youth dormitory is?”

“Yes.” Zhao Mo led her toward the dormitory.

Yuan Guixiang gritted her teeth and shouted, “Zhao Mo, don’t forget what you’re supposed to do today!”

“I remember.” Zhao Mo replied sullenly.

Zhang Yunxi wished she could tear this stepmother apart, but she was in unfamiliar territory and had to take things slowly.

The educated youth dormitory was located at the edge of the village, closest to the back mountain, geographically separating the educated youth from the ordinary villagers. The dormitory looked quite large, but it was made of mud bricks with a thatched roof.

“You’re the only new female educated youth, but there are two others already here. The three of you can keep each other company and discuss things together.” Team Leader Zhao glanced at Zhang Yunxi’s face.

He was worried.

With her delicate looks, she didn’t seem like someone who would work hard. Another freeloader.

Team Leader Zhao placed Zhang Yunxi’s belongings at the entrance of the female dormitory. “I won’t go in. You can tidy up yourself. If you don’t know something, ask Zhao Mo.”

“Okay.” Zhang Yunxi nodded. “Thank you for helping me carry my things all the way here.”

“No problem. I’ll get back to work.”

The girl looked delicate.

But she was surprisingly polite.

Team Leader Zhao continued smoking his pipe as he walked away.

Only Zhang Yunxi and Zhao Mo were left in the female dormitory.

Zhao Mo immediately picked up the things Team Leader Zhao had set down and carried them inside.

To be honest, this was her first time entering the educated youth dormitory, and she was curious about what the female educated youth’s living space was like.

“Hey, hey, Zhao Mo, put that down. I’ll do it!”

She was an adult. How could she let a child carry such heavy things?

Zhang Yunxi felt like Zhao Mo’s tiny waist was about to break under the weight.

“It’s fine.” Zhao Mo was small but strong, quickly moving inside.

Zhang Yunxi hurried to follow.

The female dormitory had five beds, with two occupants—one near the door and the other at the far end. It was obvious they didn’t get along.

Zhang Yunxi placed her things on the bed in the middle. “Zhao Mo, come here and rest for a bit.”

“I have to go work.”

Zhao Mo pursed her lips.

She didn’t feel much about this sudden aunt.

Zhang Yunxi took a piece of candy from her military green bag and popped it into Zhao Mo’s mouth. “It’s our first meeting. Thank you for helping me. Let me treat you to some candy.”

Sweet.

Zhao Mo experienced the meaning of this word for the first time.

Her small body seemed frozen.

She stood there dumbly, savoring the taste in her mouth.

The candy was hard, and as it melted, it released a sweet, sugary flavor.

No wonder the village kids loved it. Ronghua and Fugui were always clamoring for candy.

She liked it too.

So sweet, so delicious.

Zhao Mo’s dark, sallow face broke into a faint smile.

Her first impression of Zhang Yunxi: an aunt who brought sweetness.