The midsummer night was as dark as ink.
The Zhou residence in the capital was just as shrouded in gloom.
The two-story house inside the military compound was decorated with bright red double happiness characters for a wedding, yet there was not a trace of joy in the air.
Old Master Zhou, his hair already streaked with white, seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
The back that had always been straight and proud was now slightly bent. One hand rested on the sofa for support, trembling faintly.
Even his usually immaculate hair was noticeably disheveled.
He sat on the couch with a defeated expression. Beside him, Commander Zhou—his only son—radiated a cold, oppressive silence.
Standing nearby, Zhou Yunting’s ink-black eyes resembled a bottomless frozen lake. The moment he entered, it felt as though the temperature in the living room had dropped several degrees.
“Grandfather, Father… Liu Zhixia is still alive.”
Relief was unmistakable in the man’s voice.
Commander Zhou let out a long sigh.
“We’ve dragged that poor girl into our family’s troubles. It’s enough that she’s alive… As long as she’s alive.”
“Father,” he continued, “can you find a way to separate Zhixia from our family? She just married into the Zhou family today. She shouldn’t have to follow us to the countryside.”
Old Master Zhou slowly closed his wise eyes.
“Our family met with disaster on the very day of the wedding. Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”
Grandfather, father, and grandson all fell silent.
Inside the bridal chamber…
Liu Zhixia had already accepted her new identity.
She had transmigrated into a novel she once read called The Pampered Darling Wife of the ’70s, becoming nothing more than a cannon-fodder supporting character.
The character even shared her name.
In the novel, however, Liu Zhixia received little more than a brief description: she deeply resented the marriage arranged by her father.
She was beautiful…
But painfully timid.
Worst of all, she was the sort of disposable side character who appeared for less than a single chapter before being written off.
Back when she had read the novel, she’d even joked to herself that someone as useless as this supporting character actually had the same name as her.
What she remembered most vividly, however, was the Zhou family.
The Zhou bloodline was notoriously thin—every generation had only one heir.
Yet every one of them was an outstanding soldier, men of unwavering integrity.
Their darkest days came after they were sent down to the countryside.
Life there had been unimaginably difficult. They had struggled so badly they often went hungry.
Old Master Zhou’s years of overwork finally caught up with him. He passed away only six months after arriving.
Three years later, however, dawn finally broke for the Zhou family.
Father and son returned to the capital.
With Commander Zhou’s iron-fisted leadership and Zhou Yunting’s extraordinary military talent, the Zhou family not only recovered but became even more influential than before.
By the novel’s end, Zhou Yunting had risen to the rank of general.
Yet he never married again.
People offered all sorts of explanations.
Some claimed he had loved his first wife so deeply that he remained faithful to her for the rest of his life.
Others believed he had devoted his entire life to serving his country.
But now that she possessed the original Liu Zhixia’s memories, she knew one thing for certain—
It definitely wasn’t the first reason.
Zhou Yunting didn’t like her.
There was no chance he loved her.
He had only married her to repay Liu Zhixia’s father’s life-saving favor.
Because of the original Liu Zhixia’s death, the relationship between the Zhou and Liu families had completely fallen apart afterward. The novel barely mentioned the Liu family again.
Only now did Liu Zhixia understand something that had puzzled her while reading.
Her father had insisted that Zhou Yunting marry her because he had good reason.
Her parents had discovered the letters she exchanged with a pen pal.
The two were even planning to meet in person.
After investigating, Father Liu learned that the so-called pen pal had deliberately approached his daughter with ulterior motives.
Without hesitation, he turned his attention to the upright, promising Zhou Yunting, hoping to entrust his daughter to a truly honorable man.
Unfortunately…
Man proposes, Heaven disposes.
After piecing everything together, Liu Zhixia suddenly shivered.
The Zhou family had suffered a catastrophic downfall.
In the novel…
The original Liu Zhixia had died.
The Liu family escaped unscathed.
But now…
She was still alive.
The exhausted body that had moments ago been drained of all strength suddenly felt energized.
She sprang to her feet and rushed downstairs.
“Grandpa Zhou, I’d like you to use the Zhou family’s remaining influence one last time… Help me sever all ties with my father.”
A thick bandage still wrapped around Liu Zhixia’s forehead.
Combined with her pale complexion, she should have looked like a fragile beauty ready to collapse with the slightest breeze.
Instead…
Her eyes were locked firmly onto Old Master Zhou.
She knew the Zhou family had the ability to do it.
Every word she spoke carried unwavering resolve.
A faint glimmer returned to the old man’s dim eyes.
The Liu girl truly isn’t bad, he thought.
Even in a crisis like this, she hasn’t lost her head. She understands the situation and knows how to weigh the pros and cons.
Especially that decisive air she’s showing now…
If the Zhou family can survive this ordeal… if these two young people are still here when we return… then perhaps the Zhou family still has hope.
Liu Zhixia’s words also caused the usually expressionless Zhou Yunting to raise his head.
For a fleeting moment…
He saw in this young woman the same commanding decisiveness possessed by senior leaders.
It was absolute.
Impossible to argue against.
Old Master Zhou looked at her thoughtfully.
“Zhixia… Have you truly thought this through?”
“If you don’t cut ties with your family, you might still have a chance to change your fate.”
“But if you do…”
He left the rest unsaid.
All three members of the Zhou family turned their attention toward her again.
They were curious.
Just moments ago, this girl had been willing to smash her head against a wall rather than follow them to the countryside.
Had hitting her head changed her personality?
Liu Zhixia straightened her back.
Her voice rang out, firm and powerful.
“Grandpa Zhou, when it’s time to cut ties, you must do so decisively.”
“Rather than letting everyone sink into the mud together, it’s better to preserve even the smallest chance of survival.”
“After all… the blood of the Liu family still runs through my veins.”
Zhou Yunting abruptly looked up at the woman who had become his wife.
At that moment…
She seemed to shine with her own light.
Her posture was perfectly straight.
Her already breathtaking features seemed to come alive, radiant with confidence.
His eyes darkened.
Liu Zhixia knew Old Master Zhou understood exactly what she meant.
The Zhou family would certainly use their remaining connections.
To her, it was a win-win solution.
Back in the bridal chamber, Liu Zhixia couldn’t help feeling awkward.
She and Zhou Yunting had only just gotten married.
After everything that had happened tonight, there was no escaping it—they were now completely tied to one another.
As her thoughts wandered, Zhou Yunting’s deep, cello-like voice broke the silence.
“You should get some sleep.”
“I’ll go downstairs and pack a few things.”
He paused before continuing.
“If nothing unexpected happens… we’ll leave tomorrow.”
“You… should prepare yourself.”
“I’m… sorry.”
The final three words were spoken so softly they were almost impossible to hear.
But Liu Zhixia had trained in ancient martial arts.
Although her current body was nowhere near as powerful as in her previous life, her hearing remained exceptionally sharp.
Of course she heard them.
After his footsteps faded away, she quietly let out a breath.
Given the current circumstances, she knew he wouldn’t force anything upon her.
Still…
It all felt rather awkward.
Then she remembered what he’d said.
They were leaving tomorrow.
Packing…
She had plenty of belongings herself.
But could she really take all of them with her?
If only I had one of those storage spaces every transmigrator seems to get…
Thinking about the year—it was only 1973—Liu Zhixia couldn’t help sighing.
She had always been confident in her abilities.
Yet in this era, most of her talents seemed useless.
Apart from her martial arts, which could protect her, and her medical knowledge, which could keep people healthy…
Everything else felt almost worthless.
Especially now.
Still…
Having martial arts was better than nothing.
At least no one could bully her.
Looking at the generous dowry the original Liu Zhixia’s parents had prepared, she couldn’t help feeling a headache coming on.
As their only daughter, she had been cherished beyond measure.
Her parents had practically placed every valuable thing the family owned into her hands, doing everything within their power to give her the very best.
Perhaps because she was their only child, she had been treasured all the more.
Opening a wooden box, she found it packed full of ration coupons.
Grain coupons.
Industrial goods coupons.
Sugar coupons.
Cloth coupons.
Even coupons for a sewing machine…
And a bicycle.
Even for the Liu family’s circumstances, these coupons must have taken years to accumulate.
At that moment, Liu Zhixia—who had been an orphan in her previous life—felt her heart overflow with emotion.
These weren’t merely pieces of paper worth money.
They carried the boundless love of Liu Zhixia’s parents.
Her heart felt immersed in warmth.
Across the boundaries of time and space…
She had once again touched the feeling of having a family.
Her eyes grew moist beneath lowered lashes.
Scene after scene of the Liu family’s memories slowly unfolded in her mind…