After dinner, Song Fanghua was directly assigned the smallest, most remote room in the house.
To call it a room was generous—it was originally a small storage space the Song family used for odds and ends.
Inside, there was only a narrow wooden plank bed and an old, peeling table.
The window faced north and was positioned high up; without using a bamboo pole to push it open or standing on a chair, it was completely out of reach and couldn’t be opened.
Moreover, the room was dark and damp. Having been used for long-term storage, the air was thick with the smell of mildew.
Compared to Song Lili’s spacious, south-facing room, this treatment was like heaven and earth.
Zhao Guilan walked in and tossed an old quilt patched in several places onto the bed, her tone stiff as she said, “This is just how things are at home—the food isn’t great, and neither is the living situation. You’ll have to make do for now. After all, you’re getting married tomorrow.”
Song Fanghua looked at the old quilt but said nothing.
Zhao Guilan continued, “Lili chose to go to the island and endure hardship so you could stay with us. She’ll be leaving in two days, so the family’s money needs to be prioritized for her use.”
The implication was clear: Song Fanghua shouldn’t expect anything new.
“I understand, Mom,” Song Fanghua nodded obediently.
Seeing her like this, the discomfort in Zhao Guilan’s heart dissipated.
She simply thought that although this biological daughter seemed dull, she was at least obedient.
After that, Zhao Guilan said nothing more and turned to leave.
Song Fanghua closed the door, shutting out the laughter and chatter from the living room outside.
She walked to the bed, spread the patched quilt over it, and sat down.
“Is this it?” Song Fanghua snorted coldly. She had no interest in the Song family’s pitiful affection.
Closing her eyes, she focused her thoughts.
In the next moment, an entirely different world unfolded within her consciousness.
It was an enormous virtual space, more like an endless super warehouse.
On the left were neatly stacked shipping containers labeled: [Northeast Rice], [Premium Flour], [Non-GMO Soybean Oil], [Pork Belly]…
On the right were shelves filled with a dazzling array of goods—from various medicines, fabrics, and daily necessities to snacks and appliances that wouldn’t exist until later eras, everything was available.
Most importantly, these items were incredibly cheap—just a few cents, a few dimes, or even a few yuan.
And in the very center, a massive digital screen floated, displaying a string of numbers.
[Account Balance: 1,000 yuan]
…One thousand yuan.
In her previous life, she had amassed a fortune of one hundred billion! Now, only one thousand remained?
So? To compensate her, that underworld clerk had transformed her hundred-billion assets into a shopping space where she could access supplies anytime in the 1970s.
This space was connected to the 21st-century internet. She could use this money to buy anything she wanted and retrieve it directly.
The only limitation was that, to avoid disrupting the balance of the era, the space imposed some purchasing restrictions.
For example, she could buy the best antibiotics, the sturdiest fabrics, and even order cars and tractors, but she couldn’t purchase airplanes, artillery, or later-era smartphones and laptops.
Even so, this was already incredibly extraordinary.
Song Fanghua took a deep breath, suppressing the wild joy in her heart.
With this space, not to mention in the 1970s, even in the apocalypse, she could thrive.
The Song family? The fake heiress?
They were nothing but a few small fleas on her new path.
As her thoughts withdrew from the space, a knock sounded at the door.
Song Fanghua didn’t get up, instead saying calmly, “The door isn’t locked.”
With a creak, the door was pushed open.
Song Fanghua then saw a figure wearing a pink Dacron blouse walk in.
It was Song Lili. With her arrival, the room was filled with the scent of cheap vanishing cream.
Song Fanghua looked her up and down. It was clear Song Lili had dressed up carefully, with no trace of the earlier tearful, disheveled appearance.
“Sister,” Song Lili walked to the bedside, looking down at her with undisguised mockery in her eyes.
“If you have something to say, say it. If not, get out. I need to rest.”
“My dear sister, do you know? Zhang Yong’s father is the director of the dye factory. His whole family are workers. Such a good marriage prospect—once you marry him, you’ll enjoy endless blessings.”
“Oh.” Song Fanghua didn’t even look up, pulling out a book from the bed and starting to read.
Song Lili glanced at the worn book in Song Fanghua’s hand, her lips curling even more disdainfully. “Sister, you’re not still blaming me for taking your marriage, are you? I only married to the island because I felt sorry for you. Since you’ll be close by from now on, you should take good care of Mom and Dad. That way, you won’t waste the good marriage they found for you.”
The end of her sentence carried a venomous tone.
In her past life, she had become a widow on her wedding day.
The Zhang family vented all their anger on her, making her do all the hard, exhausting work.
Whenever she didn’t meet their expectations, the Zhangs would beat her until she was worn down to death.
As for her parents, they had thought about saving her, but under the Zhang family’s threats and bribes, they ultimately gave in.
This lifetime, she would pass on this “blessing” to Song Fanghua, exactly as it was.
She would wait, wait until she became a general’s wife and watched Song Fanghua break down, cry, even kneel and beg her.
“Finished?”
“Huh?” Song Lili was taken aback.
“Since you say the Zhang family is so good, why don’t you marry him instead?” Song Fanghua looked at Song Lili with innocent eyes.
“This… what kind of joke is that, sister?” Song Lili hadn’t expected her to say that and was momentarily speechless. “You’re Mom and Dad’s real daughter. Of course, the good marriage should go to you first.”
“Oh, if you’re done, get out. I need to rest.” Song Fanghua still showed not a hint of emotion, not even bothering to pretend.
Song Lili felt as if she had thrown a punch with all her might, only to hit a ball of cotton. That sense of powerlessness nearly made her choke.
This country bumpkin from the countryside—how could she be so calm? Just wait until tomorrow, when she gets married and becomes a widow. Let’s see if she can still smile then.
“Well then, sister, you rest well. Be a happy bride tomorrow.” Song Lili spat out these words through gritted teeth, slamming the door shut in anger as she left.
Song Fanghua shook her head as she watched her retreating figure. “With such weak fighting skills, and she dares to wield a broadsword in front of me?”
Song Fanghua walked straight over and locked the door from the inside.
Then, from the space, I spent five dollars to buy a brand-new down comforter and a set of pure cotton bedding before lying down to sleep comfortably.
Eat well, drink well, and sleep soundly—as for tomorrow’s matters, I’ll deal with them after I’ve rested and regained my energy.