The cold wind sneaked in through the cracks of the window, devouring the warmth in the room inch by inch.
He Mingyu felt as if a cold, giant boulder was pressing down on her chest, forcing her to sink continuously. In her ears were blurry sobs, along with a rather concerned male voice, like two blunt knives slicing her eardrums over and over again.
“Second Sister-in-law, speaking of which, my second brother was also a man of bitter fate… Just as life was looking up, he unexpectedly drowned, leaving behind you orphans and a widow, which is truly pitiful!”
Without waiting for the person across from him to speak, He Dalang changed the subject: “As the eldest uncle, I must shoulder this family, so I took the liberty of finding a marriage for Yu-niang. It is a top-notch good marriage; the family has land and money. Once Yu-niang marries into it, how could you all still be short of food and clothing like you are now?”
“Eldest Brother, I know you are looking out for us orphans and widow, but at the moment Yu-niang hasn’t woken up yet, I’m afraid…” Wu Chunlan’s eyes were completely red, and she looked toward the bed in grief, fat tears falling in response.
“Mother, Elder Sister won’t be in any trouble! Elder Sister just missed Father too much, which is why she went to the river to look for him.” A little girl was leaning by the bed, her eyes swimming with tears as she bit her lower lip fiercely, “The River Goddess will bless Elder Sister…”
Marriage? River Goddess?
Confused memories surged into her mind all at once, and a tearing, dull pain spread from her chest to all her limbs and bones. He Mingyu’s eyelids twitched slightly; a brief life belonging to another person was rapidly intertwining and merging with her original memories.
It turned out that none of this was a dream.
The owner of this body was only sixteen years old, sharing the same name as her, and lived in a small village on the far outskirts of Bianjing City. Housing prices in the Song Dynasty were exorbitant, so the He couple brought their three children to rent a small courtyard to make a living.
Her father, He Erlang, was a bamboo craftsman and very capable. Her mother, Wu Chunlan, had learned the skill of weaving bamboo baskets from him and could also supplement the household income. The two had worked diligently for over a decade, originally thinking to put in extra effort over these two years to save up enough money to buy a house.
But things did not go as wished. While cutting bamboo, He Erlang lost his footing, fell, and drowned, leaving behind only the lame Wu Chunlan and three children. The eldest daughter was He Mingyu, who had just reached her hair-pinning ceremony last year. A few days ago, she unexpectedly could not see a way out and threw herself into the river to seek her father; by the time they pulled her out, she was already gone.
Waking up again, she was now the thirty-two-year-old modern woman He Mingyu, who had owned a car, a house, and a career, but had passed away in her prime after being tormented by illness, and had now transmigrated into this unfamiliar body.
She sighed silently in her heart; this opening was truly classic enough…
However, a young and healthy body was a gain after all.
“Cough…” As soon as He Mingyu opened her eyes, she saw the low roof above, with the mud walls shedding a few grains of yellow earth from time to time. Dizzy and lightheaded, she managed to let out a groan with great effort.
“Elder Sister? Elder Sister!” A thin, scrawny little hand suddenly grabbed her left hand and called out loudly, “Mother, look quickly! Elder Sister is awake! Elder Sister is awake!”
“Yu-niang! You are finally awake!” The red-eyed, lame woman flung herself to the bedside, her intermittent sobs mingling with her concerned words, “You have been in a deep sleep for a full… a full two days, you scared Mother to death…”
Hearing this, He Mingyu looked over. Standing by the bed were two thin and small children. The boy was slightly taller, crying silently, while the girl looked almost like a bean sprout come to life, leaning by the bed stubbornly shedding tears. These must be the original body’s younger brother He Mingshi and younger sister He Mingying, usually called “Shitou” and “Yingzi”.
Slightly further away stood three people. The one with sunken cheeks and a face covered in tears was the original body’s mother, Wu Chunlan. Although she was only thirty-five years old this year, due to consecutive blows, she looked haggard, as if she had aged ten years overnight.
The other man and woman looked much more decent just from their attire, wearing fine cloth garments with embroidery on the collars and cuffs. The man was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, precisely the eldest uncle, He Dalang. The woman had high cheekbones and a ruddy complexion, looking exactly like the Eldest Aunt, Lady Li, in her memories.
He Mingyu quietly observed the few people, and alarm bells rang in her heart. In the original body’s memories, this eldest uncle’s family was by no means any kind of good sort. Looking at this posture now, she feared they came with ill intent.
“Oh my! Yu-niang, you are finally awake.” He Dalang’s eyes gleamed with sharp light, and he spoke impatiently, “You have no idea how much legwork I’ve done and how much worry I’ve spent for your marriage over these past few days!”
Lady Li hastily nudged him with a smile: “Look at you, take the two children to our house first and bring the twelve accumulated eggs to nourish Yu-niang’s body. Second Sister-in-law Chunlan and I will stay to have some intimate chat with Yu-niang.”
Eggs were good things for nourishing the body. Ever since He Erlang passed away, the eggs at home had been saved without exception to exchange for money. Shitou and Yingzi exchanged a glance, then looked at their pale-faced elder sister, immediately filled with gratitude: “Thank you, Eldest Uncle; thank you, Eldest Aunt. We will go right away!”
After the one adult and two children left, the room suddenly felt a bit desolate. The thin window paper pasted over the window frame had already torn open a gap, wantonly letting in the chilly spring breeze.
There were no superfluous items in the room, only one table, two beds, and a few bamboo stools, yet the mud floor was swept completely clean, suggesting that the original body’s family were all diligent people.
Wu Chunlan’s tears finally stopped, and she looked at He Mingyu with concern: “Yu-niang? Is there anywhere else your body feels uncomfortable?”
Looking at this unfamiliar yet familiar mother in front of her, He Mingyu felt complicated for a moment. In her previous life, she was an orphan and had never truly felt motherly love. Seeing this heartbroken “mother” now, she hurried to stabilize the situation.
Hastily copying the habits of the original body, she spoke softly: “It’s just that I’m still a bit dizzy… otherwise, nothing else is wrong.”
“Your mother was worried sick these past two days.” Lady Li pulled her hand with a beam: “You! You are truly a blessed one. We were just discussing your great marriage when you woke up. It seems you and the youngest son of Landlord Liu’s family are definitely a match made in heaven; even the heavens are willing to fulfill it!”
He Mingyu kept her head lowered, hiding the suspicion in her heart. Propping up her weak body to sit up, her voice was faint and weak: “Thank you for taking trouble, Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt… I didn’t hear very clearly just now… whose family’s marriage is it?”
Seeing her like this, Lady Li leaned closer and spoke with high spirits: “The youngest son of Landlord Liu’s family! Although the Liu family holds no official titles, they are a wealthy household within ten miles and eight villages. Just their fertile land alone amounts to over four hundred mu. The family has seven children, and this youngest son is the most favored; they couldn’t bear to let him start a family even when he was raised to twenty-two!”
He Mingyu glanced at her, finding it absurd and laughable in her heart. The youngest son of Landlord Liu’s family was clearly a foolish, witless person. He had started looking for a girl since he was fifteen, and it had dragged on until twenty-two. Only then did the Liu family lower their requirements to village girls, asking only that her appearance be decent and that she be hardworking and capable.
Turning black into white and flat into round, such a figure actually became a “golden nugget they couldn’t bear to let start a family” when coming out of Lady Li’s mouth. Her ability to lie through her teeth with a straight face was truly admirable.
“Eldest Aunt, how is it that I heard that person…” Before He Mingyu could speak, Wu Chunlan pointed hesitantly at her head, “Here… is not very sharp?”
“Oh my! Second Sister-in-law Chunlan, from where did you hear such nonsensical talk!” Lady Li immediately raised her voice, putting on a completely wronged expression, “I am Yu-niang’s blood aunt; could I possibly harm her? Dalang went to see him in person; he is merely composed and introverted by nature. Do not mention such words again in the future. If it spreads to Landlord Liu’s ears, I’m afraid this good thing will fall through!”
“This…” Wu Chunlan had always been a person without much backbone, but she was rare in her persistence regarding her daughter’s marriage. She hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, “Then I will secretly go take a look over these two days. If the person is good, our family must properly thank you…”
Seeing her like this, Lady Li glanced at the habitually submissive He Mingyu and feigned anger: “I didn’t know before that Second Sister-in-law’s standards were so high, to still ponder over such a good marriage. To say something unpleasant, if my own girl hadn’t been married off early, even if you came to beg me for this kind of good thing, I absolutely wouldn’t give it!”
The more she spoke, the more excited she became, her saliva flying everywhere: “If you, the mother, nod today, tomorrow all sorts of ginseng soup and tonic supplements will be sent over like flowing water! The river water is freezing cold, and Yu-niang soaked in it for so long. Right now, the most important thing is to nourish her body back! We must absolutely not let her develop a lingering illness!”
This speech was delivered with genuine and earnest affection. He Mingyu raised her pale little face and squeezed out a well-behaved, submissive smile: “Mother, Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt are well-traveled and knowledgeable; they must be doing this for my own good…”
“It’s not that I want to say it, Second Sister-in-law Chunlan, but how are you not even as sensible as Yu-niang.” Overjoyed, Lady Li patted He Mingyu’s hand, “Good child, I will go to the Liu family right away to report the good news!”
“Eldest Aunt, please wait!” He Mingyu hastily grabbed her back, looking shy, “Eldest Aunt thinks of everything for me, so I shouldn’t put on airs. It’s just… could Eldest Aunt grant me two days? Tomorrow I will sell the few hens at home, get a piece of good cloth, and make myself tidy before going. Firstly, I am currently disheveled and fear offending the Liu family. Secondly… I don’t want the Liu family to think we are desperate to climb high.”
This was reasonable and fair. Lady Li was just about to agree when she suddenly recalled He Dalang’s strict instructions before leaving the house: “The marriage is best finalized today, lest long nights bring many dreams.”
Getting the betrothal gift early was the proper business. Lady Li eyed her sideways, a bit of suspicion rising in her heart: This girl… could she have come up with some sly idea, planning to trick me?
He Mingyu naturally saw the hesitation on her face and immediately put on a joyful yet anxious expression, proactively “holding” the two children at home as collateral: “Tomorrow I must trouble Eldest Aunt to look after Shitou and Yingzi. I will go to the market with Mother to sell the chickens, how about that?”
If Lady Li still had a few points of hesitation in her heart just now, she was mostly reassured now. Not only did she agree with a beam, but she also exceptionally fished out a dozen copper coins from her bosom and stuffed them into her hand: “That’s only natural. In the future, when you marry into the Liu family, you mustn’t forget these brothers and sisters at home. Your aunt is tight on cash; this is a little token of my affection, don’t think it’s too little. Buy a piece of good material tomorrow. Our Yu-niang has a good appearance; once you are tidied up, I’m afraid the Liu family will have nothing but approval.”
He Mingyu did not expect an unexpected pleasant surprise. Without a shred of refusal, she gripped the copper coins tightly and even fake-squeezed out two drops of tears: “Thank you, Eldest Aunt. In the future, when Yu-niang is married, I will never forget today’s kindness.”
“It’s good that Yu-niang is sensible.” Lady Li had originally only intended to put on a show. Seeing that the money was truly accepted, her heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife, but it was not appropriate to ask for it back either, so she could only force a smile, “Then it’s a deal. Two days later, we will go to the Liu family together.”
With her goal accomplished, Lady Li did not stay long. As soon as she walked out the door, she ran straight into He Dalang and his group. Lady Li shot him a glance, and He Dalang immediately caught her drift. After feigning a few words of concern, they left together.
The front feet of the two had just stepped out of the courtyard gate when He Dalang impatiently said in a low voice: “Is it done?”
Lady Li recounted what had just happened from beginning to end, and finally said resentfully: “That little girl Yu-niang has actually fallen into the eyes of money! When I gave her money, I originally thought she would refuse a few times and just keep two wen! Who would have thought she would just accept it like that—that was twelve wen!” At the mention of this money, her heart felt as if it were bleeding.
He Dalang, however, grinned and lowered his voice: “What does twelve wen count for? Think about it, when we send her to the Liu family two days later, the betrothal gift will be fifty taels. At that time, won’t you have whatever you want?”
“Forget it, then I will endure her for another two days.”
As for the atmosphere inside the room, it was not as cheerful as theirs.
“Yu-niang, if the youngest son of Landlord Liu’s family is truly a foolish person, why did you agree to it?” Wu Chunlan sent the two little ones to the kitchen to steam the eggs. She held her daughter’s hand, her tears rolling down again, “Blame Mother… Mother is useless… it’s Mother who can’t protect you…”
Looking at the unfamiliar woman weeping softly before her, she did not feel much of an emotional stir. Fortunately, her head was still clear, and she possessed a few points of rational judgment—this was one of her few allies.
“Mother, don’t cry.” He Mingyu held her rough hands in return, keeping her voice extremely low, “First tell me how much cash is left at home right now, and are there any external debts?”
Stunned, Wu Chunlan was caught off guard by her sudden calmness and muttered blankly: “We do owe some. Initially, your father wanted to buy this courtyard, so he borrowed twenty taels of silver from your eldest uncle. Later, before he had time to buy it, your father met with the accident… Although the twenty taels of silver were repaid, we still owe sixteen taels of silver in interest. Plus, managing the funeral spent quite a bit here and there. Now the family only has eight taels of silver left.”
Eight taels?
In her memories, the original body’s father was hardworking and capable, and his craftsmanship was even better; he must have saved up a lot of savings before his death, otherwise he wouldn’t have had the plan to buy a house. But looking at it now, the majority of the blood and sweat money had already been thoroughly scraped clean by the malicious eldest uncle’s family, and now they wouldn’t even let a person go. If she hadn’t transmigrated over by a freak combination of factors, this family of orphans and a widow would probably have been chewed up until not even their bones were left.
He Mingyu took a deep breath, looking at her with a steadfast gaze: “Mother, do you trust me?”
Looking at her daughter’s eyes that had suddenly become bright and sharp, Wu Chunlan was a bit dazed, but she still nodded her head.
“The Liu family is a fiery pit that cannot be jumped into, and the eldest uncle’s family are wolves and tigers.”
Thinking she was driven mad with anger by the Liu family’s marriage, Wu Chunlan hurried to explain: “Your eldest uncle and eldest aunt are usually still extremely good to us, you must have misund—”
“Mother.” Before she could finish her words, He Mingyu spoke straightforwardly, “Father borrowed twenty taels last year. It hasn’t even been a year now, yet the interest has actually rolled up to sixteen taels; don’t you find it strange, Mother? Since they are blood brothers, why go to such lengths? Moreover, Father has only just passed away; in reason and emotion, I ought to observe filial mourning for three years. They are so impatient to marry me off, have they ever considered that I will carry the reputation of being unfilial?
Right now it is me, and three years later it will be Yingzi. If we are both gone, how will they torment you and Shitou? I am afraid the so-called interest is fake, and wanting to leave Father without descendants is real.”
Every word was written in blood, piercing Wu Chunlan until her face turned deathly pale and her whole body trembled: “I… I will go decline them right now!”
“We must absolutely not alert the enemy.” He Mingyu hurriedly pressed her down, “If we make it clear at this moment, I’m afraid they will bind me up and drag me to the Liu family.”
“Then… then what is to be done now?” Wu Chunlan was full of anxiety, “There are only two days left… Mother will absolutely not let you marry into the Liu family…”