1975, the Su family residence on Sinan Road, Haicheng.
“Jinhui, hurry up and sign it. Once you do, you can enter the ancestral hall and acknowledge your lineage.”
A strange female voice sounded beside her ear. Su Jinhui jolted awake.
She realized her hand was being tightly gripped by someone. The nib of a fountain pen hovered over the words “Voluntary Application to Support Island Development,” already bleeding into a small blot of ink.
Faded redwood furniture stood around her, newspapers spread across the surfaces. On the wall, beside a portrait of the Great Leader, hung a red banner. The date on it was…
1975?
A chill ran through Su Jinhui.
What was going on? Hadn’t she been stabbed to death by a patient’s family during a medical dispute?
Could it be… she had been reborn?
Island development. Jinhui…
Weren’t these characters and this plot from a period novel she had once read?
Her temples throbbed violently.
In the original story, after sixteen years of wandering, the original host was finally found and brought back by a wealthy family. Overjoyed, she thought her life of hardship was finally over.
But who would have thought the Su family only wanted her to take the fall for their adopted daughter, Su Lanqiao, and be sent down for reeducation?
The original host refused, trying every way to delay and escape. As a result, Su Lanqiao—who was supposed to board a ship overseas to study—was forced to be sent down instead.
The original host got her wish and was taken abroad by the family.
But her life there was anything but good.
Everyone in the family believed she was the one who caused Su Lanqiao to suffer and loathed her intensely.
To avenge Su Lanqiao, they beat and abused her daily.
Later on, every time she tried to escape, the Su family would chop off one of her fingers.
It wasn’t until the fourth finger that she finally understood—starting from the moment she signed that “voluntary application,” her life had become a redemption voucher for Su Lanqiao.
Meanwhile, after being sent down, Su Lanqiao fulfilled her engagement with the male lead, an island military officer. Although he died less than a month later, Su Lanqiao used his connections to start a business when the economy was about to open up, growing more successful by the day.
On the night before the repatriation ship set sail, the eldest brother plunged a syringe into the dying Su Jinhui’s neck.
“Lanqiao is a famous entrepreneur now. A worthless life like yours—even dying has to wait for an auspicious day!”
“What are you spacing out for?” Su mother Liu Meihua rapped on the table. “Your eldest brother has been running around for a whole month for your sake. Don’t be ungrateful!”
The grip on her hand tightened even more. “Don’t worry, I’ve already made arrangements. You won’t suffer when you get there…”
Just as the pen tip was about to touch the paper, Su Jinhui snapped out of her memories.
“I’ve changed my mind!”
She yanked the pen back, ink splattering onto Liu Meihua’s Lenin suit. “I’ll sign this application in front of Father!”
The original host’s lingering emotions churned violently in her chest.
Sixteen years of life in the slums. Called back just a month ago. These so-called family members couldn’t even remember her birthday, yet they wanted her to go reform herself at some island farm?
On what grounds?!
Though she would definitely sign this paper, there was no way she’d let them get everything they wanted for nothing.
Liu Meihua’s expression changed abruptly. “Your father is at the docks arranging ship tickets. How could he have the time—”
“Then call him back.” Su Jinhui folded the application in half. “If Father doesn’t come, I’m not signing.”
Liu Meihua’s well-maintained face flushed crimson. She wanted to lash out but forcibly held it in, turning grimly to the butler behind her. “Hurry up and call the master!”
In the early spring chill of 1970s Haicheng, Old Master Su entered the living room leaning on a huanghuali cane, bringing with him a wave of damp cold air.
He wore a suit specially brought back from Hong Kong—British goods. His graying hair was meticulously combed, slicked with pomade, carrying a faint scent of cologne.
Quite the capitalist air about him.
“I hear you wanted to see me?” His voice was hoarse. Before Su Jinhui could speak, he suddenly began coughing violently.
In less than two seconds, his face turned ashen and he collapsed to the ground.
“Dad!”
“Master!”
Cries of alarm rang out. Su Jinhui dashed forward, three fingers precisely pressing against the cun, guan, and chi points on Su Desheng’s wrist.
Myocardial infarction.
“Silver needles!” She immediately turned and barked at the butler behind her. “Now!”
The Su family dealt in medical equipment—of course they had such things.
Old Chen hurriedly brought the silver needles over, but just as he was about to hand them to Su Jinhui, Liu Meihua snatched them away.
“You’re just a country girl—what do you know about medicine? Old Chen, drive to the clinic, now!”
“He’ll be dead before you get there!”
Su Jinhui shouted sharply. “If the heart is deprived of blood for more than three minutes, brain cells start dying. Right now, either let me save him—or start preparing the funeral.”
The cold light in her eyes made Liu Meihua unconsciously step back half a pace.
Those words—preparing the funeral—pressed down heavily. Who wouldn’t be afraid?
The room fell into dead silence.
Su Jinhui didn’t wait any longer. With swift movements, she snatched three silver needles from Liu Meihua’s hand and inserted them into Renzhong, Neiguan, and Tanzhong.
“Su Jinhui!”
Su Jinxiang rushed in from outside and saw the scene, immediately charging forward and shoving her away. “What did you do to my dad?!”
Caught off guard, Su Jinhui stumbled, her lower back slamming hard against the edge of the table. Her face turned deathly pale.
“Elder sister.” Su Lanqiao followed closely behind, her voice trembling. “If you don’t want to go, I can explain everything to the authorities. But you can’t lay such a vicious hand on Dad…”
Perfectly timed tears, a pitiful tone—making Su Jinhui seem like the greatest villain in the room.
Su Jinhui let out a cold laugh, her gaze landing on Su Desheng, whose complexion was gradually improving.
“What if I say I was saving him just now?”
“Elder sister, now’s really not the time for jokes. You grew up in the countryside—how could you possibly…”
“Jinhui.”
A hoarse voice suddenly sounded. Everyone hurried to Su Desheng’s side.
Su Jinxiang helped the old man sit up. “Dad, Uncle Chen has gone to get the car. Hold on a bit.”
“I’m already fine.” Su Desheng raised a hand, cutting him off. Looking through the crowd, his gaze fell on Su Jinhui, dressed in patched clothing. “Tell me—what do you want?”
All eyes in the room snapped toward Su Jinhui, faces filled with shock.
This country bumpkin… she actually knew medicine?!
“I want…” Enduring the searing pain in her waist, Su Jinhui pointed straight at Su Lanqiao. “The jade pendant around my sister’s neck.”
The mutton-fat jade pendant glowed with a gentle luster, clearly valuable.
But Su Jinhui wanted it not for its surface worth.
She wanted what was inside.
That pendant contained a ten-cubic-meter storage space.
In the original story, the reason Su Lanqiao had such a smooth path after going to the island was because of this pendant.
Though Su Lanqiao herself only discovered its secret after arriving there.
“This…” Su Lanqiao covered her chest, biting her lip timidly. “That was left to me by Mother…”
“Give it to her.” Su Desheng cut her off, looking at Su Jinhui with a complicated expression. “Is that all you want?”
“Yes.” Su Jinhui grinned.
Su Lanqiao clenched the pendant tightly, her fingers rubbing over the jade twice, reluctance flashing in her eyes.
But then she thought—she still had so much jewelry at home. If Su Jinhui liked it, she could just give it to her. Consider it alms to a beggar and send her off quickly.
Feeling much better, Su Lanqiao put on a generous act and removed the pendant.
“If elder sister likes it, then I’ll give it to you.” Her eyes reddened as she spoke softly. “It’s just… this was Mother’s keepsake. I’ve always cherished it.”
Her voice dropped, a tear trembling on her lashes. “I hope elder sister will treat it with care too.”
Su Jinhui curled her lips, unceremoniously gripping the pendant.
“Don’t worry.” She slowly hung it around her neck, the cool jade sliding along her collarbone and into her clothes. “I’ll make sure it’s put to good use.”
Su Lanqiao froze.
Put to good use… what did that mean?
Before she could figure it out, Su Jinhui had already picked up the pen.
The fountain pen finally touched the paper. Just as she finished signing the last character, Su Desheng coughed lightly.
“Jinhui, if you really don’t want to go, the family could still buy you another ticket…”
Hearing the hint of regret in her father’s voice, Su Lanqiao’s heart clenched. She looked nervously at Su Jinhui.
Su Jinhui didn’t even look up. She finished signing decisively and pushed the application forward. “No need, Dad. I’ll report tomorrow.”
Su Lanqiao gazed at her with tear-filled eyes, her face full of guilt and reluctance, as if she were about to overflow with remorse.
“Elder sister, this is all my fault—making you take my place and be sent down…” She wiped her tears softly. “I’ll walk you part of the way tomorrow, just to make amends.”
“No need.” Su Jinhui was indifferent.
The living room fell silent for a moment. Su Jinxiang rubbed his hands and forced a dry laugh. “Little sister, don’t be too upset. Once things calm down, big brother will personally bring you back…”
“Exactly.” Liu Meihua chimed in. “The whole family will go together then.”
“Alright.” Su Jinhui flashed them a toothy smile, her eyes colder than Haicheng’s late spring chill. “I’ll be looking forward to that day.”