The jade bangle contained a hidden space that could only be unlocked with blood.
In her previous life, Lu Mosheng had accidentally discovered the space inside the jade bangle, but that had happened only after she divorced Song Jiayan.
There was nothing inside the space except a pool of spiritual spring water that never ran dry, no matter how much she took from it.
The spiritual spring was particularly beneficial to plant growth. Once, after sustaining an injury, Lu Mosheng had tried drinking the spring water to see whether it would help her wounds heal faster. However, the results proved that the spring water had no other special effects beyond helping plants grow.
After discovering the space in her previous life, she had wanted to put it to good use and accomplish something with it. Unfortunately, before she could carry out her plans, she met an untimely death in a bathtub.
But things were different now…
“Mosheng!”
Song Jiayan’s voice came from outside the hut. Lu Mosheng quickly put the jade bangle away.
“What is it?” she asked as she stepped outside.
Song Jiayan was holding a watermelon, which he handed to her.
“Where did you get this?”
“I bought it.”
Watermelons weren’t cheap these days. Seeing the sweat on Song Jiayan’s forehead, Lu Mosheng realized that he had specifically gone out to buy one because he knew how much she loved eating them.
Lu Mosheng fetched a basin, filled it with some well water, and placed the watermelon inside to soak.
“I noticed there’s still some unused land. Why don’t we plant some vegetables and fruit? What do you think?”
Song Jiayan didn’t object.
“Plant whatever you like.”
“All right.”
Lu Mosheng took the watermelon out of the basin and cut it open. Its flesh was red and white, suggesting that it wasn’t fully ripe. It wasn’t particularly sweet, either.
Lu Mosheng was a woman of action.
Over the next few days, she busied herself buying seeds and preparing the land. Of course, Song Jiayan did most of the actual work while she simply directed him.
Meanwhile, things were far from peaceful at the Song family home.
Zhao Xiuli had been anxiously waiting for Song Jiayan to send money home, but nothing arrived. Her mood grew worse by the day, and everyone in the household could feel her displeasure.
One day, during a meal, Song Tao, Zhao Xiuli’s granddaughter, accidentally dropped a grain of rice.
Zhao Xiuli immediately flew into a rage.
“You little brat! Can’t you even eat properly? Do you think food falls from heaven for free? Do you have any idea how little grain we earn after working ourselves to the bone all year? And you’re just wasting it like this! I’ll teach you to waste food! I’ll teach you!”
As she shouted, she grabbed a broom and began swinging it at Song Tao.
Terrified, Song Tao scrambled behind her mother. Li Qinghong, the Song family’s second daughter-in-law, quickly stepped in front of Zhao Xiuli.
“Mom, she’s just a child who doesn’t know any better. Please don’t hit her.”
“A child who doesn’t know any better? Then what about you? Don’t you know any better? How have you been raising her, huh? We spend every day bent over the fields, working from sunrise to sunset. How much money do you think we earn? Today, she dares to waste a single grain of rice. Tomorrow, she’ll be wasting ten yuan!”
She jabbed an accusing finger at Li Qinghong.
“And don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! Aren’t you the one whispering in my son’s ear every night, trying to persuade him to separate from me and set up his own household?”
The more Zhao Xiuli spoke, the angrier she became.
Now that Lu Mosheng had left, Li Qinghong was the only person left in the household for her to take her anger out on. Yet even Li Qinghong dared to defy her!
It seemed that if she didn’t show them who was boss, they would mistake her for a harmless pushover.
Rolling up her sleeves, Zhao Xiuli snarled, “Maybe I can’t control you, but I can certainly control this little brat!”
Clutching the broom tightly, Zhao Xiuli twisted her face into a vicious scowl, grabbed Song Tao, and began beating her on the buttocks.
Again and again, the broom came down until Song Tao’s bottom was badly bruised. The little girl screamed and sobbed, repeatedly crying, “I won’t do it again! I won’t do it again!”
Watching her daughter being beaten, Li Qinghong burst into tears.
“Mom, stop! Please, stop hitting her!”
After venting all her anger, Zhao Xiuli finally stopped. Seeing Li Qinghong clutching Song Tao and crying, she felt nothing but irritation.
She threw down the broom and returned to her room.
Song Jiayan still hadn’t sent any money home, and the more Zhao Xiuli thought about it, the more convinced she became that Lu Mosheng was behind it.
That little wretch!
It had been more than ten days already. Zhao Xiuli had assumed that someone as delicate and pampered as Lu Mosheng wouldn’t be able to endure the hardship for long. Yet, not only had she actually gone to find Song Jiayan, but she had also refused to come back!
No, this wouldn’t do.
She had to find a way to make Song Jiayan continue sending money home!