“Father, Mother’s illness is only draining money. Uncle Chang is willing to offer ten coins as a betrothal gift. Why not find Mother a quiet place to recuperate? This is only to preserve Father’s reputation.”
Li Xianglian had been running a high fever for many days, and today she began to feel short of breath.
Clutching her chest, she walked to the door, but accidentally overheard her eldest son’s words. She forced herself to suppress her cough.
Holding the sandalwood hairpin in her hand, a bitter smile appeared on her sallow, gaunt face.
This hairpin was her family heirloom.
To support the whole family, she went up the mountain to strip tree bark, accidentally cutting her hand.
Her blood soaked into the hairpin, and through it, she unexpectedly entered a vast space filled with crops. Just as she was about to share this good news with her family, she overheard their conversation.
Li Xianglian felt the world spin and had to steady herself.
In a year of famine, food was more precious than gold.
With this magical hairpin, she had thought she could give her family a better life.
But voices came again from inside.
“Why sell her? It’s not like we lack that little money. Wouldn’t it be disgraceful if word got out?”
“Father loves Mother, but let your daughter say this—if Mother’s illness never improves, must we let it ruin Father’s reputation and future? Aunt Caishan admires Father so much and is still waiting to marry him. Can Father bear to make her wait for decades?”
Xu Caishan?
Wasn’t she the county magistrate’s sister?
Li Xianglian was shocked and furious.
Through the crack in the door, she endured her cough and watched her husband and children.
Her husband seemed to waver.
He untied a bundle and tossed a few copper coins onto the broken wooden table.
“Since she’s only worth ten coins, leave ten coins. It can be considered fulfilling our marital bond. Now that I am the heir of a noble household, you will all be entered into the family register. From now on, there is no more Chen Lang in this world. Tomorrow, we return to the capital. It’s her misfortune—no one else is to blame.”
Hearing this, Li Xianglian felt a wave of bitterness.
She and Chen Lang had supported each other for years. He never worked, spending his days studying at home.
Meanwhile, she labored in the fields to feed the family, bent her back from toil, and even broke her leg while gathering herbs. Now, at just thirty-five, she was riddled with illness and no longer beautiful.
So he was actually a noble heir.
Memories flooded back, and Li Xianglian could no longer deceive herself.
Chen Lang had married her out of lust, despised poverty, and concealed his identity, putting on a false act of affection.
Her parents had believed they found her a kind and honest husband, never knowing he had hidden the truth for years. Now that he could return to the capital, he abandoned her without hesitation!
After marriage, she had noticed his change of heart, but endured it all for the children.
She had hoped her children would succeed.
But the son and daughter she raised with all her heart actually wished for her death!
They even urged their father to remarry!
A metallic taste rose in her throat as her palms tightened, nails digging into her skin.
Before she could burst in and confront them, she coughed up blood and collapsed, losing consciousness.
Faintly, she heard neighbors talking.
“Madam Li has passed away. Why didn’t her husband and children even come? Did something happen?”
“Bah! They might as well be dead! She had just passed, and they ran off! Even the funeral expenses were collected by the village. In the end, she didn’t even have a coffin. What a bitter life she had!”
Li Xianglian looked at her translucent soul.
She was filled with hatred.
Why should those ungrateful wretches destroy her life and still rise to high status?
If she could start over, she would never let them go!
…
“We found Madam Li! Quick! She’s still breathing!”
Li Xianglian slowly opened her eyes in confusion.
What was going on?
Hadn’t she been angered to death by those ingrates?
As she tried to move, a neighbor aunt’s concerned voice sounded in her ear, “Don’t move! Your leg is broken! Be careful!”
Only then did she realize—she had been reborn.
Looking around, she found herself back at twenty years old, in the fourth year of her marriage to Chen Lang.
Her eldest son had been ill, and with no money for medicine, she went to gather herbs in the mountains, only to slip and break her leg.
Now, her parents had not yet died in the famine, and she still had the chance to divorce Chen Lang!
At that moment, Li Xianglian hugged herself tightly.
Her slender brows furrowed, her bright eyes filled with tears, her pale skin making her look even more pitiful.
The neighbor aunt sighed, feeling even more sympathy.
Such a good girl from the Li family—how had she been reduced to this?
The men helping to carry her blushed slightly, not daring to look at her directly, yet couldn’t help but curse.
How could she have fallen for Chen Lang, that pretty-faced idler?
He stayed home all day doing nothing, relying on a delicate young woman to support him—shameless!
Li Xianglian was unaware of their thoughts.
Her mind was focused on her leg.
In her previous life, Chen Lang had brought a doctor from the city to set her bone.
The village doctor had warned that the man was unskilled and would leave her crippled, but persuaded by Chen Lang, she still accepted the treatment.
For the rest of her life, her leg was indeed disabled.
Back then, she hadn’t thought much of it, but now she realized—the doctor’s face had seemed familiar.
Wasn’t it Xu Caishan in disguise?
So Chen Lang had already been involved with her at that time.
Suppressing her cold sneer, Li Xianglian forced a faint smile and gently tugged at the neighbor aunt’s sleeve.
“Auntie, could you ask uncle to invite a doctor from the city for me?”
Her eyes glistened with tears—how could the aunt refuse?
Before she could answer, the men eagerly agreed.
“Don’t worry, Sister Li! We’ll get you the best doctor! Come on, help out—I’ll go to the city right now!”
With that, several men quickly ran down the mountain.
Li Xianglian lifted her gaze, her long lashes trembling, sincerely expressing her thanks.
In her previous life, Chen Lang had looked down on the villagers, and she had kept her distance as well.
But in the end, it was these very people who gathered money for her coffin and helped her in daily life.
How ridiculous that years of marriage were worth less than strangers.
“Brother, could you carry me back to my parents’ home?” she asked softly.
With her leg injured, going back to Chen Lang would make her a lamb to the slaughter.
The villagers exchanged knowing glances.
Madam Li had finally grown tired of that pretty-faced husband!
Lost in thought, Li Xianglian was carefully carried back to her parents’ home.
The moment she saw them, she could no longer suppress her grief. She buried herself in their arms, crying silently as tears soaked their clothes.
The villagers explained what had happened.
“A grown man like Chen Lang wouldn’t gather herbs himself, making Li girl do it instead.”
“That’s right, Brother Li, you should talk to your son-in-law. The whole family depends on Xianglian’s work!”
Hearing this, her parents were filled with anger, but seeing her condition, they could only sigh.
Their daughter had always been obedient and never complained, even though she lived nearby.
They had tried to confront Chen Lang before, but he was like a stubborn rogue, refusing to listen. And their daughter had been unwilling to divorce!
Just then, Chen Lang arrived—with a doctor.