Wen Chuxia immediately removed the jade pendant, bit her finger, and let the blood drip onto its intricate patterns.
The blood slowly spread along the complex design, and the jade pendant suddenly vanished. Immediately after, she entered the Kongjian she had only glimpsed in her previous life.
The first thing she saw was an introduction to the Wen family ancestral home. After quickly reading it, she began taking stock of the assets accumulated by the Wen ancestors a thousand years ago.
There were several chests of antique paintings and calligraphy, priceless in their era but immensely valuable in later times.
There were also valuable items, such as the Wen family’s ancestral medical manuscripts and two sets of gold and silver acupuncture needles.
In the golden nanmu chests were well-preserved tiger bones, bear bile, dragon’s blood resin, rhinoceros horns, snow leopard bones, natural bezoar, and hawksbill turtle shells…
These were treasures that money couldn’t buy—extremely rare and precious.
What delighted her even more was a sweet, bubbling spring. Not only was its water clear and refreshing, but drinking it also brought a sense of comfort and ease throughout her body.
Having lived a full life before, Wen Chuxia was no longer just seventeen. In her previous life, she had already mastered both Chinese and Western medicine.
Knowing that learning was boundless, she remained disciplined and sought continuous improvement, planning to study the manuscripts left by her ancestors whenever she had time.
After leaving the Kongjian, she recalled how, in her previous life, her father and brother had been lazy and indulgent. After returning to the city, they had relied on the gold bars hidden in the cellar of the Wen family ancestral home to fund their extravagant lifestyle.
What infuriated her was that during the early days of her entrepreneurial efforts, her father and brother had never offered any financial support from the family’s wealth.
It was only after her pharmaceutical factory was up and running that they invested the few remaining gold bars.
So, she first went to the living room on the second floor, where ten boxes packed by her father and brother for Wen Yuyan to take away were waiting.
Opening the first few boxes, she found them filled with Wen Yuyan’s clothes. Though she disliked them, she couldn’t help but feel envious and wanted to take a closer look.
To her surprise, hidden among the clothes in the fifth box was 3,658 yuan in cash.
Instantly, Wen Chuxia’s resentment reached its peak. Why couldn’t this cash have been kept close at hand to buy food for their time in the countryside?
Her father and brother had given their all to Wen Yuyan, but toward her… they seemed eager to tear her heart out.
The seventh box was filled entirely with jewelry, while the last three boxes contained bolts of fabric.
There was summer Dequeliang, Oriental silk, and winter khaki cloth. Wen Chuxia unhesitatingly stored all of it in the Kongjian.
After emptying the house of its valuables, Wen Chuxia hurried straight to the ancestral home under the cover of night, eager to see exactly how many gold bars were there.
However, the cellar of the ancestral home contained only six chests of gold bars, with nothing else. She didn’t even have time to examine them closely before storing them in the Kongjian.
As she left the ancestral home, her heart raced with fear of encountering anyone. She hurried back home as quickly as she could.
But as fate would have it, at a corner, she ran into two people covered in blood, with what seemed like several others chasing them.
She paused to assess who was good and who was bad when a low, icy voice said, “Little girl, run! I’ll hold them off.”
Without a word, she took out a handful of silver needles and incapacitated the vicious pursuers. She then quickly walked over, removed the needles, and sealed their mute acupoints.
“Little girl? Are you human?” The icy voice changed tone, no longer low and steady.
“Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Let me stop your bleeding first. Do you need me to take you to the hospital?” Wen Chuxia asked cautiously.
“No need. Our people will be here soon. You’re still young—it’s best not to get involved. Leave quickly!” another weak voice replied.
“Since you’ve been kind, I’ll use silver needles to stop your bleeding, so you don’t lose too much blood and suffer irreversible consequences.”
After Wen Chuxia inserted three needles into each person to stop the bleeding, she heard the sound of uniform footsteps. She shone the flashlight on her own face and said coldly, “Take a good look at my face. Don’t let anyone with ill intentions hold you to a debt of gratitude and morally bind you for life.”
Wen Chuxia wasn’t opposed to receiving repayment from others, but the person earlier had advised her not to get involved, and she always listened to good advice.
She quickly returned home, entered Kongjian, drank a few mouthfuls of spring water, and fell asleep until her mother woke her…
“Xiaxia, we’ve arrived at the notary office. Uncle will take you there.” Huo Tieniu’s voice interrupted Wen Chuxia’s recollection.
“Uncle, please stay in the car with my mom. She’s feeling very insecure. I can go by myself.” Wen Chuxia could still hear her mother softly sobbing.
“Dad, you stay in the car with Auntie. I’ll take her.” Huo Yunxuan volunteered.
Wen Chuxia’s face, covered in slap marks, drew many disdainful glances toward Huo Yunxuan, making him regret coming down with her.
Fortunately, her shocking slap marks not only made the notarization process smooth but also earned her a wave of sympathy.
“Xiaxia is amazing, getting it done so quickly. Are you hungry? Let’s go to the Guoying Fandian for a meal first, then buy clothes.”
As soon as Huo Tieniu finished speaking, Huo Yunxuan interjected, “Dad, you take them to buy clothes. We’ll go home for dinner.”
Wen Chuxia understood what her stepbrother was thinking and said considerately, “Uncle, the slap marks on my face haven’t faded yet. My mom’s eyes are swollen like peaches from crying. If you take us to eat or shop, people will point and stare. I’ll go by myself.”
“Xiaxia, I’m not afraid of people pointing and staring. I’ll take you to buy clothes,” Huo Tieniu insisted firmly.
“Uncle, really, there’s no need. I know my mom’s size. I’ll be back soon. Please wait for me in the car.”
As Wen Chuxia spoke, she turned and walked toward the department store. Liu Cuihua watched her daughter’s retreating figure, tears streaming from her eyes like an open faucet.
In this marriage, although she was passive and Huo Tieniu had actively sought to marry her, her heart was still filled with uncertainty and helplessness.
Huo Tieniu looked at the weeping Liu Cuihua, then at the slender yet upright figure walking away. Xiaxia was polite and distant toward him, her gaze filled with respect and admiration, but not a trace of dependence.
His heart felt as if something had tightened, making him uncomfortable. “Cuihua, don’t cry. I’ll go help Xiaxia pay and carry the things.”
“Dad, you should stay in the car with Auntie. I’ll go!” Huo Yunxuan watched Wen Chuxia’s resolute figure and felt equally uneasy.
Earlier, he hadn’t wanted to accompany the poor girl because he had always been the center of attention and had never been looked down upon by others. He couldn’t accept it at first, but when he thought about how she might not have money and could be mistreated, he couldn’t bear it!
Wen Chuxia arrived at the department store counter. “Comrade, please get me two bars of soap, four towels, two toothbrushes, two cups, and a box of toothpaste. Also, one box of snowflake cream…” Hearing her list items as if she were on a shopping spree, the salesperson across the counter was completely stunned.
Even Huo Yunxuan, who had just walked in, was shocked. Seeing the salesperson standing motionless, he reminded her, “Comrade, have you noted everything down?”
The middle-aged saleswoman, seeing Huo Yunxuan’s rosy lips and fair complexion, quickly smiled and said, “I’ve noted down everything she mentioned. Is there anything else?”
“Just these. I’m going to look at the ready-made clothes over there. Can I come back to pay later?”
Before Wen Chuxia could finish asking, she heard Huo Yunxuan declare with great enthusiasm, “Xiaxia, just say whatever you need. Eighth Brother has money on him. I’ll pay.”