The next morning, Shen Qingyun still felt a little dizzy.
There was no helping it—her body was too weak. One drop of Spirit Spring water wasn’t enough; she still needed nourishment and gradual recuperation. Thinking this, she drank her daily dose of Spirit Spring water and got out of bed to wash up.
As soon as she opened the door, Shen Hao barreled in like a firecracker. If he had hit her, she might have lost half her life. Shen Qingyun reacted quickly, stepping aside and shutting the door behind her.
Bang! A deafening, earth-shaking wail immediately followed.
“Waaah—!”
Hearing the noise, Bai Yue rushed over and saw Shen Hao sitting on the floor, clutching his head and crying loudly.
“What happened?”
“Mom, she bullied me! Look at my head—it’s swollen, it hurts so much!” Shen Hao pointed at Shen Qingyun in anger. “Mom, kick her out! She’s not my sister. My real sister is only one, and it’s not her!”
Bai Yue’s heart ached as she looked at the large lump on Shen Hao’s forehead. She couldn’t help but show a hint of reproach. “Qingyun, Haohao is your little brother. How can you…”
Before she could finish, a coughing voice interrupted her.
“Yesterday, I collapsed from a fever while doing housework, and you were busy comforting Shen Xinwei. My head got cut, and blood poured everywhere, but no one cared. I’m worthless, right? I deserve nothing. Just now, I should have let Shen Hao use me as a human cushion, let my wound reopen, bleed to death, so the people in the compound could see how much you ‘love’ your children.”
Shen Qingyun’s face turned pale, and her thin fingers gripped the doorframe tightly. Her body felt so weak she could collapse at any second.
Bai Yue’s throat felt stuffed with cotton, her eyes stinging. Yes, Xinwei and Haohao were her children—and Qingyun was also her child. Flesh of her flesh, how could she not love all of them?
Thinking of how she had just blamed Shen Qingyun for not getting up to make breakfast, Bai Yue felt ashamed. She lowered her face. “Haohao, apologize to Qingyun.”
Shen Hao pouted, reluctant, “Sorry.”
“Family shouldn’t hold grudges overnight. An apology is enough. Haohao didn’t mean it. You’re older, so be more forgiving.” Bai Yue’s gaze softened, still worried about the lump on Shen Hao’s head.
Shen Qingyun gave a perfunctory “hmph.” As long as he didn’t act up in front of her, it didn’t matter how reckless he was. Calculating the time, the Shen family would be sent down in just a few days. She had to act fast—she definitely didn’t want to go down with Bai Yue’s family.
Snapping back to her thoughts, she saw Bai Yue still standing there. “I’m going to wash up. Please move aside.”
Seeing the detachment and coldness in her daughter’s eyes, Bai Yue felt a pang of discomfort. It didn’t matter—once they left Beijing, she and her daughter would have plenty of time to bond. Haohao would also come to accept Qingyun as his sister.
After washing up, Shen Qingyun came out of the bathroom. Bai Yue called her over to sit for breakfast.
“These are my first attempts. Try them,” Bai Yue said, nervously wringing her hands as she handed over the dishes.
There were pan-fried eggs still in their shells, buns with filling peeking out, and undercooked white porridge. Shen Qingyun paused, then held out her hand. “Give me money.”
Shen Xinwei sprang up anxiously. “Where are you going? We agreed to go see the match today—you haven’t forgotten, have you?”
Shen Qingyun glanced at her. “I’m going shopping.”
Xinwei’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Buy new clothes, lots of them, and dress up beautifully. Zhou Weiguo will be so smitten, he won’t want anyone but you.”
“Xinwei!” Shen Hanyang frowned. “You stay home today. Don’t meddle in your sister’s matters.”
“I decide my own matters, Dad. We agreed yesterday,” Xinwei said anxiously.
“Hanyang, just listen to Xinwei,” Bai Yue said, guilt evident in her voice as she handed over ten “Great Unity” notes and a stack of coupons. “You’ve been home for a few days now, and I forgot to buy clothes for you. Take this money. If it’s not enough, ask me again.”
Shen Qingyun glanced inside—there were not only fabrics but also meat coupons, grain coupons, snack coupons, sugar coupons, etc. It would be enough for now, so she accepted it without hesitation. “I’m heading out.”
“Don’t forget your noon appointment. The city park. I’ll wait at the gate at two,” Xinwei called from behind. Shen Qingyun waved to acknowledge.
If she guessed correctly, Shen Xinwei had also been reborn.
Author “Xiao Nuan Yi” recommends reading “Little Orphan Goes to the Countryside, Flash Marriage with Military Officer Who Spoils and Teases” via the Renren Shuku app.
Shen Xinwei despised the previous match because of the boy’s poor family and mediocre ability. In her past life, she discarded it immediately. Now, her overly enthusiastic attitude made it obvious what she had in mind.
The man in Shen Qingyun’s view was decent in character and stable in work. Even if something happened to him, she could find another match. The important thing was his class background—it meant she wouldn’t have to be sent down. If he was willing to marry her, it was a good choice.
But what was his name? Zhou something… forget it. She would ask Xinwei later.
Walking down the street, surrounded by buildings rich with the era’s style and banners everywhere, Shen Qingyun fully realized she was in the 1970s.
A state-run restaurant closest to the compound was just ten minutes’ walk away. When Shen Qingyun arrived, breakfast was being served: buns, rice porridge, soy milk, and boiled eggs.
She bought a bun and a bowl of soy milk and sat by the window. Eating slowly, she looked outside. The familiar yet unfamiliar streets felt fresh and interesting, and she couldn’t stop staring.
Occasionally, people’s eyes glanced subtly toward her table.
“That girl looks like a movie star—so beautiful.”
“No, I think she’s even prettier. Look at her tiny mouth and delicate face. I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful.”
“I wish I could look like her. Even dreaming about it makes me smile.”
…
At the next table:
“Old Zou, don’t you feel something’s off?” Lu Siyuan whispered to Zou Zhanyang. “I feel like everyone’s staring at you.”
“I don’t,” Zou Zhanyang said, not looking up, swallowing a big bun in three bites and washing it down with porridge.
Lu Siyuan’s mouth twitched. “Can’t you eat more gracefully? With that bite, it’s like you’re swallowing a whole cow. How could any girl like you?”
“Maybe everyone’s looking because my eating is so shocking,” Zou Zhanyang shrugged.
“Not because you’re especially charming today, right?”
Looking at his scruffy, unshaven appearance, Lu Siyuan grimaced. “Why don’t you shave, at least sleep before coming out? Look at those dark circles. Grandpa said I must get you married this year. Step one: personal image.”
Zou Zhanyang didn’t look up. “I just finished a mission. Didn’t even go home before you called me out. I have no time. Besides, my grandpa is stubborn. I’m not changing him. And I’m not planning to get married.”
“Heh, you just don’t know the charms of women. Once you have a wife, you’ll see how great it is.” Lu Siyuan smiled blissfully.
Zou Zhanyang glanced at him. “So… you’re married?”
Lu Siyuan froze. “No.”
Zou Zhanyang raised an eyebrow, snorted, “Then spare me the life lessons until you are married. I’ll listen then.”
Lu Siyuan, frustrated, muttered, “Damn, your mouth must be poisoned—why aren’t you dead yet?”
“Forget it. Look, everyone’s staring this way. I need to maintain my image… Oh, I get it. Everyone was looking at the beautiful girl, not a scruffy man with a beard.”
“Still, just seeing her back, you can tell she’s a beauty. Old Zou, what do you think?”
Hearing no reply, Lu Siyuan turned and saw Zou Zhanyang still eating like a machine. Angry, he slapped his chopsticks away. “All you do is eat. Look, Old Zou, just glance over here!”
If it were love at first sight, and they noticed each other, he’d fulfill Grandpa’s wish. Lu Siyuan grinned foolishly.
“Damn it, what a scoundrel—how dare he bully a lady?”
Hearing this, Zou Zhanyang finally looked toward the door.