“You’re… Xiang Wenshan. We were in the same car accident.”
Wenshan nodded excitedly. “Yes. It’s me.”
Song Zhaohua clenched his fists tightly, his lips trembling. “It really is you. That’s great.”
He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
At last, in this strange world, there was someone he knew. Only heaven knew how hard these days had been for him. He’d even been terrified someone would drag him away and dissect him for research.
And living the way the original owner of this body had—so suffocating and humiliating—he might as well have died.
Wenshan closed her eyes, a tear sliding down from the corner. She hadn’t really known this flash-marriage husband of hers, but as the saying goes: when people from the same hometown meet, their eyes fill with tears.
They exchanged a few words about how they had ended up here.
Song Zhaohua had arrived a week earlier than she had. After confirming everything in her heart, she felt much lighter.
“I should head back first,” she said. “Otherwise they’ll come looking for me.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
Over the past few days, Song Zhaohua had slowly grown familiar with this area—and with this era. He knew that people were much more reserved now. Even looking at someone of the opposite sex a few extra seconds could get you labeled a hooligan.
After Wenshan returned, the brigade leader’s wife and Wenhui rushed over.
“Comrade Xiang, are you alright?”
“Sis, are you okay?”
Wenshan smiled. “I’m fine. Just needed to use the bathroom. I feel much better now.”
The brigade leader’s wife visibly relaxed. “That’s good. That’s good.”
She had been terrified just now. Wenshan had been gone so long she had nearly asked someone to help search the woods, afraid she’d fainted somewhere.
This Comrade Xiang’s health really seemed poor. She had fallen ill right after arriving, and now she was unwell again. In the future, she’d better be assigned lighter work. If she got exhausted doing heavy labor, they couldn’t afford to take responsibility. City girls were more delicate.
Wenshan had no idea what the woman was thinking. If she had known, she would’ve definitely brought half a jin of candy to thank her.
On the other side, when Song Zhaohua walked out of the woods, the smile on his face never faded.
Song Minghua saw his younger brother wandering around instead of working and scolded him in an elder-brother tone.
“Old Fifth, why aren’t you at work? What are you running around for? Our parents are so old and still working in the fields. How can you shamelessly let them work while you loaf around eating and drinking at home? That’s outrageous. So unfilial. People will criticize you behind your back.”
He even wore an expression as if he were doing this for his brother’s own good.
Song Zhaohua gave a light snort. “Third Brother, how can you say that with a straight face? Don’t you have any self-awareness?
“When have I not worked? I still earn three work points a day.
“And what about you? Busy in the fields every day—yet you always earn exactly six work points. Not one more, not one less. Is that carefully planned?
“Oh, and Third Sister-in-law? She earns five a day at most. The two of you together make eleven work points. Is that enough to feed the two of you and your two kids?
“You’ve got four mouths with eleven work points. I’ve got one mouth with ten work points. So who’s really taking advantage? Who’s eating and drinking off the family?
“I just happened to earn fewer work points these past few days, and you’re all blaming me. Heh.”
He didn’t continue, but the sarcasm was unmistakable.
The surrounding villagers, still working, began whispering.
“Hey… Old Fifth has a point. Third Brother’s family has four mouths and only eleven work points.”
“Right. Old Fifth alone earns ten. He can’t even eat all that himself. They all share meals—so Third Brother’s family is benefiting from him.”
“Exactly. It’s like Old Fifth is helping raise Third Brother’s kids… and even supporting younger siblings too.”
“Huh. That does seem true.”
Song Minghua’s face darkened as he listened.
A man who was close to Song Minghua spoke up, “You can’t put it that way. Old Fifth is part of the family too. If he’s capable of earning more, why slack off? Slacking is his fault. Aren’t we all working hard for work points? Don’t let him confuse you with a few words. We’re family—why nitpick over everything?”
Some people felt that made sense. Others said nothing. They understood the situation clearly, but if they spoke out, the label of ‘unfilial’ could easily be slapped onto them. So they continued working in silence.
That night, after washing up and stepping out of the simple makeshift bathing shed, Wenshan heard a “thud”—a small stone hitting the ground—followed by a faint meow.
She remembered what Song Zhaohua had told her earlier in the woods—that he’d come to see her at night. During the day, there were too many eyes around. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw them.
She gently opened the door and slipped outside.
After a full day of labor, everyone was resting. She had gone to wash last, after Wenhui finished cleaning the pot and washing up. By now, most people were asleep—or at least lying in bed with their eyes closed.
She pulled the door shut behind her. The moonlight was bright. She saw Song Zhaohua waving at her and walked over.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just wanted to talk.
“Why do you think we ended up decades in the past? Is there any way to go back?”
Wenshan didn’t really understand either. She had read a few novels before—assassins transmigrating to ancient times, military doctors becoming princess consorts—but she’d always felt those plots were too illogical and had stopped reading.
Who would’ve thought she herself would travel back decades?
She thought for a moment and said, “Maybe we did something good in our previous lives, and heaven rewarded us with a trip to decades ago?
“I don’t think we can go back. We were completely dead. There was even an explosion.”
Song Zhaohua’s lips twitched. “Who wants this crappy trip? I’d finally gotten my freedom, and now I’m stuck here.”
His mother had declared that as long as he got married and didn’t break the law, she wouldn’t interfere with anything he did anymore.
Well… now she really couldn’t interfere.
Wenshan stared at him in shock after hearing that, and then—
Back when they were set up on a blind date, he had been quiet, attentive, and especially polite.
Now he continued, looking aggrieved, “In that house, there are days with food and days without. I’ve been hungry for so long—every day I just drink water to fill my stomach.”
Seeing how pitiful he looked, Xiang Wenshan couldn’t help softening. “Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
She gently opened the door and slipped back to where they slept. Carefully rummaging through her bundle, she took out half a jin of peach pastries.
Just as she was about to leave, the older sent-down youth, Sun Lijuan, asked softly, “Comrade Xiang? What are you doing this late?”
Xiang Wenshan’s heart skipped. “Oh, I was a little hungry. I found something in my bundle to eat. I didn’t want to disturb you all, so I’m going to eat in the courtyard. You should get some rest, Comrade Sun.”
“Alright. Be careful. Find a stool to sit on—don’t lean against the wall. There might be scorpions.” She yawned. “I can’t anymore, I’m going back to sleep.”
“Okay.”
Xiang Wenshan quietly stepped outside.
She handed the wrapped peach pastries to Song Zhaohua. “Here. Have something to tide you over.”
He didn’t stand on ceremony and took them, breaking off a piece. “Want some?”
She shook her head. “No. Tell me what kind of life you’ve been living lately—to the point you’re surviving on water.”
While eating, Song Zhaohua spoke.
“Let me tell you, that old lady of the Song family is ridiculously biased. All the good stuff goes to her precious youngest son and daughter. Those two get an egg every day.
Meals are portioned out by the old lady herself.
And that porridge? It scratches your throat going down. The steamed corn buns are black and gritty.
All the grain is locked up in the old couple’s room. No one else is allowed to touch it.
The whole big family crowds together, plus a bunch of kids chirping nonstop. Honestly, every time I see that house, I want to die.
The original owner of this body was filial to a fault—didn’t even keep a single coin of private savings. Right now I’m calling to heaven and earth with no response!”
Hearing about his situation, Xiang Wenshan instantly felt she had it much better. If she were penniless and relying solely on earning work points in this era, she’d probably fall into depression.
“Right. What about you? How’s your family?” he asked.
She briefly explained her family situation.
Song Zhaohua looked at her with open envy. “That’s nice.”
Then he looked at her seriously. “Comrade Xiang Wenshan, would you be interested in having another flash marriage?
I know I have nothing right now. But in the future, I’ll listen to you. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do it.
I don’t ask for much—just enough to keep me fed.
I’ll work properly from now on. Don’t listen to what people say about me slacking off. The reason I’m not working much now is because I don’t want that family taking advantage of me. In that house, only the eldest brother is straightforward—the rest are all schemers.”
Xiang Wenshan thought for a moment. “If we get married, can the Song family split the household?
You know how it is in this era—families don’t split while the parents are still alive. If you bring it up yourself, people will point fingers and label you unfilial.”
Song Zhaohua frowned. He had almost forgotten about that.
A household split was impossible. The Song family would never agree. The old couple still wanted to squeeze him dry.
Even if they did split, he’d have nowhere to live—and not a single coin to his name.
Nowhere to live…
His gaze drifted toward the empty plot of land where Xiang Wenshan planned to build her house. His eyes suddenly lit up.
“Then… I can marry into your family. I’ll be a live-in son-in-law.”
Xiang Wenshan choked on his words and rubbed her throat before giving him a thumbs-up. “Suit yourself. As long as you handle it properly.
I have no intention of living with that many people. Just thinking about the noise gives me a headache.”
Song Zhaohua grinned brightly and nodded vigorously. “Mm! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
“Alright. I’ll head back first. We’ll talk after you’ve settled it.”
He smiled sweetly and waved her off.