Summer, 1963 — Family quarters of a textile factory in Shanghai.
The weather was unusually cool for summer, easing the intense heat of the past few days.
Several middle-aged women in dark, coarse cloth clothes were gathered by the communal well in the courtyard, washing laundry and chatting.
Suddenly, a strikingly beautiful figure appeared in the yard, instantly drawing their attention.
“Hey, Zhang Guihua, look! That woman in the bulaji dress—that’s Director Bai’s new wife.”
“I see her—oh my, she’s so beautiful! Look at her skin, her waist… she doesn’t look like she’s had a child at all. No wonder Director Bai’s been grinning nonstop these past few days!”
“Hahaha, exactly! My Old Li said Director Bai’s been in such a good mood lately—smiling at everyone in the factory. Well, who wouldn’t be happy after marrying such a stunning wife?”
“Oh right, the little girl she brought with her—Director Bai’s stepdaughter—she’s even prettier! I saw her yesterday, like a fairy. I’ve lived this long and never seen such a beautiful girl!”
Where there was praise, there was also jealousy.
A sharp-eyed woman nearby curled her lips disdainfully. “What’s so great about her? At her age, still acting all coquettish—doesn’t look decent at all, the way she sways her waist.”
“Exactly. And that daughter she brought? No matter how pretty, she’s still just baggage,” another chimed in.
Qin Yunxi didn’t have the best temper, but she had no time to care about the gossip directed at her and her daughter. She was anxious to get home, her whole heart focused on her daughter, Qin Sang.
Knock, knock…
“Sang Sang, Mom bought you something delicious from the state-run restaurant. Should I bring it in for you?” Qin Yunxi called gently through the door.
Within seconds, the door opened.
A girl of about fourteen or fifteen appeared—young and delicate, yet already breathtakingly beautiful. Even at her age, her exquisite features were undeniable. It was easy to imagine how stunning she would become once she fully matured.
“Mom, what did you bring? Let me see! Your precious daughter is starving!” Sang Sang’s voice was as crisp as silver bells as she coquettishly leaned toward her mother, her bright, lively eyes fixed on the lunchbox.
Seeing her daughter like this, Qin Yunxi felt a pang of tenderness. When had her Sang Sang ever gone hungry?
Without delay, she set the lunchbox on the desk and opened it.
Braised pork with vermicelli, sweet-and-sour fried pork, and pan-fried hairtail—three meat dishes in total. For an ordinary family, such a meal would only appear during holidays.
Sang Sang had only had malted milk and a few pastries since last night. Now, smelling the food, her stomach growled loudly. Faced with all her favorite dishes, she couldn’t help but eat quickly.
Qin Yunxi frowned and went to the kitchen to pour a cup of hot water. “Eat slowly, don’t choke. I’ll leave the water here to cool—drink it later.”
“Okay, thank you, Mom.” Sang Sang looked up and gave her a sweet smile.
Her obedient expression melted Qin Yunxi’s heart. Seeing her daughter’s hair still loose, she gently braided it into two plaits.
At the same time, she mentally cursed her new husband’s niece again.
To Qin Yunxi, aside from herself, Sang Sang mattered the most.
As for others, she only cared about whether they had value.
If they did, she would make an effort to maintain the relationship. If not, she would treat them coldly.
That included both her ex-husband and her current husband—if they brought no benefit or might drag her down, she would abandon them without hesitation.
Men were replaceable.
Take Sang Sang’s biological father, Han Xiaosheng, for example.
The Han family had once been quite prominent in Shanghai. Before turning forty, Han Xiaosheng had already become the deputy director of a research institute in the city. He had only one daughter—Sang Sang—and was gentle and devoted, spending his entire salary on his wife and child.
Because of him, Qin Yunxi and Sang Sang had lived comfortably even in these times of scarcity.
But that good life ended two months ago when Han Xiaosheng was reported.
Inevitably, Qin Yunxi and Sang Sang were implicated as well.
They were to be sent to the countryside for labor reform. Qin Yunxi knew exactly how harsh that life would be.
Whether they could ever recover was uncertain—but just the thought of doing farm labor was already unbearable to her.
So, without hesitation, she divorced Han Xiaosheng and contacted Bai Anrong, who had pursued her in her younger years.
Bai Anrong’s wife had passed away a few years ago. Qin Yunxi directly asked if he would marry her. After receiving his agreement, she quickly took Sang Sang to Harbin and remarried him.
To the Han family, her actions were undeniably cold and heartless—after all, Han Xiaosheng had treated them very well.
But what choice did she have? If anything, they should blame the person who reported him.
There was no way she and her daughter would suffer alongside him.
Originally, Qin Yunxi had worried that Sang Sang might be reluctant to leave her father. But fortunately, her daughter was just like her—someone who knew how to seek advantage and avoid harm.
Although Bai Anrong couldn’t compare to Sang Sang’s biological father, his conditions in Harbin were still excellent. He was the director of a textile factory.
His late wife had left him with a son one year older than Sang Sang. With a monthly salary of 63 yuan, he was considered a very desirable match—even young unmarried women would line up to marry him.
Of course, that was one of the reasons Qin Yunxi chose him.
Even in a second marriage, she refused to compromise.
To Bai Anrong, Qin Yunxi had always been his “white moonlight.” When she asked if he would marry her, how could he refuse? He was secretly overjoyed.
Everything went smoothly. Over the past month, the newly blended family had gotten along fairly well.
Sang Sang was delicate and beautiful, and since Bai Anrong had no daughter of his own, he doted on her because of his affection for Qin Yunxi.
Her stepbrother, Bai Zhixin, wasn’t particularly warm toward them, but he didn’t show any rejection either.
Life continued peacefully like this—until yesterday…
Yesterday, Bai Anrong took Qin Yunxi and Qin Sang to visit his elder brother, Bai Anhua.
Bai Anhua also worked as a director, but at a steel factory, where the position and status were far better than those of the textile factory.
Although the two families lived in the same city, they didn’t interact much—mainly because Bai Anrong disliked his sister-in-law’s arrogant attitude.
So it had taken him a month to finally bring Qin Yunxi and Sang Sang over to meet them.
Unexpectedly… that visit ended in bloodshed.