That’s right—Qin Shuyao finally remembered. In her previous life, Zhang Lingzhi had mentioned Geng Sa.
“On the second morning I arrived in town, oh my, what a terrifying scene! The mother-in-law killed her daughter-in-law, just with the kind of woodcutting knife we have in our backyard. She hacked her neck more than ten times. The head was completely severed!”
At that time, Zhang Lingzhi had recounted the story in the Zhang family courtyard, still shivering at the memory.
He Cuilian looked coldly at the girl with the broken leg, her eyes full of malice.
“Since ancient times, mother-in-laws have the right to discipline their daughters-in-law. A daughter-in-law should be beaten into shape. If she’s disobedient, she deserves to die!”
Zhang Lingzhi sneered. “The woman who got killed was even close to Qilan. Hmph. Such shameless trash deserves to die!”
…
In the darkness, Qin Shuyao sat on the hard bed, gasping for air, her back covered in cold sweat.
The woman Zhang Lingzhi had mentioned, the one whose head had been chopped off by her mother-in-law, was Geng Sa.
Geng Sa’s newlywed husband, Gao Jinliang, was an outsider. Strong and capable, he was chosen by Geng Sa’s mother to be a live-in son-in-law.
However, on the second day of their marriage, the elderly woman who had forced the wedding died in an accident while driving a small tractor to the county.
Naturally, Gao Jinliang’s mother and siblings moved into the Geng household under the pretense of taking care of Geng Sa, usurping the home.
Geng Sa was not someone to be bullied. She quickly realized Gao’s family’s ill intentions and forced Gao Jinliang to send them away.
Gao Jinliang refused, and the couple fought violently. His mother, of course, did not remain idle.
She used the same reasoning as He Cuilian: “Beat the daughter-in-law into shape, let her know who rules this house,” inciting Gao Jinliang to discipline Geng Sa.
Yet Geng Sa had some martial training. Gao Jinliang did not gain the upper hand; instead, he ended up battered and bruised.
Geng Sa issued an ultimatum: if Gao Jinliang refused to send his family away, she would divorce him and kick him out too.
Upon hearing that she might send her back to the cold, poor mountains, Gao’s mother became murderous.
At dawn, she snuck into Geng Sa’s room and, while Geng Sa slept, struck her on the head with a chopping knife.
The police came after the murder. The elderly killer was taken away.
But with Geng Sa’s death, her husband Gao Jinliang naturally inherited the Geng family’s property, and the Geng family name changed to Gao.
Zhang Lingzhi picked at her teeth and concluded with a grin, “That mother-in-law was mentally ill. Mentally ill people who kill aren’t considered criminals. She didn’t need to go to jail. That woman died for nothing!”
Qin Shuyao could not help but picture Geng Sa’s face in her mind.
Healthy, wheat-colored skin, slightly plump, big eyes like the morning star in the east at dawn—bright and clear.
The thought that this girl had died in such a brutal way made Qin Shuyao shiver and feel intense nausea.
Chen Qilan, awakened by her, quickly sat up, patting her back and striking a match to light a candle, his face full of concern.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t like last night’s meal?”
Seeing Qin Shuyao crouched at the edge of the bed, dry-heaving, Chen Qilan was frantic.
“Can you… light more candles? It’s too dark. I’m a little scared.”
Qin Shuyao forced herself to sit up, her face streaked with tears, her voice hoarse.
Chen Qilan quickly lit all the candles and kerosene lamps in the house. The light dispelled the darkness, and Qin Shuyao finally regained some composure.
“Geng Sa…”
Qin Shuyao did not know how to explain the tragedy of Geng Sa’s life to Chen Qilan. The whole story sounded absurd, almost ridiculous.
Seeing her hesitant mention Geng Sa, Chen Qilan felt a mix of helplessness and delight.
Helpless because of her jealousy, delighted because it was for him.
“Wife, I swear, there’s really nothing between me and her. If you don’t believe me, I can dig my heart out and show you.”
If he could, he would carve “Qin Shuyao” on his heart.
Qin Shuyao had calmed down by now. She realized she had overlooked something important: the fate of Huzi and Xiao Jiao.
With Zhang Lingzhi’s despicable and cruel nature, she would never allow Chen Qilan to raise the children of his comrades.
Even if she reluctantly accepted it, He Cuilian would have found ways to instruct Zhang Lingzhi to abuse or drive out the siblings.
Yet from start to finish, neither the mother nor daughter had mentioned them, as if Huzi and Xiao Jiao had never existed in Zhang Lingzhi’s life.
If an explanation was necessary, it would be that before Zhang Lingzhi went with the military, the siblings were already gone for some reason.
Gone?
Qin Shuyao felt a lump rise in her throat. She seemed to understand.
The two children had been cared for personally by Geng Sa’s mother. Could it be that when the accident happened, the children were… gone too?
At the thought, Qin Shuyao’s palms were slick with cold sweat.
Even leaving aside that Huzi and Xiao Jiao were children of martyrs, ordinary children should not have such a tragic fate.
“The father of these children protected the nation and the people with his blood and life. His descendants deserve care and protection.”
“Qilan, I want to take care of Huzi and Xiao Jiao myself.”
Chen Qilan’s eyes glimmered briefly upon hearing this, but he shook his head.
“We’ll talk about that later. Raising children is not a small matter, and this is not your responsibility. You don’t have to suffer with me.”
Yes, Qin Shuyao was his wife, but that did not mean she had to shoulder all burdens with him. She was entitled to a life of her own.
The faint morning light filtered through the window. People were already out in the fields.
And in her previous life, the day Geng Sa’s mother died was today.
“Don’t worry about Huzi and Xiao Jiao. It’s still early. Go back to sleep a little. I’ll do morning exercise and bring breakfast back for you…”
As Chen Qilan spoke, preparing to get out of bed, a delicate, porcelain-white arm reached around from behind and hugged him tightly.