Qiao Qingqing stared blankly as the countdown seconds ticked relentlessly, then some information naturally surged into her mind.
In three days, she could be reborn—back to the time when her family was about to be sent down.
She blinked—and everything went black. Suddenly, she found herself in a strange, unfamiliar space.
It was a blank world, resembling a massive warehouse, vast and empty. Standing in the middle, she felt tiny and insignificant.
The edges of the space were dark walls; she could reach out and touch them, but knocking produced no sound.
Most striking of all, hovering in the void above were shimmering words: [Redemption Points: 0]
Qiao Qingqing stayed stunned for a long moment before regaining her senses. She thought of leaving, and in the next instant, she was back in the kitchen.
Large patches of blood still stained the floor. The pot of sugar water bubbled and steamed.
Her heart surged with excitement—she nearly cried with joy.
The heavens had opened their eyes! She could be reborn, and she had a space. Everything could start over. She could escape the Lin family and save her loved ones!
And the rebirth was three days away. That meant she had three days to ignore all rules, live as a lawless avenger, and punish everyone who had wronged her.
She reached for the large pot.
But as soon as she lifted it, something felt off. Normally, it would take effort to lift such a heavy pot of sugar water—but now it felt as light as a feather.
She put the pot down and turned to a nearby 15-kilogram bag of rice. She lifted it effortlessly with one hand.
Grabbing a spatula, she twisted it with some effort, bending it into a coil.
It seemed that the lightning strike had not only given her a space but also enhanced her body. Her strength was now several times what it had been.
Delighted, she changed her plan.
Rather than venting her anger on Lin Chaohai now, she should prepare for rebirth. A living Lin Chaohai would be far more useful than a dead one.
Besides, if he were dead now, she would only bring trouble upon herself.
No matter when she returned, she had three days to gather supplies and bring them to the past, ensuring her family could survive well.
The Qiao family was being sent to Blackwater Village, a labor camp in the perilous, harsh Beidahuang. Life there would be unimaginably harsh.
Winters lasted over six months, with extreme lows approaching -50°C. The permafrost layer reached 2.5 meters thick.
Vast wetlands froze in winter and turned to marshes in summer—anyone who sank would die.
Swarms of mosquitoes and horseflies could even kill livestock.
People lived in cow sheds or cellars. Just surviving was almost impossible, let alone construction.
Supplies were absolutely crucial.
Her face darkened as a plan formed in her mind.
She turned off the stove, searched the house, and found a bundle of hemp rope, several rolls of clear tape, and a hammer.
Quietly, she crept into the bedroom. Lin Chaohai was still passed out drunk.
She knew his routine: after drinking, he would first beat her and then collapse into deep, immovable sleep.
Lin Chaohai had been trained in combat in his youth. Though older now, she didn’t dare take chances. She tiptoed over and tied his hands while he slept.
Her new strength allowed her to bind his wrists tightly. The pain woke him instantly.
Watching his reaction closely, she saw him open his eyes. She grabbed the hammer and smashed his abdomen a few times, without mercy.
Still half-asleep, a wave of pain shot through him, sweat breaking out instantly.
“What are you doing, Qiao Qingqing?!” he shouted.
Prepared for this, Qiao Qingqing shoved a towel into his mouth as he yelled.
He twisted to dodge, but the abdominal pain made him flinch too late. The dry towel filled his mouth, silencing him.
Trained as he was, Lin Chaohai reacted quickly, lifting a leg to kick her. She braced herself, letting him feel some pain as she smashed his calf with the hammer.
One strike… two strikes.
With her newfound strength, two hits were enough to fracture his bones.
Taking advantage of his weakened state, she looped the rope around his body, tying his hands tightly. Lin Chaohai rolled, trying to escape, but she pounced, leaping onto his back.
Thud.
He hit the ground hard under her weight.
Qiao Qingqing smashed the other leg with the hammer until it fractured, then wrapped the rope tightly around his legs. Clear tape followed, layer upon layer, securing him further.
She sealed his mouth, including the towel, completely gagging him.
Now immobilized, Lin Chaohai could only struggle feebly. Qiao Qingqing dragged him to the makeup chair and bound him with tape in multiple layers.
She wiped sweat from her brow and slapped him across the face with all her strength.
Looking into his disbelieving eyes, she smiled.
Her face was pale, her clothes soaked in her own blood, streaked dark red from top to bottom.
The room was dim, lit only by a small nightlight. Qiao Qingqing stood like a fierce spirit clawing its way out of the abyss.
Perhaps sensing her resolve, Lin Chaohai felt a flicker of fear, mumbling incoherently.
Qiao Qingqing glared at him with a dark smile:“Lin Chaohai, you’ve made my life unbearable. I’m dead now, a ghost come for revenge.”
She hammered his abdomen again, then kicked him in the groin as he had done to her in the past.
One strike… two strikes.
The pain twisted him, his eyes bloodshot, body shaking, rage burning like a live fire.
Qiao Qingqing threw the hammer aside and straddled him, raining down blows, pouring all the humiliation and pain he had inflicted back onto him.
She repeated his abuses, though sparing his face after the initial slap. Aside from the two broken bones in his legs, she inflicted no permanent harm.
Exhausted, she finally stopped. Lin Chaohai could only grunt on the floor.
She kicked the chair.“You thought the extra soundproofing was just to protect you when hitting me? Seems useful now.”
Breathless and sweating, she felt a thrill of satisfaction.
It was past midnight. She first locked the main door to prevent anyone from entering.
Then, using Lin Chaohai’s phone, she messaged his brother, Lin Chaoye, saying she had urgent business in Harbor City, would be switching SIM cards, and to wait until she returned for further explanation.
Next, she used his phone to go on a shopping spree online. The food she planned to buy at the wholesale market tomorrow, but first she stocked up on thermal underwear, cotton pants, wool sweaters, down jackets, and vests—clothes to survive the brutal winter.
Every item she ordered 100 of, planning to wear them gradually. And since it was Lin Chaohai’s money, spending it felt utterly satisfying.