Qiao Shanshan was unwilling.
She was going to take the college entrance exam in the future and become an intellectual. Cooking, such rough work, was something women like Qiao Wanyue—who had no education—should do. But she had just angered her mother and didn’t dare to confront her directly.
She pulled Yang Huaiyuan into the kitchen.
Of course, she couldn’t bear to let Yang Huaiyuan do any work. Her eyes darted around before she deliberately began banging pots and pans loudly under his confused gaze.
Qiao Wanyue returned to her room, turned around, closed the door, and fastened the latch. The room was a storage shed made of thatch and mud. She used to live in the main hall’s living room, but after she grew older, Mother Qiao had her moved here.
After locking the door, she drew the ragged curtain over the window and sat on the bed. The room was filled with farming tools. In the corner stood a one-meter-wide wooden plank serving as a bed, and beside it was a basket containing a few washed-out clothes.
The air carried the stench of a dead rat, and from time to time, the sound of rats burrowing could be heard.
Qiao Wanyue tightened her grip on the wad of money. She scanned the room—there were holes of all sizes in the earthen walls, along with scattered farm tools. This was not a place to store money. Her room had already been thoroughly searched clean by Mother Qiao.
There wasn’t a single spot that could escape her mother’s eyes. There was nowhere to hide money.
After thinking for a moment, she realized the most dangerous place was the safest place. She knew every corner of the Qiao household like the back of her hand. The safest place to keep the money was still in Mother Qiao’s room.
There was a hidden box in Mother Qiao’s room that she rarely opened. Qiao Wanyue had seen it once while cleaning. She could temporarily store the money there and go to the county tomorrow to deposit it.
After making up her mind, Qiao Wanyue took out a cloth pouch. She had sewn it from Qiao Shanshan’s discarded clothes. It was rectangular and could be tied around the waist. She fastened it around her waist and covered it with her outer garment.
In the kitchen, after all the banging, Qiao Wanyue still didn’t come out.
Qiao Shanshan’s scolding voice could be heard.
Every time it was her turn to cook, Qiao Shanshan would make such a racket. Qiao Wanyue would feel sorry for her younger sister and take over her share of the work.
Over time, Qiao Shanshan became used to her sacrifices, and the rest of the Qiao family took it for granted that all the cooking, laundry, and housework belonged to her.
Qiao Wanyue pretended not to hear anything. She stuffed cotton into her ears, lay on the bed, and began planning what to do next.
Qiao Shanshan and Yang Huaiyuan had already registered their marriage. For the sake of Qiao Shanshan’s reputation, Mother Qiao would certainly claim to outsiders that Qiao Wanyue had coveted her sister’s husband and seduced Lu Yunzhou into registering first, forcing Qiao Shanshan to marry Yang Huaiyuan.
The Qiao family would also protect Qiao Shanshan’s reputation.
There was still a tough battle ahead.
She didn’t care about Lu Yunzhou’s reputation, but with two years remaining until the 1977 college entrance exam, she had no introduction letter and no job. She would have to live in the village until she could attend college. Her reputation could not be ruined.
Qiao Wanyue still intended to take the exam. In her previous life, she had been illiterate, having only attended three years of primary school before Mother Qiao made her drop out, citing the family’s poverty. Yet ironically, Qiao Shanshan and her two brothers all graduated from high school.
The eldest brother had even gone to university.
In her previous life, she had been mocked by the Yang family for being uneducated for an entire lifetime. Yang Huaiyuan often used her illiteracy as an excuse to insult her.
A stubborn determination flashed in her eyes.
In this life, she would definitely get into college.
There were still two years before the exam. She had learned that in the first year, the college entrance exam had no restrictions on identity or education—anyone could participate. In her previous life, she had read books whenever she had time. Even though she never officially took the exam, if she failed in one year, she would take it again the next.
She would succeed eventually.
When she opened her eyes again, they were clear and bright.
In this life, she would live well.
She would live with effort.
“Time to eat.”
The door was pounded loudly.
Qiao Wanyue suddenly opened her eyes, a clear light shining within them.
She reached down to touch the pouch at her waist, a faint smile curling at her lips. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and opened the door that was nearly being smashed apart. As the door opened, she stepped aside, and Mother Qiao stumbled into the room, nearly colliding with a standing hoe.
“Qiao Wanyue, you—”
Qiao Wanyue pretended to be startled. “Mom, why is it you? The door was almost broken from all that knocking. Is the house on fire?”
Mother Qiao choked on her words.
Your house is on fire.
She took a deep breath and steadied herself. “What were you hiding in your room for? I called you so many times and you didn’t hear.”
Qiao Wanyue wiped at nonexistent tears. “Mom, my chest hurt. I fell asleep for a while.”
Mother Qiao, who had been about to curse: ……
“A lazy person always has excuses… spoiled brat. Come eat.”
Mother Qiao’s eyes darted around the room.
Qiao Wanyue ignored her and walked out on her own. In the yard, she fetched water with a wooden basin, washed her hands, and went into the main hall. Qiao Shanshan and Yang Huaiyuan glared at her with dissatisfaction.
“Sis, why are you only coming now?” Qiao Shanshan complained.
She deliberately revealed the blisters on her hands from hot oil splashes. Several large bubbles had formed on her fair fingers, her teary eyes making her look pitiful.
Qiao Wanyue didn’t even spare her a glance. She picked up a bowl. Lunch in the Qiao family consisted of three dishes and a soup—stir-fried pork with chili, stir-fried cabbage, scrambled eggs, and egg drop soup.
She picked up her chopsticks and began transferring meat and eggs into her own bowl.
In the past, she never had a share of the eggs or meat. According to Mother Qiao, Qiao Shanshan was young, and Father Qiao was the main laborer. Since she didn’t do much work, she should eat less and not compete with her younger sister for meat.
But in reality, she was the one who worked the most in the household.
After graduating, Qiao Shanshan stayed at home doing nothing. Qiao Wanyue not only worked for work points outside but also handled all the cooking, laundry, and cleaning at home. If meals weren’t prepared on time, she would be met with Mother Qiao’s harsh scolding.
“Qiao Wanyue, can’t you see Shanshan’s hands are covered in blisters?” Yang Huaiyuan spoke up for her.
Qiao Wanyue had already piled most of the meat and eggs into her own bowl, ignoring the gloomy expressions of the other three. “So what? They’re not my hands.”
Bang!
Father Qiao slammed the table hard.
Qiao Wanyue sneered, completely unfazed, and continued eating. After swallowing, she said, “Cooking and laundry are women’s duties. If Qiao Shanshan is this delicate, what will she do after marrying into the Yang family? If she can’t even cook, won’t she be beaten by her in-laws three times a day?”
“They’re just a few blisters. What’s there to be afraid of? If she can’t even endure this, how will she give birth in the future? What kind of woman is that?”
The words sounded familiar.
They used to be what Mother Qiao said to Qiao Wanyue.
Father Qiao frowned.
What was different about this girl?
Qiao Shanshan twisted her fingers together.
Had Qiao Wanyue also been reborn?
Soon, she dismissed the thought.
How could she possibly have been reborn? It must just be resentment over having Yang Huaiyuan taken from her that caused such a drastic change.
Thinking this, a faint smile curved on her lips.