Late February 1967, the cold wind carried snowflakes.
A little girl with two braids lay on a rickety wooden bed, her brows furrowed as if crying in despair.
The dilapidated house, rotten wooden planks, three-legged stool, and dim lighting were all starkly out of place in this magnificent building.
Who would have thought this girl was the biological niece of the Steel Factory director?
“Haha… Mom, look at the lipstick I just bought. Isn’t it pretty?”
“You’re wasting money again. Can your father’s salary cover all your expenses?”
Zhou Ye slowly woke up! Perhaps awakened by the noise, or perhaps rescued from that nightmare by the voices!
The sounds from above – playful, harmonious – mocked Zhou Ye’s current predicament!
This is…?
Zhou Ye looked at the shabby calendar. Was this 1967?
But just moments ago, her uncle’s family had torn her child from her arms, forcing her to watch as it was cooked, forced to watch… as it was fed to dogs!
Her uncle had said: “You should have followed your parents to hell. The only reason you’re alive is because you’re still useful!”
Her aunt had said: “Such a pretty face, but rotten to the core. You deserve this ending!”
How could her uncle’s family hate her so much?
Her childhood memories were fuzzy, but she should have grown up happily. Instead, her grandparents and parents were convicted of damaging state property and sentenced to reform through labor in the countryside.
Yet her uncle’s family had unexpectedly escaped involvement!
In Zhou Ye’s memory, her uncle’s family never liked her, yet for some reason they adopted her and wrote a disownment certificate on her behalf. Being just a ten-year-old child, the authorities didn’t press the matter too harshly.
Though bullied by her cousins, teased by her “brother,” Zhou Ye never complained, grateful for her uncle’s family’s “kindness.”
Even eating coarse food and living in a damp basement, she never felt the slightest dissatisfaction.
She ingratiatingly gave her mother’s jade pendant to her “sister,” unaware she was giving away a Storage Space.
Even after learning the truth, she never thought to reclaim it.
She endured hardships, diligently studied medicine, giving her uncle massages and Acupuncture that cured his headaches.
She worked diligently on household chores, allowing her aunt to focus on work without domestic worries.
She taught herself tailoring, making fashionable clothes for her “sisters.”
In her uncle’s household, she was a doctor, a nanny, a servant, a tailor…
Everything but herself.
Yet, to advance his career, her uncle married her off to his superior’s mentally disabled son. When that superior fell from power and her uncle got promoted, Zhou Ye, with nowhere else to go, returned to her uncle’s house, only to meet such a brutal death!
Before dying, her uncle said: “You know, Zhou Ye, all this should have been your parents’. What a pity… they didn’t know which way the wind was blowing.”
Her aunt said: “You know? Your parents left you 100,000 yuan. Our comfortable life owes much to you!”
Haha…
Her “brother” said: “You know? That child wasn’t the fool’s. Guess whose it was?”
Her “sister” said: “You know? The jade pendant you gave me was a Storage Space – a miraculous treasure!”
“As for marrying that fool, that was my idea. After all, only when you’re completely destitute can I feel at ease!”
Her “younger sister” said: “You know? That day you rushed into that den of hoodlums to save me, but when you came out, the door was locked. I listened to your screams for a long time!”
“That door… I was the one who locked it!”
Thud, thud after thud…
Zhou Ye’s pupils contracted slightly, instantly restoring calm in her eyes as if burying the hatred deep within her heart!
Sorry, but I, Zhou Ye, have returned to life!
At just fifteen years old now, the jade pendant hasn’t been given away yet, and many things haven’t happened! What rightfully belongs to me, I will reclaim every last bit!
Those who deserve retribution—none of you will escape!
She clenched her fists tightly, teeth grinding with such force that every nerve and inch of skin seemed to transform into sharp blades, piercing through that facade of calm!
The night had deepened…
Zhou Ye took out the jade pendant from around her neck and decisively sliced her palm with a fruit knife, seemingly oblivious to any pain!
Blood… drip by drip…
Until dizziness overwhelmed her, Zhou Ye opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar environment!
So this is the Storage Space?
Upon entering the space, she instantly understood everything about it through her mind. She walked straight to the Medicine Hut, where rows of pills and medicinal powders awaited. Zhou Ye smiled…
In her previous life, her uncle had mentioned that her grandparents died in December, and her parents would pass away next year.
Her brother died seeking revenge!
There was still time to change everything!
Zhou Ye took out the Silver Needles, selected a bottle of medicinal powder, and began working busily. Tomorrow, she would continue giving her uncle Acupuncture—how eagerly she anticipated it…
By 5 a.m. the next day, Zhou Ye had woken up out of habit.
The living room was still dark. She walked straight to the kitchen and turned on the light. What should she make today?
Zhou Ye smiled faintly…
At 7 a.m., her uncle sat on the sofa frowning: “Zhou Ye, come massage my head—it’s killing me!”
Obediently wiping her hands, Zhou Ye went over to massage him.
“Feeling better, Uncle? Shall I give you another Acupuncture session? Master Shao says my Acupuncture skills have surpassed his!”
Zhou Yuanyao grunted in acknowledgment.
Zhou Ye picked up the Silver Needles and carefully inserted them into the Acupoints.
Zhou Yuanyao let out a comfortable sigh—the pain had vanished completely in an instant!
“Not bad. Go shopping with your sister later and buy some new clothes.”
Zhou Ye declined shyly: “Uncle, I don’t need any! Life is already good enough. Sister is pretty—let her have new clothes.”
“Dad, I don’t want to go shopping with her! Just look at her—how embarrassing!” Her sister Zhou Zijiao said disdainfully.
Indeed, Zhou Ye glanced at her own attire. Despite being the biological niece of the Steel Factory director, she dressed extremely plainly!
Gray pants, faded white at the knees, still in a style from years ago.
The purple padded jacket had sleeves shortened by half, looking particularly absurd.
Zhou Yuanyao stood up and looked at Zhou Ye as if noticing her awkward situation for the first time: “Wearing those clothes outside makes it seem like I’m mistreating you. Go with your sister today and buy some decent clothes. Understood?”
Zhou Ye lowered her head in agreement, calm yet meek!
Though disgusted, Zhou Zijiao seemed to think of something and held back from complaining further.
Just then, her aunt Yu Wen finished washing up and came out, saying softly: “Your uncle is right! Though you’re used to being frugal, we can’t have people gossiping about your uncle!”
“Yes, I’ll listen to Auntie!”
The family sat at the dining table, surprised by the unusually lavish breakfast.
“Zhou Ye, who taught you this? The food is quite good!”
In her previous life, at this age, Zhou Ye could only cook simple meals—Pan-Fried Buns and Lotus Leaf Pancake with Egg were beyond her skills!
But…
Times have changed.
Zhou Ye said quietly, “Yesterday I read a magazine at the bookstore and tried making this dish. I’m not sure if it tastes good!”
Yu Wen laughed and said, “Zhou Ye is such an obedient child!”
Yu Zijiao chuckled, “Hehe… little sister is just like a nanny. You’ll have to serve your masters well in the future!”
At home, some remarks were inappropriate, yet no one intervened.
Zhou Ye showed no trace of temper, seemingly oblivious to everyone’s mocking expressions, and calmly said, “Uncle, Aunt, brothers, sisters, please eat quickly.”
Otherwise… you might miss out…
What a pity…
Just as everyone had taken a portion and found it delicious, wanting more, Uncle Zhou Yuanyao suddenly stood up and took off his pants…