When Xia Li opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of an antique canopy bed, a vermilion small table and chest, and beautifully carved window lattices.
She felt somewhat disoriented. She remembered undergoing craniotomy surgery after a car accident, then staying in the intensive care unit. During brief moments of consciousness, she had overheard medical staff discussing her severe injuries – not only intracranial bleeding but also broken arms and legs… Another wave of drowsiness washed over her, plunging her into deep slumber within moments.
When Xia Li regained consciousness again, another set of memories flooded her mind. She was now a girl who had just turned twelve, also named Xia Li. This was Dawa Village in the Great Harmony Dynasty, during the twelfth year of Manifest Joy.
This Xia Li had been pushed into a river. Though quickly rescued, she caught a severe cold and had been unconscious for several days. When she woke up, her soul had been replaced.
Xia Li recalled her previous circumstances: she had been morning jogging with her dog named Xiao Shuai when a speeding car hit them. First Xiao Shuai went flying, then her…
Despite the craniotomy surgery, she had died, only to transmigrate after death.
This truly felt like fate! First her mother, then her father, followed by Ye Feng, and now her – all dying young.
Come to think of it, Xiao Shuai who was hit alongside her must have died too.
In her previous life, she had felt like a lonely little boat drifting endlessly across the vast ocean. Never did she imagine she would drift across the tunnel of time to ancient times, and to a dynasty she had never heard of in her previous life…
Xia Li quickly accepted this reality. What’s done is done – refusing to accept it wouldn’t change anything. Besides, she hadn’t held much attachment to her previous life. The successive losses of her loved ones had left her in unbearable pain, forcing her to fill the boundless loneliness with frantic work and activities.
In this life, she only had a mother. Though it was just an orphaned girl and her widowed mother, at least she had a relative for company.
Moreover, their family circumstances were quite comfortable – no worries about food or clothing, living in a large tiled house, with her mother Mrs. Xia doting on her immensely.
Xia Li’s gaze drifted toward the small window. The half-open window allowed her to see half the courtyard even from her bed.
Dazzling sunlight, blue-brick tiled houses, the willow tree in the courtyard showing fresh green buds.
Beyond the rooftops, the distant mountains were lush and green, dotted with clusters of red – those were blazing azalea flowers.
It was already mid-March, with mountain flowers in full bloom, birds singing and flowers fragrant. The spring breeze carried the courtyard’s fresh scents and warmth through the window, making her feel utterly comfortable.
The corners of her mouth twitched. With this new life, she shouldn’t have to suffer as bitterly as in her previous life…
The hushed whispers from the main room suddenly grew louder. “…Why won’t you listen to reason? I’ve been advising you for so long, yet you remain stubborn.”
This was Xia Li’s grandmother, Old Mrs. Yang (Old Mrs. Xia).
A gentle voice responded, “Mother, please keep your voice down. Don’t wake Li Li.”
This was Xia Li’s mother, Mrs. Xia.
Old Mrs. Yang continued patiently, “Lan Niang, you’re my own daughter. Would I ever harm you? Just adopt San Bao – once you have a son, those people will give up their schemes. This time, we were fortunate that Shanzi happened to return home and rescued your daughter, otherwise she would have lost her life.”
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xia fell silent. If anything serious had happened to Li Li, what would be the point of her own living?
Their family’s standard of living was considered landlord-class in the countryside. Mrs. Xia lived alone with her daughter, using her savings to build a large tiled house with a well dug in the courtyard, and even purchased firewood. Though they owned no farmland, Mrs. Xia was skilled with her hands, working day and night on embroidery to earn seven to eight hundred copper coins monthly. After covering daily expenses for mother and daughter, there was still a small surplus. Consequently, many widowers and old bachelors had their eyes on her.
Mrs. Xia had long found inner peace and never intended to remarry. Thus, she rejected all marriage proposals, insisting she only wished to live quietly with her daughter.
Xia Li’s near-drowning occurred because Li Darang, a widower from a neighboring village, held a grudge against her after his marriage proposal was refused. That day, seeing Xia Li passing by the river and noticing no one else around, he rushed over and pushed her into the water. He believed that with Xia Li dead, Mrs. Xia would peacefully remarry.
Unexpectedly, Xia Shan, Mrs. Xia’s younger brother who was returning from military service, witnessed the incident. He quickly jumped into the river and rescued Xia Li.
Xia Li still caught a severe cold and nearly died. Upon realizing her polite refusals had endangered her daughter, Mrs. Xia was overwhelmed with guilt, weeping inconsolably by her bedside.
Mrs. Xia had three formidable brothers—one a butcher, one a blacksmith, and one a soldier—all tall, strong, and fearless. Armed with a butcher knife, a large hammer, and a broadsword respectively, they stormed into the Li family, beat Li Darang half to death, and demanded eight hundred copper coins for medical expenses.
Xia Li was also aware that many coveted their family’s situation: some wanted to marry Mrs. Xia, others sought to adopt a child, and some even aspired to become Xia Li’s live-in son-in-law.
Despite the numerous suitors eyeing Mrs. Xia and her daughter, Mrs. Xia’s three brothers’ ferocity deterred any overt aggression. However, those with designs on their family—whether outsiders or relatives—never ceased.
The “Xia San Bao” mentioned by Old Mrs. Xia was her third grandson.
Seeing her daughter fall silent, Old Mrs. Xia added, “Surely you don’t mean to follow your father’s advice and find a live-in son-in-law for Xia Li? If you must take one in, choose Da Xiong. Better to benefit our own family than strangers.”
Xia Da Xiong was Old Mrs. Xia’s eldest grandson, and both he and Xia San Bao were sons of Mrs. Xia’s elder brother, Xia Tie.
Mrs. Xia grew displeased; schemes targeting her daughter angered her even more than those aimed at herself. Her voice rose involuntarily, “What are you saying, Mother? Da Xiong is only nine, a full three years younger than Li Li. How could that work? Hmph, any man willing to be a live-in son-in-law is just a good-for-nothing looking for an easy life. Li Li is so beautiful and literate—I won’t let her waste her life with a worthless man.”
Old Mrs. Xia was furious. “This won’t do, that won’t do—then what do you propose? We can’t let those people scheme against your family day and night. Not only will it ruin your and Li’s reputations, but Li might be harmed again someday, and even your property could be stolen.”
The thought of such a fine house and well being taken by unrelated men to enjoy made Old Mrs. Xia’s heart bleed.
Mrs. Xia did not manage the household assets or anything of the sort, fearing her daughter might be harmed again. After some thought, she finally relented and said, “Mother, please give me more time to think about adopting a son. However, even if I do adopt one, it won’t be Da Xiong or San Bao. You know Second Sister-in-Law’s temperament better than I do.”
Mrs. Xia understood all too well that bringing Da Xiong or San Bao into the household would be like inviting a wolf into the home. The entire family estate would be schemed away by Little Mrs. Yang. Not only would Li Li end up with nothing, but she herself would be worked like a beast of burden.