Xia Li felt that rather than saying this body had good eyesight, it was more accurate to say it had high visual resolution.
She got up and went to the window to look outside. She could clearly see the shapes of distant leaves. The night breeze rustled the branches, occasionally revealing glimpses of earthy yellow through the gaps – that should be a bird’s nest, right?
She could even clearly see the trees and flowers on the distant mountains. Occasionally, she noticed dense foliage or flowers suddenly shaking, with flashes of gray visible through the gaps. She guessed it might be wolves, or perhaps wild rabbits…
Xia Li considered herself quite fortunate. Unlike some transmigrated women who immediately faced hunger and cold in a new world and had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting their families and younger siblings, she wasn’t in such dire straits.
However, this “Far-sight ability” she possessed seemed rather useless – it wasn’t a spatial power or a spiritual spring, and offered little help in making a fortune. While it might allow her to peek into others’ secrets, as a village girl she wouldn’t dare attempt blackmail. Moreover, without access to modern cameras from her previous life, she couldn’t preserve evidence, and people wouldn’t admit to anything anyway.
Useless as it was, having something was better than having nothing.
Xia Li’s vision returned to normal as she lay back on the bed, Xiao Shuai’s image appearing in her mind again. She was certain that when it rushed in front of her, it was definitely trying to shield her from danger. But how could its small body block a speeding car? It was sent flying, and she couldn’t escape being hit either. They died under the same wheels – could it have transmigrated like she did? She missed it intensely. During those seven years after Ye Feng’s sacrifice, it had accompanied her like family. When it saw its owner in danger, it didn’t hesitate to sacrifice itself to protect her…
That night, Xia Li seemed to return to her previous life. She was still in her fourth year of university, performing a duet with a male classmate during the school’s 70th anniversary celebration. She had specifically invited Ye Feng to watch because that song was meant for him. She was about to graduate – it wouldn’t be considered puppy love anymore, and she wanted him to know how she felt.
They sang “A Night of Blossoms and Moonlight”:
The spring breeze blows and blows, into my heart it goes. My longing heart for you, thumps wildly keeping me awake. Why is it that you, don’t understand the flower’s intention Can only gaze at the bright moon outside the window…
On this night of blossoms and moonlight, two hearts in love find delight On this night of blossoms and moonlight, lovers pair up side by side I say to you, you, who else in this world Could play in water with you like mandarin ducks, flying together wing to wing …
While singing, she deliberately changed “spring breeze” to “night breeze” – subtle enough that only careful listeners would notice, though it startled her duet partner. She also didn’t maintain the rehearsed loving eye contact with her male partner, instead constantly looking toward where Ye Feng was sitting.
As soon as they returned backstage after the performance, the male student exploded at her: “Xia Li, you shouldn’t be having your lovesick fantasies on stage, dragging me along to lose face. You looking at him while I look at you – I looked like a complete fool!”
Xia Li quickly explained, “Don’t be angry, I was just too nervous, that’s why I sang the wrong lyrics and forgot to look at you.”
The male student shouted again, “Ye Feng is young and promising, hailed as a super sleuth, he’s the idol of our entire school, and he was your father’s apprentice. We all know he’s been looking after you on your father’s behalf – who are you trying to fool…”
Knowing she was in the wrong, Xia Li didn’t argue further and went to find Ye Feng in the audience.
…Towards the end of the Chen hour the next day, Mrs. Xia in the main room noticed the corn porridge and eggs on the table were nearly cold. Raising her voice, she called, “Li Li, get up and eat. You can rest again after your meal.”
Xia Li was awakened, momentarily disoriented by the room’s furnishings. Steadying herself, she remembered she had traveled through time—this world held no trace of Ye Feng. She was now a twelve-year-old girl with a mother who relied on her for companionship.
She thought again of that dream. Seven years had passed before her death, and now two lifetimes separated her from it, yet it felt as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. That day had been the last time she saw Ye Feng.
Since heaven had granted her another life, along with memories of her previous existence, she would live well here. She would keep her former parents, lover, and marshal in her heart, letting them “reborn” with her in this world.
Wiping the lingering tears from the corner of her eye, she replied, “Oh, coming.” As she spoke, the corners of her lips curved slightly.
During the meal, Mrs. Xia sat opposite her, gazing at her with tender affection.
Xia Li gave Mrs. Xia a sweet smile. If her mother from her previous life had lived, she would surely have looked at her the same way. Unfortunately, her knowledge of that mother came only from photographs.
Today, Xia Li felt much more energetic. She took a slow stroll in the courtyard and collected three eggs from the chicken coop.
As she exercised, she contemplated how to use her wisdom and hands to earn more money. She wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a small landowner while freeing Mrs. Xia from the burdensome embroidery work. Aside from essential chores, Mrs. Xia embroidered from morning until the end of the Hai hour every night, and her eyes had already deteriorated significantly.
She also thought that once they had money, they should buy more farmland. They wouldn’t farm it themselves but would rent it out to others. In ancient times, agriculture was the foundation; only by owning land could one feel secure about the future. For example, her grandfather, Old Man Xia, had lost his livelihood the moment he could no longer hunt.
Additionally, they should purchase a shop—real estate was profitable in any era.
She knew Mrs. Xia still had over sixty taels of silver but dared not use it to buy land for fear of attracting envy. Their family only owned one large tile-roofed house with a well, yet many already had designs on it. If they acquired land, even more people would covet what they had.
In ancient times, a mother and daughter alone faced far greater hardships and were more susceptible to predation than a widow and her children.
She had to find a way to become strong! Only by becoming powerful could she protect herself and Mrs. Xia, and live the life she desired.
Lost in thought, time flew by. Before she knew it, it was late afternoon, and a boy of about thirteen or fourteen arrived at their home. The boy was short, dark, and thin, with a simple and honest appearance. It was Wang Erniu, who gathered firewood for their family. Wang Erniu delivered two large bundles of firewood every six days in exchange for six copper coins.
“Brother Erniu,” Xia Li greeted him with a smile.
Wang Erniu smiled in response and placed the firewood in the yard. He would split the thick pieces into slender strips with an axe and break the long ones before storing them in the woodshed.
After tidying the firewood, he proactively took the buckets to fetch water from outside to irrigate the vegetable garden, and Mrs. Xia couldn’t stop him even when she tried.
Wang Erniu was Huang Guafu’s second son. Both mother and son felt that earning thirty coins a month with ease was quite good, so they often helped Mrs. Xia with chores. Wang Erniu would eagerly volunteer to water the vegetable patch, while Huang Guafu would assist Mrs. Wang with heavy labor. Mrs. Xia felt indebted and occasionally sent food or scraps of fabric usable for patches to Huang Guafu’s household.
Thus, the relationship between the two families was very good. When the three Xia brothers went to settle scores with Li Darang earlier, Wang Daniu and Wang Erniu had also joined them.
Before dinner, Xiao Huzi came again and relayed Old Man Xia’s invitation for them to return to the Xia residence for a meal the next day. He casually stayed for dinner and gossipingly recounted the conversation between Little Mrs. Yang and Xia Sanbao.
The little boy was articulate and imitated the exchange vividly.