Huff… huff…
Wang Guifen’s chest heaved violently, sweat forming on her furrowed forehead.
She sat on a chair in front of the earthen house, gasping for air, then frantically raised her hand to touch her chest.
“No blood… no wounds?”
Could it be… she had been given a second chance at life?
Wang Guifen’s eyes scanned the courtyard.
On the line hung washed, faded blue jackets; worm-eaten wooden door frames had mugwort tucked in them; on the window sill sat her familiar enamel jar with a chipped mouth…
“Guifen.”
A voice suddenly came from behind the courtyard wall. Then a head peeked over the wall.
Wang Guifen recognized her—Aunt Zhang from next door.
Aunt Zhang’s arms, clad in blue sleeves, rested on the low wall.
“My Xu Dong loves eggs. We don’t raise many chickens at home. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and the supply cooperative got a new batch of eggs. I have coupons to get more. Are you going to exchange some too? I remember your family doesn’t have chickens either.”
Eggs from the supply cooperative weren’t always available; they had fixed exchange times. Today normally wouldn’t have eggs, but since it was the Dragon Boat Festival, the cooperative added a special batch.
“The Dragon Boat Festival? The supply cooperative has new eggs?”
Wang Guifen, still dazed, repeated the words. Something about them felt familiar, hauntingly so, as if it had already happened.
She remembered.
Last time, her daughter-in-law—the wealthy young lady—had drowned on the Dragon Boat Festival.
Aunt Zhang had asked the same question then, and Wang Guifen had agreed to go exchange eggs with her.
That day, she returned with a full basket of eggs, only to find her daughter-in-law’s lifeless body…
“Yiyi!” Wang Guifen shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.
She scrambled to her feet, grabbed the pole standing by the door, and in her haste knocked an enamel jar off the windowsill, shattering it into two pieces.
Not even glancing at the broken jar, she stormed out with the pole in hand.
Aunt Zhang, still leaning on the wall, thought Wang Guifen was coming to attack her, and quickly ducked behind the willow tree. But Wang Guifen was heading straight toward the Tanghe River.
“Guifen, are you going?” Aunt Zhang called, peeking out again.
Wang Guifen didn’t even turn. Aunt Zhang frowned, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Why is she in such a rush?”
Then a chilling thought struck her. Could she be going after her daughter-in-law?
Everyone in the village knew that Wang’s son, Zhijun, was a soldier who had married a wealthy girl.
In this day and age, marrying into a big family wasn’t easy.
The girl was beautiful, with fair skin and a fine figure—but she could do nothing.
In a rural household, a useless daughter-in-law was a nightmare.
Zhijun married her and left for the army the next day, leaving Wang Guifen alone to handle everything.
Her daughter-in-law could carry nothing, lift nothing, do nothing—Wang Guifen had to manage it all.
She had never been particularly fond of this daughter-in-law. Though they had never quarreled, they spoke little, and the villagers all said Wang Guifen disliked her.
Hesitant, Aunt Zhang went back into her courtyard. Better let the man of the house see what’s going on before someone gets seriously hurt.
…
Meanwhile, Wang Guifen ran, carrying the pole, gasping for air, sweat pouring down her face.
“Heavens above… if you’ve really allowed me to live again, please… don’t let my poor daughter-in-law or my unborn grandchildren die at the hands of that villain!” Wang Guifen whispered fiercely, wiping her reddened eyes.
In her previous life, after her daughter-in-law’s death, the village beauty Zhang Qian had insisted she liked Zhijun and didn’t mind remarrying, so she had followed him.
On the way with the military, they encountered a spy with a weapon, and Zhang Qian had pushed her out of the way.
After death, Wang Guifen’s spirit had lingered, learning that her daughter-in-law, Su Yi, had been drowned in the river by someone surnamed Zhang, still three months pregnant with twins.
Zhang had manipulated events on both sides to separate mother and daughter-in-law, simply because she wanted to become Zhijun’s wife.
After Wang Guifen’s death, Zhang Qian had succeeded, tricking her son into marrying her.
In rage, Wang Guifen had tried with all her might to headbutt Zhang Qian, who was holding her son—but it had been useless. She had wept bitterly, cursing the heavens at the injustice done to her daughter-in-law.
And now—she had returned to the day of her daughter-in-law’s murder.
This time, she would not allow three lives to be lost and Zhang Qian’s schemes to succeed.
Wiping the sweat from her face, Wang Guifen quickened her pace.
Turning a corner, she saw them.
Her daughter-in-law was sitting on a stone, washing clothes.
Zhang Qian was nearby, also washing, smiling as if saying something.
Su Yi frowned, clearly displeased.
Wang Guifen steadied herself against the wall, catching her breath.
Her chest heaved, and the taste of rust filled her mouth from running so hard.
She gripped the pole tightly, eyes fixed on Zhang Qian, and drew in a deep breath.
Zhang Qian glanced around. Seeing no one, she set down the wet clothes and slowly stood up, circling behind Su Yi with malicious intent.
Why? Zhijun had grown up with her.
She had liked him first.
He was a tank driver, had ration coupons, and with promotion ahead, marriage to him meant wealth and comfort. A perfect match—yet it had been hijacked by Su Yi, that vase of a girl.
Her good life was ruined, and she couldn’t tolerate it.
Since Zhijun hadn’t taken her to the army, she had to be ruthless. Blame Zhijun for not seeing her, and blame Su Yi for stealing her intended husband.
Gritting her teeth, she reached out toward the person ahead, eyes wild, a crazed smile on her face.
Hearing the sound, Su Yi spun around in alarm.
Zhang Qian’s face was fierce; she pushed with all her strength.
Splash!
The person on the bank fell into the Tanghe River.
The Tanghe River supplied water for the entire brigade.
Though it was a river, it was very deep. Even the best swimmers in the brigade dared not enter lightly. Rumors of man-eating creatures kept people away.
Except for necessary tasks like washing clothes, few ever came here.
If someone fell in, rescue was unlikely; they might not even leave a bone behind.
Flail, flail!
The person in the river began thrashing violently.