The original host had followed her family to the afterlife.
Down below, she could reunite with both her adoptive parents and her biological parents.
In a way, this could be considered a reunion of another kind.
From now on, she would take over and live the remaining days.
Thinking about it, Liang Qiaoqiao had experienced thin familial bonds in both her lifetimes.
Before crossing over, she was born into a 21st-century family with severe son-preference ideology.
Her parents saw her as a tool to support the family and her younger brother, never caring about her life or death.
After crossing over, fate was even crueler—it didn’t leave her with a single relative.
On the family household register, she was the only one left alive.
However, having had her heart broken by so-called family in one lifetime, Liang Qiaoqiao didn’t really care.
Perhaps without the burden of relatives, she could live even better?
Persuaded and accompanied by the villagers, Liang Qiaoqiao finally bowed deeply several times toward the fresh graves on the mountainside before slowly following the crowd back to the village.
In these times, not having enough to eat or wear was normal.
The entire village knew about Chen Laoda’s family’s dire situation, and many other families in the village were in similar circumstances.
After the funeral, the understanding villagers of Wutong Village didn’t expect to stay for the post-funeral meal.
Since the villagers weren’t eating, the three military comrades who strictly adhered to army discipline of “not taking a single needle or thread from the masses” certainly wouldn’t either.
After changing out of their mourning clothes, Mu Yang prepared to leave with his two subordinates.
Before departing, he left Liang Qiaoqiao with two messages: “Comrade Liang Qiaoqiao, please accept my condolences. I heard you’ve signed up for this year’s college entrance exams. I wish you the best results. Don’t worry about review materials—I’ll have someone deliver them to your home by tomorrow at the latest.”
Liang Qiaoqiao looked up blankly at Battalion Commander Mu’s strikingly handsome face, which shone as brightly as the scorching sun, momentarily mesmerized.
She never expected this battalion commander to be so thoughtful.
He had even considered her need for college entrance exam review materials—what an enormous and unexpected surprise.
Liang Qiaoqiao immediately expressed her sincere gratitude: “Thank you, Battalion Commander Mu, thank you, comrades! I’ll study hard and strive not to disappoint everyone’s expectations!”
Staying in this remote mountain village forever was never her wish.
Since the college entrance exam was the original host’s aspiration and her only way to change her current situation, she was determined to give it her all.
With the military’s help in providing review materials, her chances of success were even greater.
At three in the afternoon, Liang Qiaoqiao and Old Village Chief saw Battalion Commander Mu and his two companions out of the village.
Standing at the village entrance watching the jeep disappear into the distance, Liang Qiaoqiao learned from Old Village Chief that Chen Laoer’s family, who had been detained in the village ancestral temple, had already been taken away by county public security officers.
“The three military comrades reported them to public security. Battalion Commander Mu personally took people to the ancestral temple…” Old Village Chief lowered his voice as he explained the whole story to Liang Qiaoqiao.
It turned out that after Mu Yang sensed something amiss about Chen Laoda’s family affairs, he immediately took his two subordinates to separately question villagers.
The events were still fresh, and none of the villagers had considered covering for Chen Laoer’s family.
Mu Yang’s group quickly uncovered Chen Laoer’s family’s heinous actions without much effort.
They had stormed Chen Laoda’s home to seize the survivor benefits and family property, driven Chen Pozi to her death, and then injured Liang Qiaoqiao in the ancestral hall.
When Mu Yang heard this, how could he let it stand?
Such a greedy and ruthless family, utterly devoid of familial affection.
How could they still call themselves human? Their nephew, a martyr who sacrificed his life for the country, was barely cold in his grave, and instead of helping his surviving relatives, his uncles were plotting to seize his property and harm his kin!
After learning the truth, the three soldiers grew even more concerned about Liang Qiaoqiao.
This helpless young girl, with no one to rely on, would surely suffer further abuse at the hands of that family.
Mu Yang made an immediate decision to protect the family of his fallen comrade.
Comrade Chen Ziming had given his life for the nation, leaving behind only this one adopted sister.
As comrades-in-arms and supporters of martyr’s families, their military unit had both the responsibility and duty to care for Comrade Liang Qiaoqiao.
Thus, Mu Yang promptly called the county authorities to request assistance.
He insisted on seeking justice for the hero’s family, demanding that the police thoroughly investigate and severely punish these villains.
Liang Qiaoqiao: “…” Well done!
Though she heard the good news a step later, she was still overjoyed.
In her relief, she couldn’t help but secretly sigh with relief.
The Chen Laoer family was truly vicious and despicable.
If she had the capability, she would have sought revenge for the original host and her mother-in-law right at the ancestral hall when she first transmigrated.
Having endured humiliation to survive, she never expected the military to step in and support her.
Heaven has eyes!
Although Liang Qiaoqiao might not stay in Wutong Village permanently in the future, she would certainly reside there for the short term.
If the Chen Laoer family continued to cause trouble in the village, she, alone and powerless, would inevitably face their harassment.
Now, fortunately, all six adults of that family had been arrested.
As for the remaining children, the Old Village Chief had declared that the villagers would keep an eye on them to prevent any further trouble.
With this assurance, Liang Qiaoqiao felt at ease.
No one would come to seize her house or food anymore, allowing her to fully focus on preparing for the college entrance exams.
No matter what, she was determined to get into a school and go to university!
After parting ways with the Old Village Chief at the village entrance, Liang Qiaoqiao headed straight back to Chen Laoda’s small courtyard at the village’s edge.
After the earlier commotion, the dilapidated farmhouse had returned to tranquility.
The villagers of Wutong Village were considerate and diligent.
In a short time, they had already helped her clean up both the inside and outside of the house.
Liang Qiaoqiao peeked into the kitchen.
Sure enough, the items stolen by the Chen Laoer family had been retrieved by the villagers and returned to their proper places.
However, the Chen Laoda household had never had much food to begin with.
The days ahead were likely to be difficult for her.
The threat of starvation was imminent.
Liang Qiaoqiao shivered with dread.
It was 1977, just after the ten-year turmoil, with lingering repercussions.
At this time, the rural areas had not yet implemented the household responsibility system, and villages still followed the commune’s work-point system.
But given the frailty of her current body, was it even possible to live comfortably on those meager work points?
Forget the distant future—just surviving the coming winter would be a challenge.
The little remaining food in Chen Laoda’s house wouldn’t be enough to sustain her alone.
If she starved to death, there would be no one left in the family.
Liang Qiaoqiao finally understood why Chen Laoda’s wife had urged the original host to leave this place before she died.
The family was dirt-poor, and the Chen Laoer family was lurking like tigers eyeing their prey.
How could the original host, fragile and alone, possibly survive?
However, the 1970s were ultimately not as convenient for travel as later times.
In these days, without legitimate reasons, not only was it difficult to go out, but even finding a way to make a living elsewhere was challenging.
Liang Qiaoqiao sighed softly, quietly retreated from the kitchen, and returned to her room to take stock of her current assets.
Since she was already here, no matter what, she had to find a way to survive, right?