Yang Lizheng and Li accompanied Guan Xiyue, comforting her along the way. They didn’t reveal that she had already been dismissed; instead, they wanted to observe the reactions of her family. Now that her family had “shown their hand,” her decision to establish her own household was like completing half the lunar month—a symbolic act, not excessive.
Moreover, even if Old Guan or the others caused trouble later, there were plenty of witnesses to the scene. Their words were clearly recorded.
Seeing Guan Xiyue recover her composure so quickly impressed Yang Lizheng. Normally, a young woman, dismissed by her husband and scorned by her family, would feel as if the sky had fallen. Yet Guan Xiyue remained calm and collected.
The following procedures went smoothly. Yang Lizheng helped her register her household, and the next day, they would report it to the county office.
Guan Xiyue was very pleased. Time travel wasn’t easy, and she finally had a legitimate, recognized identity. She was now officially a citizen of Datong Village, Quqing County, Daning Kingdom.
Yang Lizheng expressed a little concern: “You know, you don’t have land. If you want to buy some later, you can come to me. I’m not sure if you have a house. If not, there’s a small, old building at the village entrance that used to belong to the old Sun family. His son bought a house in the county seat, so this old building is abandoned.
It’s worn down, but you can borrow it to live in. If you want to purchase it, it’ll cost two taels of silver.”
Guan Xiyue accepted readily: “Thank you, Uncle Yang. Reserve that house for me.”
With everything settled, she left in high spirits.
Her steps were light as she walked out of the village. Villagers reported that Guan Xiyue, flaunting her wealth, had hired Old Zhu’s ox-cart at the village entrance to travel to the county seat.
Usually, people relied on walking. Only if the distance was too great or they had too much to carry would they spend a few wen on a cart. But Guan Xiyue boldly paid ten wen for the ox-cart—luxurious and impressive.
Her grandmother Wang felt uneasy hearing about it: “This girl has some money and spends it recklessly. Doesn’t even show filial respect to her grandparents.”
Even Guan Maidong felt uncomfortable. Previously, Guan Xiyue would walk miles to town for the market if she didn’t have money for a cart, enduring the hard journey. Now, she had become affluent.
Guan Xiyue marveled at the natural scenery: pure, unpolluted, fresh air, gentle winds—it felt wonderful.
Arriving in the county, she first bought two sets of cotton clothing, then rented a room at an inn to enjoy a proper bath and a restful sleep.
Her silver still stretched far: cotton clothing cost three to four qian per set, a night at the inn was one qian, plus travel and meals—she still had three taels left.
Though her silver was limited, Guan Xiyue wasn’t worried. She had an extensive repertoire of recipes.
In her previous life, she had been a food blogger, uploading videos online and gaining many followers. Beautiful and skilled, she could cook Chinese and Western cuisine, and baking was no challenge. Her content allowed her to live comfortably.
She loved experimenting with all kinds of things, from homemade cosmetics to luxurious aesthetics, trying all kinds of indulgences and managing formal events with ease.
Yet fate intervened: a car accident ended her life at the peak of her beauty and wealth, at age twenty-six. She had just purchased a riverside luxury apartment in a first-tier city and was driving to meet her mother and sister for dinner when the brakes failed.
In the panic before losing consciousness, she thought her mother and sister would inherit her assets.
In truth, her mother was adoptive, and her sister not biological. Life hadn’t been easy; she endured cold treatment. At home, she was treated like a maid.
She handled all the housework while her sister lived like a princess, getting all the mother’s affection.
Her adoptive father had been kind but passed away early. Her mother blamed her, calling her a curse for her father’s death.
From high school onward, she worked part-time after school as a waitress—washing dishes, serving meals, cleaning. Her earnings went to tuition and supporting her sister.
In college, she relied on student loans, worked harder, and continued supporting her family.
She bore all grievances silently, at least she still had a family. Compared to children without homes, she considered herself lucky.
In university, her horizons broadened, and she began blogging and running online stores.
Perhaps her sharp eye, willingness to work hard, and good looks contributed, but her life improved. Admirers, wealthy and handsome, approached her, but she was not interested—partly because she didn’t feel attraction, partly because she feared poverty and hardship. She only wanted to earn, enjoy life, and explore the world.
After graduation, her reputation grew, and her career flourished.
Her mother and sister treated her with complex affection: meeting demands brought smiles, unmet demands brought reproach, citing her past sacrifices. Yet they all benefited from her rescue.
For instance, after buying a luxury apartment, her mother requested a similar one for her sister.
Her sister, having graduated from college, had no intention of working. She wanted the life of a wealthy child, supported by either mother or sister, living luxuriously.
Guan Xiyue thought of all this without sorrow. She knew her mother would not grieve deeply if she died. Her family would enjoy the inheritance she left behind.
Her disappearance from this world was simply paying off old debts from her previous life. Abandoned as a baby, all past entanglements were settled; now she could live freely.
She tidied herself while contemplating these thoughts.
Looking in the mirror, she styled her hair into a simple single coil, secured with a wooden pin, and noticed she appeared slimmer—hope for future weight loss.
She put on a freshly bought light turquoise dress, simple in style, clean and elegant.
Previously, bright red and green clothes reflected the original owner’s taste; back then, she hadn’t cared to buy new clothing.
Now, embarking on her new life, she would spend money on what she liked—starting with her wardrobe.