The next morning, Qiu Hanlu was awakened by the movement beside her. It took her a moment to confirm that she had truly traveled through time—this was not a dream.
She watched Madam Zheng beside her begin to dress. It was still dark outside, so she tugged at Madam Zheng and said, “Mother, why are you getting up so early?”
Madam Zheng replied, “I need to get up and make breakfast.”
Qiu Hanlu said, “Mother, have you forgotten what we discussed yesterday? Do nothing, be lazy and gluttonous—that’s the only way to win the best opportunity for dividing the family.”
Only then did Madam Zheng remember. She had been accustomed to being the first to rise and make breakfast for so many years that she still felt a bit unsettled: “Will that work?”
“Just lie back down, Mother. To get more of what we want from the division, you have to be firm. Otherwise, we’ll be controlled by others for the rest of our lives,” Qiu Hanlu said to Madam Zheng.
At that moment, Qiu Guangwan also woke up: “Meimei, listen to the child. I’ve been a slave for all these years, and that’s fine, but we can’t let the child’s whole life be ruined.”
He had actually always been clear-headed inside; he just couldn’t win against them. Now that the child had given him direction, he was willing to try.
Madam Zheng thought it over and lay back down: “You’re both right.”
Qiu Hanlu had gone to sleep late the night before, so she drifted back into a daze and fell asleep again.
She didn’t know how long she had slept when she was startled awake by a burst of scolding.
“The sun is scorching your backsides, and you still haven’t gotten up to cook? Are you trying to starve us to death?” Mrs. Wang stood at the edge of the kang in Qiu Hanlu’s family’s room, holding a broom in her hand, and swung it straight at Madam Zheng.
After a night’s sleep, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. How had she been controlled by a mere girl yesterday? When she woke up and found there was still no breakfast and the kang was cold, she became even angrier and charged over to hit someone.
Qiu Hanlu casually grabbed her own pillow and blocked the broom in Mrs. Wang’s hand.
Then she shoved hard, pushing Mrs. Wang back a step: “Grandmother, we agreed yesterday that Second Aunt would cook for these two days. What, are you going back on your word?”
Mrs. Wang was furious, smoke practically rising from her head: “That was just for show to outsiders. Did you really think it was real? How dare you push me! This is unfilial! I’ll let the whole village know you’re an unfilial wretch.”
Qiu Hanlu wasn’t the least bit afraid: “Then go ahead. Everyone in the village knows what this family is like. Do you think one word from you can change decades of impressions? Dream on. Believe me, if I go out on the street right now and cry about how you abuse me, they’ll all curse you as a heartless old hag.”
Mrs. Wang’s chest felt tight with rage as she pointed the broom at Qiu Hanlu: “You, you, what exactly do you want?”
Qiu Hanlu wrapped the quilt around herself, sat on the kang, and looked at Mrs. Wang, speaking calmly without haste: “Nothing much. We’ve just been bullied for too long and want to live a little more freely. Fortunes turn, right? If not, we can divide the family.”
Mrs. Wang’s hands trembled with anger. She still couldn’t bear to divide the family—spring plowing and autumn harvest all depended on this branch. If they divided, her own biological son would have to toil.
To be honest, everything that had happened these past two days was beyond Mrs. Wang’s expectations. Her mind was indeed a bit scattered.
Looking at the composed Qiu Hanlu, Mrs. Wang suddenly realized she had been too hasty and had let the other party lead her by the nose. This was very disadvantageous to her. It seemed she needed to calm down and think of a proper countermeasure.
She patted the dust off herself and said, “I said I’d be fair, so you three sisters-in-law will take turns cooking. Today—today Second Brother’s wife starts, tomorrow Third Brother’s wife, and the day after, you.”
Qiu Hanlu could tell from Mrs. Wang’s expression that this old woman wasn’t truly resigned inside. But she had her Spatial Dimension and knew martial arts, so she would never be at a disadvantage. These next few days, she would play along with the old hag and push her to the point of begging for a family division—that way, they could gain even more benefits.
She said to Mrs. Wang, “Fine, we’ll take turns then.”
Mrs. Wang had ideas brewing in her mind and didn’t waste more time there. She hurried back to her room to think of countermeasures—she had no intention of letting Qiu Hanlu’s family have an easy time.
Seeing Mrs. Wang leave, Qiu Guangwan said nervously to Qiu Hanlu, “Your grandmother’s expression doesn’t bode well. My heart is racing with unease.”
Qiu Hanlu knew exactly what she was doing. She said, “Don’t worry, Father. If Grandmother scolds, beats, or punishes us, we’ll just run out to the street. The villagers all know we’re the weak ones now—if they make a scene, they’ll be the ones losing face. Besides, they wouldn’t dare sell me, would they? An ordinary family selling off their daughter would be spat on by everyone. Don’t they want to keep living in this village?”
Because Qiu Hanlu knew that even ancient people had their principles. Unless a family was truly at the brink of survival, selling off a daughter would earn them a lifetime of scorn, and it would even affect their children’s and grandchildren’s marriages. So Mrs. Wang wouldn’t dare.
Hearing Qiu Hanlu’s words, Madam Zheng’s heart skipped a beat: “But what if she marries you off? Like she did with your eldest sister—marrying her to a bad family.”
Qiu Hanlu was even less worried about this: “How could I possibly let them succeed? Father, Mother, rest assured—they’re no match for me. If they really dare to pull the same trick again, then even if someone is married off, it won’t be me.”
She had a plan in mind. She had paper and a brush in her Spatial Dimension. She would find a secluded spot, enter the space, sketch a few jewelry designs, and sell them in town. Money could make the ghosts turn the millstone—having funds would give her more leverage against Mrs. Wang and her lot.
Actually, wanting to divide the family property and get a larger share wasn’t just about the money—it was to make those in the main house feel the sting and vent on behalf of the original owner.
Also, Qiu Hanlu wanted to claim the empty lot to the west when they split the family. That was land her late grandmother had acquired. Though she could buy land later with money, it wouldn’t be the same.
Moreover, that lot was in a good location. She could build a courtyard house there in the future, living a good life every day while making Mrs. Wang and the others watch with envy and resentment—frustrating them to death.
Qiu Guangwan looked at his daughter, feeling she was increasingly unfamiliar: “Hanlu, are you really Hanlu?”
Qiu Hanlu dared not meet Qiu Guangwan’s eyes: “Father, if I’m not Hanlu, then who am I? Don’t I wander before your eyes every day? I’ve just received guidance from a wise master, and now I have a clear plan, so I’m confident and assured.”
Qiu Guangwan still had doubts: “But, but you’re just a girl after all—can you really outmatch them?”
Qiu Hanlu said with great confidence: “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll head to the county town in a bit and bring back some money.”
This startled Qiu Guangwan: “Girl, what are you planning? You’re not thinking of robbing someone, are you? That won’t do! We can’t do such a thing.”
Qiu Hanlu laughed at his words: “Father, what are you thinking? I learned a craft from the wise master, and I’m going to town to see if I can earn some money.”
“Then I’ll go with you and lend a hand,” Qiu Guangwan said.
“No need. I’ll go to town today to check the situation first. When I need your help, I’ll bring you along,” Qiu Hanlu said.
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