Upon learning that his son-in-law had “returned from the dead,” Lin Shengli borrowed the production team’s horse-drawn cart at his wife’s urging.
The cart was not only bumpy but also bitterly cold.
Wrapped in a windproof quilt and huddled behind her father and brothers, Lin Ting was still freezing.
Fortunately, riding the cart wasn’t all bad—the nearly hour-long journey on foot took only twenty minutes by cart.
In these times, every household in the village was warm-hearted. Even if there were occasional squabblers, they’d quickly make up and become as close as ever. Gathering to eat and drink together was completely normal.
So, when Lin Ting saw a crowd gathered at the Huo family’s gate from afar, she wasn’t surprised at all.
Meanwhile, the clip-clop of horse hooves reached the villagers’ ears. Someone shouted, “Huo Xiao’s wife is back!”
By the time the Lin family parked the cart at the gate, Hu Xiu had already come out to greet them.
Lin Ting was helped down by her second brother. She stamped her numb feet before looking at her mother-in-law.
The older woman’s eyes were slightly swollen, as if she’d been crying.
But her complexion was radiant, and her eyes sparkled when she looked at people.
Seeing her mother-in-law like this, Lin Ting—who had been overwhelmed with mixed emotions since receiving the news—felt her spirits lift.
No matter what, being alive was what mattered most.
With this thought, she smiled brightly, stepped forward quickly, and took her mother-in-law’s hands.
Hu Xiu’s eyes reddened again.
She couldn’t help it—she was too overwhelmed. Gripping her daughter-in-law’s hands tightly, she wanted to say something but could only move her lips wordlessly. Her throat felt blocked, sour and tight.
It was Chen Guilan standing nearby who warmly intervened: “Sister-in-law, let’s invite the in-laws inside to warm up first. The cart ride must have been freezing.”
She then turned and waved to her eldest son: “Zhuzi, take Uncle’s cart to the stable. We can’t let the horse freeze.”
Lin Shengli was all smiles too and immediately waved his hand: “I’ll go myself, I’ll go myself.” The horse was important property of the production team—he needed to settle it properly to feel at ease.
Having finally collected herself, Hu Xiu decided: “Then go together. Have Zhuzi show you the way.”
Thus, Lin Shengli and Zhuzi went to stable the cart while the rest of the Lin family was ushered inside by the crowd.
“You know, Tingting was meant to be our Xiao’s wife. These past few months, she was the only one who refused to believe he was gone—insisted on searching for answers. And look, we got results right away! Our nephew is indeed safe. Sister-in-law, you’re truly blessed to have such a daughter-in-law…” While Chen Guilan often had a sharp tongue, she certainly knew how to lavish praise when she wanted. No sooner had they settled on the kang’s edge, still wearing their heavy coats, than she launched into loud, effusive compliments.
She had to sing praises—after all, when Secretary Wang from the commune delivered the news earlier, he’d hinted that situations like their nephew’s had happened before. Those were always secret missions, and now that he’d returned, it was called… a glorious return? Anyway, he might even get promoted.
Her Zhuzi was already 18 and counting on his cousin to help secure a good position for him.
If she didn’t say nice things now, should she follow Third Brother’s example—that dullard who couldn’t utter a word even if you beat him three times, just grinning foolishly?
Yesterday she was “Little Lin,” today she’s “Tingting.” Though Hu Xiu was slightly annoyed that Guilan had stolen all the compliments she wanted to say, she largely agreed with the sentiment!
Her daughter-in-law truly brought good fortune to her husband!
After her daughter-in-law took off her thick coat, she linked arms with her again and looked at the other mother-in-law gratefully, saying, “You’ve raised such a fine daughter.”
Li Taohong, who was holding a ceramic bowl and drinking sweetened water, felt proud inside but modestly replied, “Tingting is blessed to have such a wonderful mother-in-law like you.”
Hu Xiu beamed with joy: “We’re all blessed, all blessed.”
The villagers, rarely seeing her so openly emotional with a wide grin, joined in the teasing: “That’s right! I’d say Xiao is also blessed with great fortune. As the saying goes, one who survives a great disaster is destined for good luck later!”
“Exactly, exactly! This young couple is so good-looking. Once Xiao returns and gives you a grandson, he’ll be even prettier than the babies in New Year paintings.”
“Oh my, that would be incredible! They might as well be the Golden Boy and Jade Maiden from the Buddha’s side!”
Amid the lively chatter, Hu Xiu and Li Taohong couldn’t stop smiling.
It was at this moment that Lin Ting finally realized Huo Xiao was safe and that they were a normal married couple.
Thinking of the intimacy between husband and wife, Lin Ting, who had been sitting beside her mother-in-law like a mascot, felt her ears turn red with embarrassment.
“Look, look! The bride is blushing!”
Hearing this, everyone in the room turned to look at the young woman on the kang.
Then, Lin Ting, who had only been slightly uncomfortable before, flushed bright red under their gaze. In a moment of panic, she blurted out, “It’s hot in here.”
The crowd…
“Haha…”
Joy is contagious, but there are exceptions.
While everyone inside and outside the house was immersed in a sea of happiness, only Wang Xiuqin, squeezed in the farthest corner and secretly observing Lin Ting, couldn’t muster any good feelings.
Actually, that wasn’t quite right—she was naturally happy about Huo Xiao’s return.
But what she couldn’t understand was why that wretched woman Lin Ting hadn’t run away yet?
She distinctly remembered yesterday, when she heard that Lin Ting had returned, going from initial shock and disbelief to later fear and anxiety, suspecting that the other woman might have had the same extraordinary experience as herself.
She even worried that her recent frequent visits to the Huo family might have revealed something.
She had been so scared she hid at home, not daring to show her face.
But after calming down, she began to doubt whether her memories of her previous life were wrong.
Otherwise, if Lin Ting had also been reborn, why wouldn’t she come grab her hair and punish her for trying to steal her man?
In these times, chasing after someone else’s husband could lead to public criticism and even jail time.
Yet after her fear subsided, Wang Xiuqin felt she might be overthinking things.
After all, she had never explicitly expressed anything from start to finish. Even if the other woman was like her, she had leverage against Lin Ting—what was there to fear?
So today, when everyone headed to the Huo family, Wang Xiuqin gritted her teeth and followed along.
But deep down, she was too guilty to stand at the front, hiding in the back to observe secretly.
Actually, she and Lin Ting had been elementary school classmates.
But she had only attended for a few years before dropping out without graduating.
After that, they had hardly ever met. She vaguely remembered that Lin Ting had been pretty since childhood.
But now, seeing her in person, she thought she looked just average.
Lin Ting had seductive eyes and a flirtatious demeanor, unlike a proper woman.
Unlike herself, who clearly had the look of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
However, she also observed that the other woman probably hadn’t had any extraordinary experience. Otherwise, during their brief eye contact earlier, she wouldn’t have smiled at her.
Thinking of this, Wang Xiuqin couldn’t help but recall Lin Ting’s cheerful, smiling face, and a sense of frustration welled up inside her again.
I’ve heard some men like that kind of fox-like seductress. If Huo Xiao was that kind of man, what hope would she have?
But then again, what’s going on with that wretched woman Lin Ting?
She already ran away, so why did she come back?
Did this happen in her previous life too?
So when is that wretched woman Lin Ting leaving?
Maybe… before Huo Xiao returns, she should think of a way to drive her away?
Lin Ting was completely unaware of Wang Xiuqin’s anxiety.
After the villagers had their fill of watching the spectacle and left, she bid farewell to her parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law.
With happy events at home, the Huo family gathered together that evening.
Chen Guilan brought a large pot of pork and cabbage stewed with vermicelli, arriving early with her husband and six children to help the eldest sister-in-law prepare dinner.
The third daughter-in-law, Zhang Meihua, came slightly later but not empty-handed.
Not only had she cooked a large salted fish, but she also stewed a lamb leg her maternal family had sent some days ago.
Added to what Hu Xiu had prepared – preserved meats, blood sausages, and other items originally meant for the New Year – they practically filled the entire kang table.
Those without seats held bowls standing up, yet could still feast heartily.
Compared to the dozen or so half-grown children, Lin Ting counted as an elder.
So she was seated by the kang, with little Miao Miao sitting in her lap.
Everyone drank, chatted, and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.
It wasn’t until two hours later that this sumptuous feast concluded.
After Lin Ting saw off her uncles, aunts, and nephews, locked the door, and went to her mother-in-law’s bedroom,
She found the little ones already asleep, bellies upturned.
Her mother-in-law was taking a biscuit tin from a drawer.
Seeing her daughter-in-law, she smiled and beckoned: “Come sit.”
Lin Ting sat by the kang bed: “What are you busy with?”
Hu Xiu took out a small stack of ration coupons from the box, happily saying: “Look, all the fabric coupons I’ve saved up. Since we’re going to the Commune tomorrow morning to call Xiao, I thought we could stop by the supply and marketing cooperative to get some fabric for you to make several outfits.”
Then she glanced critically at her daughter-in-law’s dark blue printed coarse cloth jacket: “Let’s make something fashionable. I think those Lenin Suits worn by the Educated Youth from big cities at the village end look great – crisp and spirited.”
Not satisfied yet, her gaze moved to her daughter-in-law’s feet: “Change these shoes too, get leather ones. They’re waterproof and respectable. I have industrial coupons.”
When her mother-in-law’s eyes moved to her wrist with a regretful expression, Lin Ting thought that if she didn’t already have a watch, the other might give her one too. She found it both amusing and troubling: “Mom, just wait – tomorrow I’ll carry the entire supply and marketing cooperative back for you.”
Hearing this, Hu Xiu realized she was being too eager to show her gratitude.
But she now firmly believed her daughter-in-law was blessed with good fortune, and couldn’t help wanting to treat her better, and even better still.
So she waved her hand, putting on an affluent air, and laughed: “Alright, carry it all back. I have the money.”
The next day.
Windy but snowless.
Early in the morning, right after breakfast, Lin Ting and her mother-in-law took the Dragon and Phoenix Twins and boarded a tractor heading to the Commune.
Though the tractor was equally bumpy and dilapidated, it had a windshield.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, each holding a child, squeezed among villagers going to town for New Year preparations, didn’t find the journey too arduous.
Old Secretary had specially arranged it, so the tractor driver Xiao He went straight to the Commune, dropping them off first.
After confirming the return time, they started the engine with a sputtering “putt-putt-putt…” and departed with the rest of the group.
The Commune office was one of the rare two-story buildings of that era, guarded by an elderly gatekeeper.
Hu Xiu had never been to such a place and felt nervous inside.
It was Lin Ting who pulled down her scarf, stepped forward, and smilingly explained their purpose.
The old man, who initially wore a stern expression, stared at her for a long moment before finally breaking into a smile: “I know—you’re that young wife who traveled a thousand miles to find her husband, aren’t you?”
Surprised by her own notoriety, Lin Ting flushed slightly: “…Well then, sir, may we go in?”
The old man chuckled: “Why not? Secretary Wang mentioned it just yesterday. Go on in.”
Lin Ting: “Thank you, sir!”
This time, the old man merely waved his hand without speaking.
As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law entered, a voice abruptly called out: “Uncle Chen, whose family are those two from?”
Chen Sanping lifted his drooping eyelids to glance at the speaker, sneering inwardly. “Nobody you’d know,” he replied dismissively.
Qian Geming secretly cursed the old fool for his insolence but kept his expression neutral. Adjusting his black-framed glasses with an air of feigned righteousness, he pontificated: “Now, that’s no way to talk. The Commune isn’t a place for just anyone to enter. I’m only asking out of concern for the organization.”
Since when does the organization need worries from a rebel like you who clawed your way into a petty official position by ransacking homes? But despite his contempt, Chen Sanping knew better than to openly provoke such a vile character. Besides, the young woman’s husband was no ordinary man—there was no way a scoundrel like Qian Geming could scheme against him.
So Chen Sanping took a slow drag from his pipe before drawling: “She’s a military wife, here to call her husband.” Then, baring his yellowed teeth in a grin, he added: “Almost forgot—her man’s a regimental officer. Heard he’s buddies with Director Hu from the Armed Forces Department.”
Qian Geming…