“Have you finished putting everything away?” Li’s Father asked with concern.
Li’s Mother replied softly, “Everything has been properly hidden in the basement of the old house. Nothing should happen, right?”
Just then, Li Lezhi pushed open the door and entered. The first thing she saw was the face of a refined and gentle middle-aged man. This must be the original owner’s father.
“Lele, you’re back? Are you still feeling unwell anywhere?” Li’s Father asked with concern.
Looking at the face filled with fatherly affection, Li Lezhi smiled and said, “I’m much better already. I even walked around outside for half an hour and felt completely refreshed.” As she spoke, she leaned forward and presented her forehead for him to check.
Li’s Father touched it and confirmed that she no longer had a fever.
“That’s good,” he said fondly.
“The food is almost ready. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat,” Li’s Mother said with a smile.
Watching her mother approach while wiping her hands, Li Lezhi replied, “Alright, I’ll go wash up in the kitchen.”
Not long afterward, Li’s Mother finished preparing all the dishes, and the family of three gathered around the dining table for dinner.
To celebrate Li Lezhi’s recovery, Li’s Mother had specially prepared cured pork and rice mixed with corn kernels. Such dishes were rarely seen on ordinary days. The rest consisted of coarse grains, vegetables, and scrambled eggs with Chinese chives.
Although the family’s circumstances were relatively comfortable, in this era they still could not afford to eat meat every day.
This meal was practically as lavish as a New Year’s feast.
As she enjoyed the food her mother had carefully prepared, Li Lezhi quietly observed her parents’ expressions. Seeing the faint traces of worry between their brows, she spoke up in surprise.
“Dad, when I was coming home, I saw a group of Red Guards at Uncle Lin’s house. Did something happen to them?”
The moment Li’s Father heard her words, the chopsticks in his hand fell to the floor.
“You really saw people going to Uncle Lin’s house?”
“Yes,” Li Lezhi replied with a nod. “There were quite a few people gathered around watching as well.”
The original owner knew nothing about what had happened to the Lin family that day, but Li Lezhi knew perfectly well.
The Lin family had been briefly mentioned in the novel. After they were politically rehabilitated and returned, they had even tried to find the original owner.
At that time, the original owner was already married and living in a village with a local thug. She even had a daughter.
The Lin family had wanted to help her, but there was little they could do. In the end, they could only leave her some money for daily expenses. They never appeared again, and by the time the original owner died, that money had long since been swallowed up by her husband’s family.
The original owner’s fate in the novel had been written as especially tragic.
Looking at her father’s tense expression, Li Lezhi deliberately asked in confusion, “Dad, could it be that our family is in trouble too?”
Looking at his daughter’s youthful face, Li’s Father forced out a smile.
“No, nothing like that.”
Li Lezhi stared at him seriously.
“Please stop hiding things from me. Both of you have been distracted all evening, and even your answer sounded forced. Are you really planning to wait until something happens before telling me?”
Then she looked at both of her parents solemnly.
“I’ve already graduated from high school. I’m seventeen years old now, practically an adult. I’m not a ten-year-old child anymore. I can face difficulties on my own.”
Seeing the youthful face of the daughter they had cherished and protected since childhood, both Li’s Mother and Li’s Father felt deeply gratified.
“Yes, yes,” Li’s Father said with satisfaction. “Our Lele has truly grown up.”
After hesitating for a moment, he finally told her about the family’s current situation.
Just as she had said, sooner or later their daughter would have to face reality. Rather than continue hiding it from her, it was better to let her know now so she could be mentally prepared.
“I thought it through carefully on my way home,” Li’s Father said. “While things are still relatively calm, tomorrow I’ll go register at the newspaper office and formally sever relations with you and your brother. After that, you’ll join the sent-down youth program and go to the countryside.”
His voice grew heavy.
“I just feel sorry for our Lele. From now on, you’ll have to face all of this on your own.”
A wave of bitterness rose in his heart.
“In the future, our family probably won’t be able to help you much. We may even become a burden to you.”
His worries were impossible to hide.
Hearing his words, Li Lezhi’s mood also grew heavy.
After a moment of thought, she made her decision.
“Tomorrow, I’ll register myself to go to the countryside. I want to choose a place I actually like.”
Earlier, she had vaguely overheard her parents discussing the dowry her grandfather had given her mother. Unable to hold back any longer, she quickly said to Li’s Father,
“Let me keep the family’s money and valuables for you.”
“I know a very safe place. I can guarantee they’ll remain secure and won’t be discovered.”
After all, she now possessed her own space.
Although she had not yet explored it thoroughly, nowhere could possibly be safer than her own spiritual spring space.
Li’s Father and Li’s Mother exchanged surprised looks. They wanted to ask questions, yet they also understood that in these turbulent times, the fewer people who knew something, the safer it would be. Every family carefully guarded its property, afraid of any unexpected disaster.
After a brief hesitation, Li’s Father sighed.
“Alright. After dinner, your mother and I will hand over all our valuables for you to keep.”
Li Lezhi was deeply moved by the trust her father placed in her.
The meal ended in silence.
“Your mother and I will go upstairs first and organize everything before bringing it to your room. Later tonight, I’ll take you to the old house to collect the rest,” Li’s Father instructed. “We won’t ask where you hide the items, and you don’t need to tell us.”
Then he added seriously, “Remember, it doesn’t matter if those things are lost. Your safety is what matters most.”
“Okay, I’ll be careful,” Li Lezhi replied guiltily, because she was the only person who knew about that place.
Soon afterward, everyone went upstairs.
Li Lezhi could hardly wait to return to her room and explore the mysterious space.
Reaching her door, she pushed it open, entered, and closed it behind her.
The moment she silently thought, Enter, the world around her changed instantly.
She found herself standing on nearly twenty mu of black farmland. Ahead of her stood a small grass hut. The entire space felt vast, empty, and peaceful.
She tried another thought, Take me near the grass hut.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared right in front of it.
This space was truly miraculous, as though it had become a part of her body.
She knew it. Anything prepared by this world for the Female Lead could never be ordinary.
Now that the entire space belonged to her, she felt indescribably happy.
Next, she silently thought, Take me to the spiritual spring.
The surroundings shifted once more.
Before her lay a crystal-clear spring. Bubbles continuously rose from its source.
She scooped up some water and drank it in one gulp.
The spring water tasted sweet and refreshing. After drinking it, she felt as though her entire body had become lighter and more transparent.
The water in this space probably did more than improve beauty and complexion. With long-term use, it might even restore the body to its healthiest possible condition.
Just then, a knock sounded from outside.
It was probably Li’s Father.
She silently thought, Exit!
In an instant, she returned to her room.
Quickly running to the door, she opened it and found Li’s Father standing outside, carrying a wooden box and a bankbook.
She immediately invited him inside.
As he carried the items into the room, he said, “This is the savings your mother and I have accumulated over the years. It’s all here. There’s more than ten thousand yuan in deposits inside. If it’s convenient, you can send some to your brother.”
Then he handed everything over to her.
“We’re entrusting it all to you. Make sure you keep it safe.”