After personally putting the bracelet back onto Gu Yuan’s wrist, Old Madam Gu said, “I’ve gotten your bracelet back. I misjudged her—Er Ya is not well-behaved. You’d better be more careful around her in the future.”
What was wrong with taking back her own daughter’s belongings? She believed she had never mistreated Er Ya, yet the girl had looked at her with such hostility—even dared to threaten her. It left Old Madam Gu feeling chilled.
Er Ya stubbornly believed she was biased, but she didn’t bother to look at how other girls in Gu Village lived. Which girl didn’t work in the fields? During busy seasons, they worked more and ate less.
As for the Gu family? Though not wealthy, during slack seasons they drank thin porridge to fill their stomachs, but during busy farming periods, even if poor, Old Madam Gu would make sure the girls had buns to eat. The family raised a few chickens—aside from the one egg Gu Yuan received daily without fail, the rest were saved to sell. During busy times, Old Madam Gu wouldn’t skimp, turning eggs into thin soup so everyone could at least taste something nutritious.
As a step-grandmother, she believed she had done her duty. Yet Er Ya’s expression today still hurt her.
The mud-brick house had poor soundproofing, and Gu Yuan had heard everything clearly. Holding Old Madam Gu’s rough hand, she said, “Mother, don’t be upset over unimportant people. When I recover, I’ll earn money to support you.”
She wasn’t lying. In the novel, the bracelet she wore was a trading system—the heroine had used it to earn her first fortune. If others could do it, so could she.
Old Madam Gu’s face broke into a smile. “Good, I’ll wait for that.” Then she added, “My precious girl has suffered today. I’ll make you something good to eat.”
Food and money in the Gu family were controlled by her. Even cooking required strict measurement. The “good food” she referred to was a bowl of white flour dumpling soup with two poached eggs.
White flour was precious—even her most trusted daughter-in-law wasn’t allowed to touch it casually. Eggs even more so.
Gu Yuan didn’t refuse. She was hungry—and more importantly, she wanted to bind the bracelet as soon as possible. The old woman leaving gave her the perfect chance.
As soon as the door closed, Gu Yuan sat up and carefully unwrapped the cloth around her head. The bracelet required blood to bind, and her wound was still fresh.
The moment her fingers touched the wound, she hissed in pain.
It hurt badly.
The cloth had reopened the wound slightly, and blood seeped out—convenient for her purpose.
Without a mirror, she could only estimate the position. Holding the bracelet, she carefully pressed it against the wound.
Thump. Thump.
Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears, each second stretching endlessly.
Just as she began to wonder if the blood wasn’t fresh enough and whether she needed to draw more, the bracelet suddenly disappeared.
In its place, a transparent panel appeared before her eyes.
The panel was mostly blank. At the top were only a few words.
On the left: “Mall.”
On the right: “Mine.”
Simple and clear.
Her hands trembled slightly. With no water nearby, she wiped them on her clothes before cautiously tapping “Mine.”
The moment it opened, she nearly broke down.
[Name: Gu Yuan. Other: None.]
That was it.
No beginner’s gift? No daily sign-in? Not even starting currency?
The panel was bare—she almost suspected it was a fake system.
Still, she forced herself to calm down. Starting from nothing wasn’t impossible.
She opened the “Mall” next. This time, it was full—countless items available.
But everything required money.
Thinking of the glaring zero under her name, she shut her eyes.
Better not look.
Closing the panel, she lay back down.
When she had read the novel, she hadn’t expected to transmigrate, so she had skimmed through quickly. All she remembered was that the heroine made money by digging items from the mountains and selling them to the system.
Clenching her fists, she muttered, “Just finding valuable things in the mountains… I can do that.”
She had grown up in the countryside. Even after college, she returned to rural life. She recognized common herbs and wild vegetables. Though the original owner was pampered, she had still followed others into the mountains before.
It was May—the season when wild plants flourished. Everyone went to the mountains to forage. Her going wouldn’t raise suspicion.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Old Madam Gu returning.
The old woman entered carrying a bowl of egg dumpling soup and immediately saw Gu Yuan lying there with her forehead uncovered.
She quickly set the bowl down. “Why did you remove the cloth? The doctor said your wound mustn’t be exposed to wind, or it might scar.”
Gu Yuan smiled awkwardly. She couldn’t mention the system, so she lied, “My head hurt. I wanted to change the dressing but forgot I couldn’t see.”
Old Madam Gu glared at her. “You silly girl—why not call someone? Your brothers and your third sister-in-law are around.”
In her mind, it was natural for brothers to care for their sister.
Gu Yuan quickly changed the subject. Spotting the bowl, she sniffed deeply. “Mother, what did you make? It smells so good—I’m starving.”
The old woman chuckled and handed her the bowl. “I knew you’d be hungry—white flour dumpling soup.”
Gu Yuan took it herself and tasted a spoonful.
“It’s delicious,” she said, nodding earnestly.
Seeing her eat happily, Old Madam Gu felt both joy and sadness. Other girls had fine clothes and delicacies, yet her daughter was this happy over a simple meal.
Gu Yuan kept eating, only noticing halfway through the two poached eggs hidden at the bottom.
Her heart tightened.
White flour and eggs—Old Madam Gu truly spared nothing for her.
She scooped one egg and offered it. “Mother, you eat too.”
Old Madam Gu pushed it back. “I’ve already eaten. This is for you.”
No matter how much Gu Yuan insisted, she refused, even claiming she disliked eggs.
Gu Yuan lowered her head, hiding her moist eyes.
She thought of her grandmother.
Back then, it had been the same—always saying she didn’t like good food, saving everything for her.
Taking another bite, Gu Yuan made a silent decision.
From now on, she would treat Old Madam Gu as her own mother.
She would fulfill the original owner’s wish—
and make sure she lived a good life.