In the end, Xu Xunle had married an ordinary factory worker from a poor peasant family and lived a life of poverty.
After her parents’ downfall, her husband became increasingly arrogant toward her, acting as though his family had saved her life.
He had even forced her to cut all ties with her own family.
Thinking back to how, in her previous life, everyone in the Xu family had eventually treated Xu Nianchu with the utmost respect—almost bowing and scraping before her—Xu Xunle’s heart burned with envy.
This time, she would marry a military officer.
She would become an officer’s wife herself.
Her rebirth wasn’t meant to be wasted.
She had returned to accomplish something great.
Facing Xu Nianchu now, she wore a warm smile.
Last night’s plan had already completed its first step.
How could the Lu family possibly accept a woman whose chastity had been ruined?
“Little Sister, don’t worry. I went to the factory first thing this morning and requested leave for you.”
Xu Nianchu replied calmly,
“How do you know I wasn’t planning to go to work?”
The difference in Xu Shanchuan’s treatment of the two girls was obvious when it came to their jobs.
When Xu Xunle graduated, he’d immediately arranged an excellent office position for her—a coveted desk job everyone fought over.
But when it was the original Xu Nianchu’s turn to graduate…
He claimed girls needed hardship to temper them and initially refused to arrange anything.
Only after people started gossiping, fearing suspicion, did he finally assign her to a workshop.
Dirty.
Exhausting.
The original owner had never complained.
She simply endured it.
After all, even a workshop position was hard to obtain, and she’d been grateful for it.
Xu Xunle blurted out,
“Well, of course it’s because…”
You spent the night with another man.
Naturally you’d come home late.
Anyone with half a brain could figure that out.
Yet Xu Nianchu actually asked.
Could it be…
Nothing had happened last night?
Xu Xunle eyed her suspiciously.
Before she could say anything else, Xu Xinglin came bouncing over.
“Big Sis! Can you teach me how to play Gomoku?”
“Of course. Let’s go back to the room.”
Seeing her about to leave, Xu Xunle hurriedly called out,
“Little Sister… that bracelet of yours…”
“I think it’s really pretty.”
“Could you lend it to me for a couple of days?”
Xu Nianchu curled her lips into a smile and raised her wrist.
“Which bracelet?”
“Things are so tense these days, and you still dare wear a bracelet outside?”
“Don’t drag our family down with you.”
“If we end up becoming everyone’s scapegoat, that’ll be the end of us.”
“I wasn’t asking because…”
Xu Nianchu immediately pressed,
“Then what were you asking for?”
At that moment, Xu Shanchuan had already walked up behind them.
Having just returned home, the first thing he heard was talk about wearing bracelets outside.
His face darkened instantly.
“What bracelet?”
“No one’s wearing anything!”
“I’ve already told all of you to keep your heads down these days!”
“If anyone causes trouble, I won’t spare them!”
Xu Nianchu said coolly,
“It was your precious daughter, Xu Xunle, who wanted to wear my bracelet outside to show off.”
She casually smoothed her hair.
“Sometimes I really want to publish a notice in the newspaper cutting ties with all of you.”
Xu Shanchuan’s heart skipped a beat.
His expression immediately softened.
“This is your sister’s fault.”
“I’ve already scolded her.”
“You did the right thing.”
“How did things go with Director Wu?”
“Dad has always loved you.”
“How could you say something that hurts your father’s feelings like that?”
Xu Nianchu gathered her clothes around herself.
“I’m tired.”
“I’m going back to rest.”
With that, she grabbed Xu Xinglin’s hand and returned to her room.
As soon as they were gone, Xu Shanchuan’s face turned cold.
“For the next few days, don’t provoke her.”
“You need to know your limits.”
“Do I really have to teach you that after slapping someone, you should offer them a sweet date?”
“There are plenty of bracelets.”
“Why insist on hers?”
“What if you ruin everything?”
This was the first time Xu Xunle had been scolded by her father since being reborn.
She pursed her lips, dissatisfaction flickering in her eyes.
She silently added another mark to her mental ledger.
Xu Nianchu had deliberately said those things because their father was present.
She hadn’t expected her to become so calculating.
She had underestimated her.
Grinding her teeth, Xu Xunle explained,
“That isn’t an ordinary bracelet.”
“It’s the bracelet the Lu family gave us as the betrothal token.”
“Didn’t you want me to marry a military officer to strengthen our family’s position?”
“I’ll need the token when I go.”
Only then did Xu Shanchuan remember.
“Oh…”
“That one.”
“You should’ve said so sooner.”
Xu Xunle continued,
“I searched Little Sister’s room yesterday.”
“But I couldn’t find it anywhere.”
Inside the room, Xu Xinglin watched as his sister pressed her ear against the crack in the door to eavesdrop.
Quietly, he copied her and listened too.
Only after footsteps receded outside did Xu Nianchu finally come back to herself.
The novel had never mentioned this.
It had only said Xu Xunle obtained the bracelet as her golden finger.
So…
It had originally been a betrothal token.
That meant she needed to keep it even more carefully.
Her scumbag father was truly something.
On the very night he sent his own biological daughter to an old man’s bed…
He was already planning to find another daughter a good husband.
It even made Xu Nianchu start questioning the original owner’s parentage.
Xu Xinglin blinked his big eyes.
“Bad Sister wants to steal Big Sister’s things.”
“Looking through someone else’s stuff is bad!”
Xu Nianchu burst into laughter.
“She’s bad.”
“I’m good.”
Xu Xinglin nodded vigorously in agreement.
At lunchtime, Tang Jinhua personally came upstairs to call them.
“The salted fresh pork and bamboo shoot soup is ready.”
“I simmered it for a long time. Come downstairs and have a taste.”
Xu Nianchu took her brother downstairs and deliberately seated him beside her.
“Today you’ll sit with me.”
Normally, this side of the table belonged to her and Xu Xunle.
Not anymore.
Xu Xunle, who had been about to sit there, froze.
Remembering that she still needed something from Xu Nianchu, she swallowed her irritation and quietly took the opposite seat instead.
Tang Jinhua personally carried over a bowl of soup, presenting it with both hands.
Smiling ingratiatingly, she asked,
“When you left Director Wu’s place, did he say anything to you?”
Xu Nianchu glanced indifferently at the bowl.
Tang Jinhua dared serve it.
She didn’t dare drink it.
Just as she reached out to accept it…
Her hand “slipped.”
The bowl tipped, splashing the boiling soup all over Tang Jinhua’s arm.
Tang Jinhua shrieked as her skin instantly turned bright red.
She jumped up.
“Did you do that on purpose?”
Xu Nianchu’s eyes immediately reddened.
She grabbed a dishcloth nearby.
“Of course not.”
“Aunt Tang, how could you think that about me?”
“You really hurt my feelings.”
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
The corners of her eyes flushed crimson.
Anyone who saw her would only think she looked pitiful.
Xu Xinglin jumped off his chair and grabbed his sister’s hand.
“Don’t cry, Big Sis.”
“You still have me.”
Tang Jinhua endured the searing pain in her arm.
The soup had just come off the stove—it was scalding hot.
Yet somehow…
Watching Xu Nianchu cry so miserably made her feel like she shouldn’t have yelled at her in the first place.
Xu Xunle, meanwhile, ground her teeth so hard she wished she could tear a chunk of flesh off Xu Nianchu.
Her younger sister was already beautiful enough.
When she cried…
She looked even more delicate and moving, like pear blossoms in the rain.
Men always fell for that type.
But so what?
Being born beautiful wasn’t as important as living well.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Xu Shanchuan hurriedly stepped in.
“Jinhua, hurry and run your arm under cold water.”
Then he turned to Xu Nianchu.
“Did that scare you?”
Xu Nianchu nodded.
“My hands were a little unsteady.”
“Sorry for making everyone laugh.”
She got up, went into the kitchen, fetched herself another bowl and spoon, then smiled at Xu Xinglin.
“Let’s eat.”
“I’m fine now.”
Seeing his sister happily eating, Xu Xinglin also began eating with gusto.
Before he knew it…
He had finished an entire bowl of rice.
“Big Sis!”
“I ate a whole bowl today!”
Normally, he lost his appetite after only half a bowl.
He had no idea why today was different.
Xu Nianchu was delighted.
It seemed the Spirit Spring Water really was helping him.
Xu Xinglin had always been the original owner’s greatest regret.
Only if he lived well could the original owner truly rest in peace.
There were still apples and pears growing inside her space.
Children loved fruit.
As far as she knew, fruit was a rare luxury in this era.
Especially fruit as juicy and sweet as the ones nourished by the Spirit Spring.