Chapter 1: Rebirth in 1973

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Pain.
So much pain.
The biting cold wind slipped through the cracks of the wooden window, sending a splitting headache through Xie Jinyu's head.
She opened her eyes, looking around in confusion.
The blue cloth curtain patterned with white flowers swayed gently in the cold breeze.
On the earthen wall, patched with newspaper, hung a calendar.
On the calendar, December 29, 1973 was circled in red ink, with an arrow pointing to the note: “Register marriage with Ye Changzheng.”
Had she been reborn?
She had actually been reborn on the very day when the tragedy of her life began.
In her previous life, when Xie Jinyu was diagnosed with lung cancer, she had just been honored with the “National March 8th Red Banner Holder” award.
Her students, who had spread across the country after graduation, sent her clothes, shoes, and bags upon hearing she was going to the capital to receive the award.
But Xie Jinyu died the night before her departure.
The cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
At first, she thought she had simply forgotten to take the heating brazier outside before sleeping due to early dementia.
Only when she watched the lanterns before dying did she realize it was her adopted son who had deliberately brought the brazier back inside to stop her from going to the capital for the award ceremony.
Because... her husband Lu Qianjin, whom she thought had died early, was still alive and had already married the daughter of a high-ranking official in the capital.
That daughter was none other than Chen Wanru, her best friend who had impersonated her to enter university.
Lu Qianjin and Chen Wanru feared that if she went to the capital to accept the award, their deeds would be exposed to the world.
So they pressured her adopted son to kill her to eliminate all future troubles.
Hearing the voice of the “poisonous best friend” Chen Wanru, Xie Jinyu instinctively shut her eyes filled with boundless hatred, pretending to be asleep.
“Jinyu.”
“Xie Jinyu.”
Chen Wanru lifted the floral curtain and whispered several times by Xie Jinyu’s ear. Seeing no response, she tiptoed to the door and opened it.
“Brother Qianjin, it’s cold outside, come in quickly!”
As soon as Lu Qianjin entered the room, he hurried over to Xie Jinyu.
Chen Wanru coquettishly blocked his way and traced circles on his chest.
“Brother Qianjin, don’t forget what you promised me!”

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Lu Qianjin slyly grabbed Chen Wanru’s waist. “Don’t worry, as long as there’s a spot going back to the city, I’ll get my father to give it to you.”
Chen Wanru pouted and pushed him away. “You’re so annoying! All you have eyes for is Xie Jinyu!”
Lu Qianjin asked, “Are you sure your drug is working fine?”
“Of course.”
Chen Wanru wrapped her arms around Lu Qianjin’s neck and kissed him.
“I’ll have you... always... feeling... naughty...”
Lu Qianjin suddenly pushed Chen Wanru onto her bed, quickly unbuckled his belt, and tied her hands that were stirring trouble.
“Brother Qianjin...” Chen Wanru breathed into his ear, “The drug hasn’t kicked in yet, please take care of me first...”
“You little... seductress!”
The sound of their flirtatious bickering reached Xie Jinyu’s ears, her eyes filled with murderous hatred aimed at the scoundrel couple who had destroyed her entire life.
She knew this was not the time to expose them.
She had to take revenge.
And she had to plan carefully.
With this resolve, Xie Jinyu slowly got up and gently pushed open the window.
She climbed out and stumbled toward the cattle shed.
Dressed thinly, she staggered across the snow, falling and getting up repeatedly, fearful that if she slowed, Lu Qianjin and Chen Wanru would realize she had escaped and come after her.
“Teacher Yan...”
“Teacher Yan...”
Xie Jinyu pushed open the cattle shed door and fell into an embrace filled with the cool scent of pine.
Ye Changzheng steadied the trembling Xie Jinyu, who could barely stand, and looked at her with concern. “Teacher Xie, why are you here?”
Chen Wanru had drugged Xie Jinyu, and to stay awake while fleeing, Xie Jinyu had bitten her own hand.
Her injured fingers were now blackened and purple from the cold.
Seeing this, Ye Changzheng took out his grandmother Yan Hongying’s medical kit and began treating her wounds.
Looking at the calm and handsome Ye Changzheng before her, Xie Jinyu’s eyes welled with bittersweet emotion.
If it weren’t for the treacherous Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin conspiring to catch her and Lu Qianjin in a compromising position that day, she would have registered her marriage with her fiancé Ye Changzheng the very next day.
Ye Changzheng would not have left Yuelin Village heartbroken after she married Lu Qianjin, only to disappear without a trace while saving a drowning child in the rushing river.
Even sitting by the fire, Xie Jinyu still shivered uncontrollably.

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Ye Changzheng quickly draped Yan Hongying’s military coat over Xie Jinyu and added more wood to the fire to burn brighter.
Xie Jinyu took the hot water Ye Changzheng handed her and drank a small sip, instantly warming her frozen body.
“Teacher Xie, a villager is giving birth and my grandmother has gone to assist. Did you come to see her for something?”
Xie Jinyu drank the water in one gulp, then looked up at Ye Changzheng, realizing something belatedly.
Instinctively, she grasped Ye Changzheng’s hand and pleaded, “Ye Changzheng, please help me.”
Ye Changzheng’s ear turned a shy shade of pink as he asked, “How do you want me to help you?”
“Chen Wanru drugged me to offer me to Lu Qianjin in exchange for a spot back to the city. Ye Changzheng, I want you to help me catch them in the act!”
In her previous life, Chen Wanru had trapped her and Lu Qianjin in the teachers’ dormitory, forcing her to marry Lu Qianjin.
One wrong step led to a lifetime of ruin at the hands of Lu Qianjin’s entire family.
This time, it would be her turn to trap Lu Qianjin and Chen Wanru and put an end to this scoundrel couple.
When Xie Jinyu and Ye Changzheng arrived at the teachers’ dormitory with a few parents, chatting and laughing, the sounds of Lu Qianjin and Chen Wanru’s illicit tryst could be heard from inside.
Before Xie Jinyu could react, a villager pushed the wooden door open with a bang, slamming it against the wall.
The teasing voices of Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin stopped abruptly.
The sight of Lu Qianjin and Chen Wanru tangled together, their clothes disheveled, was laid bare before everyone.
“Chen Wanru...”
“Teacher Chen...”
“Oh my, the village party secretary’s household is having a celebration!”
The ambush had arrived early, much to Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin’s surprise.
Chen Wanru had clearly agreed on a time with the villagers, so why did they come early?
Calming down, Chen Wanru furiously pounded Lu Qianjin’s shoulders, shouting anxiously and embarrassed, “Lu Qianjin, get out now!”
Usually carefree, Lu Qianjin now instinctively tried to pull the quilt over their bodies as everyone watched them like this.
But their recent passionate encounter had left the quilt tangled beneath Chen Wanru, making it impossible to move.
Lu Qianjin was sweating profusely but couldn’t get off Chen Wanru.
“I’m stuck, I can’t get out.”