Chapter 2:

Dinner was almost ready when the head of the household, Yu Qingshan, returned home with a lunchbox in hand. Inside were the white-flour meat buns he had specially bought for Yu Xiang’an.

Zhao Qiaoniang was the last to come back. She had recently found a temporary job at a textile factory, which was expected to last a few months. It was a busy time for her now.

Once everyone was home, dinner began.

Yu Xiang’an, still unwell, ate alone in her room. She had the meat buns Yu Qingshan had brought back and a bowl of mixed-grain porridge cooked by Ding Minxiu, with equal parts water and grains.

Though Yu Xiang’an was only half-full, she felt she could finish everything without issue. Her appetite had doubled—unsurprising, given the lack of oil in their diet. Combined with the fact that the original owner of this body was still growing, hunger came easily.

Just as she was about to eat, Yu Qingshan entered. He placed a small dish of pickles on the nearby cabinet with one hand and gently touched her forehead with the other, his voice full of concern. “Xiao An, how are you feeling now?”

As he leaned in, Yu Xiang’an caught the scent of machine oil on him. Seeing his genuine worry, warmth filled her heart. In the original owner’s memories, he had always been a caring father.

Weakly, she replied, “I’m fine. The fever’s gone, but I still feel a bit weak.”

“That’s alright. Rest well, eat, and go to bed early. You should feel better by tomorrow. Today, I bought your favorite meat buns. Tomorrow, I’ll have your Aunt Qiao boil an egg for you.” He didn’t know that after the fever had subsided, it had returned even stronger—nor that the person inside was no longer his daughter.

Yu Xiang’an didn’t particularly care for an egg, but this body did. Just hearing the word made her mouth water. She swallowed, never imagining she’d ever crave an egg so badly.

Noticing her reaction, Yu Qingshan chuckled. “I’ll go eat now. Call me if you need anything.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded silently, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. At her age, she shouldn’t be salivating over an egg.

Once he left, she picked up the bowl and examined its contents. The mixed-grain porridge was mostly sweet potatoes, with dried beans, kidney beans, wild greens, and other odds and ends mixed in. There wasn’t a single grain of rice, no trace of oil, and barely any salt—just a faint, bland taste.

This was the life she’d have to face from now on.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

*Forced smile.jpg*

Their family hadn’t always been like this. Yu Qingshan earned over forty yuan a month, but not long ago, Grandpa Yu had fallen seriously ill and was hospitalized in the county for a while. The medical bills had left them in debt, and they still owed money to Yu Qingshan’s coworkers. Naturally, they had to tighten their belts.

While Yu Xiang’an ate in her room, the other four gathered in the main hall.

Zhao Qiaoniang ladled out the porridge. Yu Qingshan’s bowl had the least water and the most solid ingredients, followed by Yu Xiangju’s. Ding Minxiu’s had more water, and Zhao Qiaoniang’s was the most diluted.

Yu Qingshan was the breadwinner, doing physically demanding work, so he couldn’t eat too little. Yu Xiangju was still growing, and Ding Minxiu needed energy for school.

Seeing the remaining watery portion, Yu Qingshan scooped some sweet potatoes from his bowl into Zhao Qiaoniang’s. “This isn’t enough for you.” Even if they ate less at night, this was too little.

Yu Xiangju also offered some of his. “Mom, I didn’t play outside today. I’m not that hungry.”

Zhao Qiaoniang’s eyes softened with gratitude. She accepted Yu Qingshan’s share but refused her son’s. “I’m not hungry. You eat and grow strong.”

Though she was a stepmother, she had raised Yu Xiangju as her own since he was too young to remember. After giving birth to Ding Minxiu, she had been unable to have more children. Her future depended on him.

Ding Minxiu watched silently, keeping her head down as she ate.

Late at night, when everyone was asleep, Yu Xiang’an finally had the chance to sort through her thoughts.

She had woken up in this body at noon, just as the original owner had succumbed to illness. At first, she thought it was a dream, but she had “experienced” fragments of the original owner’s memories—her anger, her life, everything. With these, she could live here without raising suspicion.

She didn’t know why this had happened, but being given a second chance at life was nothing short of a miracle. The original owner was gone, but Yu Xiang’an would remember her. Without this body, she might not have had this opportunity.

Humans were selfish. She couldn’t bring herself to confess the truth. Even if she did, Yu Qingshan and the others might think she’d lost her mind. Besides, this was an era that strictly forbade superstition.

As for her own family back in her original life… Yu Xiang’an’s heart ached. At least she had an older brother and sister. If she had been an only child, her parents might not have survived the grief.

She had always been the troublemaker of the family. While her father ran a small traditional medicine clinic and her mother was a surgeon at a public hospital, with her siblings also in the medical field, she had been obsessed with cooking since childhood, declaring she’d inherit her grandfather’s restaurant. If not for her parents’ insistence, she would have apprenticed right after high school.

Now, she’d never see them scolding her again.

Yu Xiang’an was pragmatic. After accepting reality, she didn’t wallow in sorrow for long. She needed a plan—fast.

This was an era of scarcity, where the government enforced planned economies with ration coupons. Early marriages were common, and the original owner, at eighteen, had a childhood betrothal to Zhou Boyang, born on the same day as her. He was a coveted permanent employee at the meat processing plant.

Their families were already discussing dowry and bride price. If nothing went wrong, they’d marry after she graduated high school.

*If nothing went wrong…*

Yu Xiang’an sighed. Eighteen was still so young. Even after college, she had still felt like a kid.

The original owner couldn’t handle the betrayal, compounded by getting caught in the rain. The fever had taken her.

Yu Xiang’an analyzed the situation. Beyond the heartbreak, there was another factor: the countryside.

Originally, after marrying into the Zhou family, she was supposed to take over Zhou Boyang’s grandmother’s job upon retirement, securing her place in the city. Without a job, she’d be sent to the countryside—a fate the original owner dreaded.

Her third sister had died within a year of being sent down. A neighbor had broken his own leg just to return after two years. Her second brother and fourth sister still hadn’t been allowed to visit home.

To her, the countryside was a nightmare. Overhearing Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu’s betrayal—and their plot to send her somewhere remote—had broken her.

Yu Xiang’an grimaced. The countryside was terrifying for the original owner, and it wasn’t exactly appealing to her either.

She had no illusions about her abilities. Growing up in the city, she knew nothing about farm work.

Back then, farming was grueling. Machinery was scarce, and life was hard. Worse, female intellectuals sent to the countryside often faced harassment from local bullies. The risks were too high.

The original owner had been bold and decisive. What would she have done?

What *should* Yu Xiang’an do?

Expose them publicly?

Or swallow the humiliation?

Thinking back, the original owner wouldn’t have let this slide. Neither would she.

They had to pay.

What they’d done was a crime—premarital pregnancy meant public scorn and jail time.

As for the Yu and Zhou families, their relationship was already ruined. So be it. The Yus owed the Zhous nothing.

The betrothal had started as a joke. The original owner’s mother had helped Zhou Boyang’s pregnant mother when she went into labor on the street. Grateful, the Zhou family proposed the match. Over the years, it had become serious.

The original owner had grown up believing she’d marry Zhou Boyang. Now, just before graduation, she’d discovered the ugly truth.

If she exposed them, Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu would be labeled as adulterers and sent to labor camps. But the Yu family would also face gossip.

She hadn’t lived in this era, but she’d heard stories. Divorce alone could drown a family in scandal, let alone a sisterly betrayal.

It wasn’t the right move.

In theory, she could ignore the gossip. In reality, few could withstand the pressure.

She remembered a college senior who had jumped from a building after relentless rumors. The family’s grief had been unbearable.

And what about Yu Xiangju? He was only six.

She had her concerns, but Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu had more to lose—their freedom.

They’d know which was worse.

Thinking of the promised job transfer, Yu Xiang’an had an idea. Tomorrow, she’d sound out Yu Qingshan.

Decision made, she fell into a deep sleep. When she woke again, dawn was breaking.