With a sigh in her heart, Lin Fang said, “You don’t have to force yourself to learn needlework. The Sima family isn’t short of money. Given how much Sima Laoye dotes on Sima Rusu, even if your stepmother makes things difficult when you marry, he won’t skimp on your dowry. With money, you can buy anything. Look how you’re tormenting yourself over this.”
Chen Dong shook her head. “I never planned to rely on the Sima family. I want to be independent, to support myself and ensure Xia Shiyuan lives happily, free from the suffering I endured.”
“Rusu, don’t worry. From now on, you’ll never suffer again.”
A cold voice suddenly spoke, startling both Lin Fang and Chen Dong.
Sima Laoye entered the room to find the two girls staring at him with wide eyes, their forced composure unable to mask their underlying fear. The little boy beside his daughter clung tightly to her arm, his face full of wariness.
Sima Laoye frowned. “What’s going on here?”
Chen Dong asked urgently, “Father, how much did you hear of my conversation with Sister Lin?”
Sima Laoye looked puzzled. “Only that you don’t want to rely on the Sima family and wish to be independent. Why? Were you two discussing something unspeakable?”
Seeing the girls visibly relax, Sima Laoye grew even more suspicious. “Rusu, are you hiding something from me?”
“Yes,” Lin Fang interjected quickly. “We were discussing a grand plan to make money. It’s still a secret for now. Did you overhear anything when you barged in?”
As she spoke, Lin Fang silently resolved to convince Chen Dong to accept a guard assigned by her family. If Sima Laoye kept barging in like this, it would only be a matter of time before their secrets were exposed. She also found it odd that a grown man like Sima Laoye could move so silently. Normally, her sharp ears would have detected his approach.
“Oh? Two little girls discussing a money-making scheme?” Sima Laoye chuckled. Two girls who rarely left their homes talking about wealth—children truly loved to dream.
Lin Fang’s retort was merely a test to gauge how much Sima Laoye had overheard. Seeing his amused disbelief, she relaxed slightly, though she felt indignant. Why couldn’t girls discuss money-making plans? What was so funny? Besides, in terms of actual age, both of them were older than him.
Her mind racing, Lin Fang leaned in to whisper to Chen Dong.
Listening to Lin Fang’s idea, Chen Dong stared at her in disbelief. Whether in their past lives or now, Lin Fang had always lived under her family’s protection, frail and dependent. Yet here she was, proposing something so bold.
“Well? Are you in or not?”
“Of course I’m in. What do I have to lose? I’m the one with nothing to lose, not you.”
Sima Laoye watched their conspiratorial exchange with amusement. “What’s this grand plan of yours? Care to share it with me? I’ve been in business for years—I might have some advice. Don’t worry, I won’t reveal your secrets.” His tone was clearly patronizing.
Ignoring his question, Lin Fang stood to leave. “Sima Laoye, you must be exhausted after your long journey. I’ll take my leave so you can rest. You and Rusu must have much to catch up on. I won’t intrude.”
With a gesture to stop Chen Dong from seeing her out, Lin Fang exited through the courtyard gate and returned home. There, she immediately asked Qi Shi to accompany her up the mountain—she needed to discuss something with the old monk.
“Father.”
As soon as Lin Fang left, Chen Dong moved to kneel before Sima Laoye, as was the custom for concubine-born children in the presence of their father or stepmother.
Before she could kneel, Sima Laoye stopped her. “No more kneeling. We’re father and daughter, not master and servant. Leaving you here was the right decision. Though you’re not as radiant as before your illness, you’ve improved greatly since arriving. With time, you’ll regain your beauty.”
Chen Dong didn’t want to dwell on her appearance. She still tried to kneel. “The madam’s household rules state that concubine-born children are half-servants and must kneel before their elders. You’ve been generous to allow me to call you ‘Father,’ but the rules cannot be broken.”
Sima Laoye held her firmly and sighed. “In the past, I was too busy with family business to spend time with you children. I thought your kneeling was merely a sign of respect after long separation. I never realized the truth behind it. During my recent absence, I wasn’t just tending to business—I was also searching for the servants the madam dismissed or sold. Though I only found a few, I learned that your five deceased siblings didn’t die of illness or accidents. They were murdered by the madam.”
Chen Dong trembled. Sima Furen was truly ruthless—she had sought to eliminate all concubine-born children. Including her current body, that was six lives.
“Don’t be afraid,” Sima Laoye soothed, patting her gently. “I’ve already written a letter of divorce. When I return, I’ll cast her out. You’ll never suffer again.”
Chen Dong shook her head. “And after the divorce? You’re still in your prime—you’ll remarry. Not only will I return to my old life, but my sister and brothers, now motherless and former legitimate heirs, will fare even worse.”
Sima Laoye shook his head. “No, I’ll marry a virtuous woman.”
Chen Dong laughed bitterly. “Virtuous? What woman isn’t virtuous before marriage? Who would willingly share a husband? Who would want their children to fight others for inheritance? Virtue? It’s all a lie. If you remarry, leave me here. Don’t speak of returning home again.”
With that, Chen Dong knelt in despair. She wasn’t trying to force Sima Laoye’s hand, but this was an irreconcilable conflict. Sima Laoye was a product of this world—his perspective wasn’t wrong. But she couldn’t knowingly walk into danger just because of his affection. She wasn’t wrong either. The only solution was to leave the Sima family—no more hesitation.
Sima Laoye grew furious. “How have you become so unreasonable after just a few months here? You’re coming home with me today. I neglected you children in the past—that was my fault. From now on, I’ll personally oversee your upbringing.”
“Take me back? Then take my corpse.”
Grabbing a long knitting needle from the table, Chen Dong pressed its tip to her throat. She was truly desperate now. If Sima Laoye tried to force her, she’d plunge the needle in. Death would be a release—she’d always been superfluous anyway.
Sima Laoye hadn’t expected things to escalate like this. His daughter was threatening suicide to avoid returning home. Was the family he’d worked decades to build truly more terrifying than a den of dragons? He’d promised to divorce his wife, yet she’d rather die than go back.
Angry and heartbroken, Sima Laoye stormed out. He’d planned to visit the Lin family to thank them for caring for his daughter, but now he rode off in a rage, even resenting them for corrupting her. He forgot it was he who’d first approached the Lin family.
“Shiyuan! Shiyuan, where are you?”
Snapping out of her grief, Chen Dong suddenly realized she’d neglected Chen Shiyuan during her confrontation with Sima Laoye. Scanning the room, she found no trace of him. Panicked, she called his name, searching the house and courtyard to no avail. She ran outside, calling along the road, but saw no sign of him.
The Lin family heard her cries and joined the search. They combed the riverbanks, ditches, fishing grounds, weeds, construction sites, and every corner of the three workshops—even the two clay pits. Finally, they found Chen Shiyuan on the mountain, coiled around the old monk like a snake. When asked, the boy explained he’d overheard Sima Laoye planning to take his sister away and feared she’d abandon him. The argument had frightened him, so he’d sought out the monk alone.
Chen Dong hugged Chen Shiyuan and wept. “Shiyuan, I’d never leave you. In this life, I’ll never abandon you.”
Lin Fang was stunned by the turn of events. When she’d left, everything had been fine. She’d even arranged for her father to persuade Sima Laoye to let Chen Dong stay and assist her. Now, the matter had resolved itself—just not as she’d hoped. But on reflection, the conflict between Sima Laoye and Chen Dong was indeed irreconcilable. In Chen Dong’s place, she’d have done the same—chosen death over returning.
Once again, Lin Fang felt grateful for her luck. Her father was devoted and unbound by rigid traditions. He didn’t bring random women home or impose strict rules on his children—especially her, whom he spoiled unconditionally.
Two days later, Sima Laoye sent Chen Dong three hundred taels of silver, declaring it the Sima family’s final provision for their unfilial daughter. From then on, Sima Rusu would have no further ties to the Sima family.
This was a severance of their father-daughter relationship. Chen Dong accepted silently, kowtowing three times toward Baishui Town before rising resolutely.
Now cut off from the Sima family, Chen Dong had no income beyond the three hundred taels. Without hesitation, she began teaching at the Lin family school, dividing responsibilities with Lin Fang—Lin Fang handled language classes while she taught arithmetic. Together, they compiled beginner textbooks. The Lin family provided all her living necessities.
Two souls from another world, living in this remote village, now faced the daunting task of compiling history and geography textbooks unfamiliar to them. Their sources were limited to books—first from the Lin household, then from Qi Biao’s study in the Qi residence (after Qi the steward removed anything unsuitable).
The variety of books in Qi Biao’s study astonished Lin Fang and Chen Dong. As they gathered materials, their money-making scheme quietly progressed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage