Outside the window, the birds chirped crisply, and gusts of warm wind carrying the fragrance of flowers slipped in with the sunlight, becoming the only pleasant sight in this cramped and dilapidated room.
A bed made of two wooden planks was covered with a thin, discolored mattress. On it lay a frail girl of about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in coarse, tattered clothing, her sallow face framed by a tangled mess of black hair. Her entire body was filthy, and her worn-out shirt had a tear somewhere, revealing a patch of slightly paler skin. The tattered quilt, barely covering half of her body, left her grimy feet exposed.
The girl’s eyelids fluttered, and her clear, bewildered eyes slowly opened. She shifted slightly, only to be overwhelmed by waves of pain that surged through her body like a flood. Qiao Ran hissed in pain and lay back down, her gaze landing on the mottled black walls, a rickety table missing a leg propped against the wall, and a large chest without a lid—utter destitution.
She had just enjoyed a lavish dinner with her beloved before going to bed. Who would have thought that upon waking up… she’d find herself in this wretched place? It was so unfair—like that last meal had been her final supper before execution.
Taking a deep breath, Qiao Ran tried to sit up slowly. Glancing down at herself, she nearly gagged at the state of her clothes. How long had the original owner gone without cleaning herself? Maybe the King of Hell couldn’t bear to take this body and had dragged her in as a replacement, leaving the original owner’s memories with her.
The original owner wasn’t the brightest, spending her days being teased by a group of brats. Her sister-in-law treated her like a fly, constantly shooing her away with curses. Only a fool could stay cheerful under such treatment. Yet, the once lively girl had suddenly fallen gravely ill, lying on this broken bed for two days before passing away.
Just as Qiao Ran was about to get out of bed, one foot still hovering above the ground, a sharp, furious voice rang out from outside:
“Chunmu’s wife, don’t blame me for speaking bluntly. You were the one begging me to find a match for your sister-in-law. I barely mentioned it to the family when she suddenly took to her bed. If this isn’t going to work, let’s call it off—maybe it’ll even save her life.”
Thinking back to the original owner’s memories, Qiao Ran recalled how her sister-in-law had tricked her into agreeing to the marriage with just a bowl of plain noodles. The moment she nodded, her sister-in-law had rushed to the matchmaker. After much effort, Jicheng, the lone bachelor at the end of the village, had agreed. But then the original owner fell ill, seemingly confirming Jicheng’s notorious reputation for bringing bad luck—almost killing her before the betrothal was even finalized. Her sister-in-law had spent the past two days covering her nose and cursing by her bedside:
“Useless girl! Chunfu—where’s the ‘fu’ (fortune) in you? Only those two old fools treated you like a treasure. Thank goodness they died early, or how would we survive?”
“T-this… don’t say that! She’s much better now. Come and see for yourself!” The cautious, ingratiating voice clearly belonged to Chunfu’s sister-in-law.
The matchmaker followed her into the room, skeptical at first but brightening when she saw Qiao Ran sitting up. “See? She’s fine! Please do your best to make this match happen. You won’t be shortchanged if it succeeds.”
The matchmaker’s expression softened, and she smiled. “Seems she’s tough after all. I’ll talk to Jicheng. As her sister-in-law, you ought to clean her up a bit. Look at her—she looks like a beggar on the run. Even I’d be embarrassed to present her, let alone Jicheng. He may have a bad reputation, but his looks are renowned across the villages. Don’t disgrace him.”
The sister-in-law gave Qiao Ran a disgusted once-over and nodded eagerly. “You’re right. I’ll tidy her up later.”
Qiao Ran frowned as she watched them exchange pleasantries, her gaze fixed on the matchmaker’s blood-red lips flapping arrogantly as she scolded the sister-in-law. The sight of such a bully made her nauseous. She had always despised such people. Maybe she should have just pretended to be dead and ruined this marriage arrangement.
The sister-in-law bowed and scraped as she saw the matchmaker out, then instantly transformed into a snarling shrew. She jabbed a rough, work-worn finger at Qiao Ran and barked, “You troublemaker! Since you’re still breathing, get up and move! Fetch water from the well and wash yourself. All you do is eat—raising a pig would be more worthwhile than wasting food on you!”
When her sister-in-law didn’t budge, she grew even angrier, grabbing a broom and whacking Qiao Ran’s back several times. “Are you deaf? Hurry up! Expecting me to wait on you? I must’ve been cursed in eight lifetimes to marry into this family and be saddled with an idiot like you. The sooner you’re married off, the sooner we’ll have peace!”
The original owner had been terrified of beatings, but Qiao Ran, now in her body, didn’t cower. The sister-in-law was short and plump, her cheeks wobbling as she spoke. Even standing straight, she was a head shorter than Chunfu. Though weak, Qiao Ran mustered her strength and, catching the sister-in-law off guard, shoved the broom backward with all her might. A loud thud followed as the woman landed hard on her backside. Qiao Ran glared at her hatefully.
Stunned by the fall, the sister-in-law struggled to get up, her face dark with rage. “You’ve got a death wish! If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll be tearing the roof off next!” She lunged for Qiao Ran’s collar but froze at the sound of a weary voice.
A tall, gaunt man pushed through the tattered bamboo curtain. His thick brows framed wide eyes, his nose strong, lips pale—handsome, if not for his sickly pallor. His voice was deep. “What are you doing? Bullying her is bad enough, but now that she’s just recovered, you’re at it again? Li Xiu’e, don’t go too far. She’s my sister.”
Li Xiu’e had married Zhang Chunmu for his good looks, despite his poverty and the burden of a foolish sister. No one else would have him, so she’d thrown tantrums until her parents relented. Chunmu was weak but diligent, working tirelessly in the fields and with livestock, earning the envy of other women. Pampered, she’d grown plump. Rarely scolded by him, she now flushed with shame as their two sons watched. “This idiot eats and drinks at my expense every day! Can’t I even raise my voice at her?”
Chunmu’s heart ached at the sight of his sister standing there dazed. He’d always tolerated his wife’s cruelty out of gratitude for her marrying him despite his circumstances. Now, guilt overwhelmed him. He pulled Chunfu out of the room. “Don’t be afraid anymore. If she bullies you again, tell me. I’ll stand up for you.”
Still weak from malnutrition, Qiao Ran’s vision blurred, her stomach gnawing with hunger. His words only made her angrier. She looked up at him with watery eyes, feigning innocence. “Then where were you before?”
Chunmu’s heart twisted, but she suddenly grinned, reverting to her foolish act. “Ma told me to say that. She said you’d feel bad. Brother, I saw Ma in my dream. She was crying.”
Knowing Chunmu’s filial piety, Qiao Ran twisted the knife, watching his pained expression with satisfaction—a small revenge for the original owner. Childishly, she patted her grimy belly. “I’m so hungry.”
Chunmu shot Li Xiu’e a glare and pulled Qiao Ran along. “Go cook! Once she’s eaten, heat water for her to wash properly. Then she’ll move into Father and Mother’s old room. I’ve failed you, but it won’t happen again. As for Jicheng… his reputation isn’t great, but he’s hardworking and honest. Marrying him won’t be bad. If he dares mistreat you, I won’t let him off.”
The courtyard was tidy, with a small vegetable patch where tender green leaves swayed in the breeze. A grapevine climbed eagerly, promising a lush harvest—though Qiao Ran wouldn’t be around to see it.
With the matchmaker’s visit, the marriage seemed inevitable. Soon, Jicheng would come to propose. As a “fool,” she had no say—even if they paired her with a monster, she couldn’t refuse. To them, she was just a puppet, to be ordered around. She could adapt, but becoming a stranger’s wife so soon? Yet, as an outsider in this unfamiliar world, this was her safest option. If she had to settle down, marriage was her only path.
In her past life, Qiao Ran had lost her parents in high school, supporting herself through college with their savings and part-time jobs. She’d landed a decent job and lived independently, with no attachments. Though initially disoriented by this twist of fate, she quickly accepted it. Countless transmigrators had failed to return—why waste energy trying? She’d make the best of it. The only regret was the budding romance she’d left behind.
She saw it clearly now: this peaceful little home reeked of poverty. Aside from the plump sister-in-law, Chunmu and his two sons were as thin as sticks. Marrying off daughters to ease financial burdens was common, but she’d never imagined it would happen to her. What rotten luck.
Qiao Ran washed her hands, staring at her grimy reflection in the basin. The water turned black instantly. As her sister-in-law dumped a basin of dirty water outside, she shot Qiao Ran a venomous glare—more terrifying than any beast.
Honestly, it was disgusting. If this weren’t her own face, she’d have wondered: Is this even human?
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