Wu Li's father worked at the town slaughterhouse. As an only child, she was heavily built, yet incredibly picky. At 26, she was still unmarried.
Zhou Jianmin had a decent appearance, and with a brother serving as a company commander in the army who sent his allowance home every month, he had plenty of money to spend and often loitered around town.
Although Wu Li wasn't good-looking, her family was well-off, and she was an only child. Whoever married her would eventually take over her father's job at the slaughterhouse.
One was after the other's looks, while the other was after the job.
They hit it off instantly, and Wu Li married into the village.
In her eyes, all pretty women were seductresses, so she made things difficult for the original owner of Lin Zhilan's body in every possible way after marrying into the family.
After Zhou Chen died in the line of duty, she bullied the original owner and Linlin even more brazenly, even making the original owner wash her everyday clothes.
Now that she knew the quilt she usually slept under belonged to Lin Zhilan, she glared at Wang Guifen reproachfully. Mother, stop stuffing my room with garbage from now on!
I...
Wang Guifen was furious. It was such a nice quilt cover that she couldn't even bear to use it herself. She had given it to her with all her heart, only to have it called garbage.
Wu Li stormed into her room, slamming the door so hard it shook the heavens.
Aren't you going to rein in your wife?
Zhou Jianmin avoided his mother's gaze. I can't afford to mess with her.
Lin Zhilan walked out of the Zhou family home carrying the quilt and a suitcase. The neighbors who had been watching the drama unfold quickly scattered.
Lin Zhilan called out to one of the women, Auntie Jinhua, do you want a red silk quilt cover?
Zhao Jinhua stopped in her tracks. Her daughter was getting married soon, and she had been worrying about not having a decent, presentable quilt cover.
I've never used this red silk quilt cover before; my sister-in-law only used it for a few days. If you don't mind, I'd like to trade it with you for some things.
Zhao Jinhua was tempted.
Country folks all wore homespun cloth. Red cloth was hard to find, let alone silk.
She didn't mind that it had been used; she could just wash it.
What do you want to trade it for? She pulled Lin Zhilan to the side.
Lin Zhilan replied, Just some food. Would rice be alright?
Linlin was only three years old. Eating too many sweet potatoes would make her stomach bloated and uncomfortable.
Zhao Jinhua thought about it and told her to wait there. She brought out a cloth sack filled with five liters of rice from her house.
This is all your auntie can offer. Trade if you're willing.
Deal!
Lin Zhilan opened her suitcase, took the cotton out of the quilt, and handed the cover to Zhao Jinhua.
In the original owner's memory, Zhao Jinhua was the only one who would say a few good words for her when everyone else was spreading wild rumors.
The red silk quilt cover was of no use to her and her daughter right now. Trading it for some food, even at a slight loss, was fine.
After taking the suitcase and the cotton quilt core back to the old house, little Linlin was still asleep.
Lin Zhilan went back to the Zhou family home once more.
For no other reason than she remembered that the Zhou family's chickens had always been fed and cared for by the original owner.
After a fierce struggle, as Lin Zhilan walked out of the Zhou house carrying two hens, Wang Guifen's curses echoed throughout the entire village.
Mother, Lin Zhilan stood at the door, a chicken in each hand, with a smile on her face. What are two chickens? The money Zhou Chen sent back over the years must be close to a thousand, right? I haven't seen a single penny of it.
And this house was built with Zhou Chen's money. Otherwise, let's call the elders and the village party secretary, calculate every single account clearly, and divide the family property all over again?
Wang Guifen's jaw dropped, looking at her in disbelief. You're not Lin Zhilan. Who are you?
The former Lin Zhilan only had a pretty face; she would shed tears at the slightest breeze, cried at the drop of a hat, and never dared to argue with anyone.
Today, she had gone against her several times. Wang Guifen suspected she was possessed by something.
The possessed Lin Zhilan didn't panic at all. In these times, superstitions like ghosts and evil spirits were the biggest taboos. Even if they suspected something, there was nothing they could do.
I've just figured things out. I can let the money and the house go, but you all better bother me less from now on!
Leaving those words behind, she walked off triumphantly with the two chickens.
Back home, little Linlin had already woken up. She sat obediently on the bed. She hadn't cried, but her eyes were a little red.
Lin Zhilan bent down, picked her up, and walked outside. Look, baby, see what Mommy brought back.
The two chickens had just been through a chaotic brawl and were now looking a bit sluggish, huddled in the corner of the yard.
Chicken.
Yes, big mother hens. Later, they'll lay eggs for our baby to eat.
Linlin shook her head. I won't eat them. Uncle eats them.
Lin Zhilan wanted to curse, but in front of the child, she held back.
Your uncle doesn't deserve to eat them. They are for the baby.
Mommy eats them.
Yes, Mommy and baby will eat them together.
Hearing this, Linlin smiled so widely her eyes curved into little crescents.
Lin Zhilan had never raised chickens before. Just to be safe, she took some spring water and grass from her spatial dimension to feed them.
The hens didn't disappoint; they laid two eggs that very night.
The family only had one pot, so boiling rice and stir-frying dishes had to be done in turns.
Lin Zhilan held her daughter by the stove when she suddenly caught a whiff of a sweet, fragrant rice aroma.
Lin Zhilan paused.
The child was still young, so she didn't dare let her drink the spiritual spring water directly, but she had added some to the water used for cooking the rice.
She hadn't expected it to have such an effect.
Suppressing the greedy worms in her stomach, Lin Zhilan finished making the egg fried rice, and she and her daughter enjoyed a satisfying meal.
Little Linlin looked at her empty bowl with pity, still wanting more.
Lin Zhilan rubbed her little tummy and smiled, If you like it, Mommy will make it again tomorrow.
She didn't know when it started, but calling herself Mommy had become increasingly natural.
Linlin nodded happily, feeling a bit sleepy.
It wasn't good to sleep immediately after a full meal, so Lin Zhilan walked with her for two laps around the yard before taking her to wash up.
Early the next morning, Lin Zhilan had breakfast with her daughter, then carried her to the Village Party Secretary's place.
Zhou Chen's wife, what brings you here so early in the morning?
Village Secretary Zhou Lizhong puffed on his cigarette, his brows furrowed tightly.
Zhou Chen had been the finest young man in the village. Now that he had sacrificed his life, the old secretary felt terrible about it.
Lin Zhilan coaxed her daughter, Say hi to Grandpa Zhou.
Grandpa Zhou~
Oh, hey there, what a good girl.
Little Linlin looked as lovely as carved jade. Her sweet greeting instantly warmed his heart.
Lin Zhilan asked, Secretary Zhou, when will the grain be distributed this year?
The autumn harvest just ended not long ago. We'll distribute it after we hand in the state-purchased grain and set aside the seeds.
Secretary Zhou, my mother-in-law and I have divided the household. Could you please separate my work points? I'll come to collect the grain myself.
The Zhou family had divided their household, but their previous work points were still calculated together.
In the book, Wang Guifen directly claimed the original owner's work points, using the beautiful excuse of keeping them safe for the mother and daughter.
Later, when the original owner went to ask for them, she was falsely accused of being lazy and greedy, trying to take advantage of her in-laws.
Hearing this, Secretary Zhou frowned even deeper and asked further, How was the household divided?
Lin Zhilan replied, The old house was given to Linlin and me, along with two liters of rice and a sack of sweet potatoes.
Secretary Zhou secretly cursed Wang Guifen for acting so unethically.
Who divides a family like that?
