Her head felt like it was splitting apart. After slowly regaining consciousness, Zuo Mei felt a burst of surprise and joy: she's still alive! After personally watching the car fall from a tall cliff, and still be alive, she's really too fortunate! In the mix of surprise and joy, she abruptly sat up, and was stunned, opening her eyes wide in shock.
Surrounding the bed were two boys and a girl, the older boy was about 12 or so, while the younger boy and the little girl looked no older than 8 or 9. The three were wearing old and worn clothes made out of rough cloth, the little girl's flower dress was already so old that the flower pattern could barely seen.
"It was you guys... who saved me?" Zuo Mei asked, the two boys had long hair that was kept bunched up high, she only thought that they were in some place isolated from the world that kept ancient traditions, and wasn't too surprised.
"Jiejie!" With a great wail, the little girl cried as she fell onto her body, breaking out into sobs as she said: "Jiejie, you can't die, you can't die!"
Jiejie?
The almost 30-year-old Zuo Mei could not help but feel a burst of emotion, thinking in her heart: this little girl really knows how to flatter! Even at this age, she still warrants a little girl calling her 'jiejie'... Hearing her cry miserably, Zuo Mei could not resist reaching out and hugging her, gently patting her back.
The little girl's tiny body froze slightly, then she hugged her even more forcefully, sticking even more tightly to her body.
"Fangqing, let go of jiejie, she can't even breathe already." The larger boy quickly reached out to pull the little girl called Fangqing. You could clearly hear a strange excitement in his voice.
Little Fangqing was pulled away, letting out cat-like whines unhappily, but no longer sticking to Zuo Mei, she obediently stood to one side. Sniffling and staring at Zuo Mei with beautiful shiny black eyes, her gaze was full of love. Zuo Mei took a deep breath, and smiled at the older boy: the older ones are more sensible!
"Where is this place? What- what are your names?" Zuo Mei smiled as she questioned the older boy.
The older boy suddenly opened his eyes wide, staring at Zuo Mei with a stunned look, his expression practically spelled out the four words: 'how could this be'. The smile on Zuo Mei's face began to stiffen, and she started to feel a little weird.
"Jiejie!" Before she even had time to ask, the little girl let out a tearful and earth-shattering shout that shocked her. "Jiejie! You don't recognise us anymore? You don't want us anymore? Uuuu..." The little girl fell onto her body again, letting out great cries.
"Don't cry, don't cry! Jiejie won't abandon us, she definitely won't!" The little boy sniffled, clearly wanting to cry but holding it in by biting his lips, shooting a look full of grievance at Zuo Mei, before pulling on Fangqing's sleeve.
That appearance, it was really way too cute! The watching Zuo Mei could not bear it, it was as if she had done something wrong.
"Jiejie," the older boy finally recovered and pulled away the little girl, pushing her to the little boy to console. He measured Zuo Mei with his gaze, dejectedly saying: "Jiejie, you don't have to be like this, if that Yang family wants to cancel the engagement, then just let them do it! Aren't they just bullying us because we don't have our parents anymore? If jiejie marries over into that kind of family, jiejie won't have an easy time either! Jiejie, I'll support you after this, please don't be sad anymore, okay..."
"......" Zuo Mei listened dazedly, even if the boy said anything more, she would not be able to process it, she could not tell which one of them here was the insane one!
Until she accidentally looked down at her own hands, and her mind exploded with a whoosh!
"Is there a mirror?" Zuo Mei suddenly asked.
"A mirror?" The boy froze, and said.
"Could you get me a basin of water!" The panicking Zuo Mei asked again.
"I'll go!" The little boy had already finished coaxing Fangqing, after hearing her request, he immediately turned and ran out. Not too long after, he carried in a wooden basin shakily, and the older boy quickly ran over to receive it.
Zuo Mei abruptly got off the bed, placing that wooden basin on a worn square table, raising her head and looking, that pale oval face, large eyes, dark red lips... This tenderly young face is definitely not her almost 30-year-old face! These small arms and legs, small body and face, obviously belong to a 14 or 15-year-old malnourished young lady!
Combined with the cries of 'jiejie' from the siblings just now, Zuo Mei's body shook and almost stumbled: she crossed into another world... another world...
"Jiejie!" The older boy hurriedly supported her: "Are you okay? Do you want to sit down and rest for a while?"
"I-" Zuo Mei opened her mouth, but found that she did not know what to say.
She let the boy support her in sitting down, then measured up the house that could be described as destitute, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.
Secretly sighing inside, no matter how chaotic her heart felt right now, she had to admit and accept this reality.
"I'm fine," Zuo Mei forced a smile, and said softly: "I won't die, after today, we're one family..."
"As long as jiejie is fine!" The older boy nodded forcefully, obviously agitated, a smile slowly crept up from the sides of his lips, revealing clean white teeth.
Zuo Mei thought that he was good looking when he laughed so unreservedly.
"Jiejie! Jiejie!" Fangqing rushed into her embrace again, sobbing and coquettishly saying: "Jiejie won't die, jiejie spoils me the most! I don't wantjiejie to die..."
Zuo Mei smiled slightly, and could not help but hug her back hard.
Right now, she could only take things step by step. These three siblings were all so young, from their behaviour, it was clear that they loved this older sister dearly, it probably would not be hard to let them explain things, without revealing any cracks- at this young age, how would they know about reincarnation?
However--
Since she had no pains or illnesses, no scars on her neck, no visible wounds on her body, why were these three little guys crying and clamouring for her not to die?
"Just now-- what happened to me?" Zuo Mei asked with a smile.
"That fat woman from the Hua family came to our yard and started shouting and scolding us ouside, after jiejie listened to it, jiejie collapsed on the ground, and, and then you stopped breathing!" Fangqing spoke quickly.
"The Hua family?" Zuo Mei froze slightly.
"Fangqing!" The older boy softly admonished his little sister, then turned to Zuo Mei with a puzzled look: "Doesn't jiejie remember the Huas?"
Zuo Mei rubbed her temples and smiled wryly: "I don't know what happened either, after waking up, my mind is a little, a little messed up, a lot of things aren't very clear now..."
The older boy nodded with a look of sudden understanding, he was not even the slightest bit suspicious, and without needing Zuo Mei to ask, he then said: "Half a year ago, after our father and mother passed away in a flash flood after going up to the mountains, jiejie's fiance's family, the Yangs, kept wanting to cancel the engagement, but jiejie--"
The boy glanced awkwardly at Zuo Mei.
It was obvious that the previous Zuo Mei had been adamantly against this.
Yet it was not possible to fault her, her family was poor, without parents, and there were even three young siblings, with this kind of family background, once the engagement was cancelled, how would any other family be willing to let her marry in?
She smiled and nodded understandingly, then asked: "What happened after that?"
Upon seeing that she had really completely let go of her previous grievances, the older boy's spirit picked up, and he hurriedly continued: "The Yangs couldn't cancel the engagement, but they were looking favourably upon one of the maidens in our village, so they told the Hua family, to let them find a way to make jiejie cancel the engagement. Then that old woman let her family's eldest daughter-in-law Madam Liu shout and scold at our door from time to time, jiejie was incensed by her words that jiejie fainted... at least jiejie is fine now! Otherwise, I'll pit my life against that Madam Liu!"
So that's what happened!
Zuo Mei secretly sighed in her heart, your sister didn't faint from anger, she actually died from her anger! This lady was way too easily agitated!
A sharp voice came from outside the door, Zuo Mei couldn't help but prick up her ears and listen--
The bigger boy frowned. He suddenly turned around saying: "I'll go get rid of this woman!"
"Wait!" Zou Mei held him back and continued to listen.
The more she listened the more her brows wrinkled up. No wonder that girl died of rage. Those words that Mrs Liu said were really ugly to listen. Words dripping with venom, mean, vicious, a whole devilish rant.
Facing this not just that girl, but even Zou Mei listening for a while couldn't help feeling a surge of anger and became fed up.
She suddenly got up, picked the basin from the table and quickly rushed out with a "Crash!" to drench Mrs Liu with its contents. The woman had her hands on her hips and facing the Lian family home was yelling loudly scattering spit everywhere. Suddenly a basin worth of cold water fell on her out of the blue startling her to a scream "AAAAHH". That in turn made all the water get into her eyes, mouth and nose resulting in lots of squinting and choking.
There was also weather at the end of September, chilly, making it very easily to catch a cold.
"Who, who, is, that wicked----achoo! Achoo!" Mrs Liu was shocked as well as angry. She wiped the remainder of the water from her face.
"Your family's aunt!" Zou Mei placed the basin on the ground. She pointed at Mrs Liu and yelled: " Dead bitch, you dare run wild at my threshold. Next time it won't be cold water but manure! And even that won't stink as much as your mouth does!"
"You, you, you---" Mrs Liu was so surprised that her eyes opened wide. Not daring to believe the existence of an arrogant little girl in front of her.
Was this the timid eldest daughter of Lian family? Could it be that her eyes seen wrongly?
A round of cheering arrived from the distant group of watching villagers that naturally gathered to spectate the exciting confrontation. Laughter and several words of ridicule were directed at Mrs Liu who found herself in a difficult situation. Some people though were whispering while stealing glances at Zou Mei.
Clearly, they, like Mrs Liu were also shocked.
This Lian girl, today her temperament changed completely!
However, even a clay figurine is also three parts soil! If one wanted to assign blame, then it would be on Mrs Liu's mouth for being too wicked...
"You dare drench me!" Regaining her wits the woman screamed and charged Zou Mei.
But she was already prepared and sidestepped smiling coldly.
Who would have thought that at the same time the big brother, fearing his sister would be at a disadvantage, collared the younger two to pick wooden sticks and holding a broom rushed out of the house. Yelling "Do not bully my sister!" they rushed at Mrs Liu together.
Mrs Liu, in shock, subconsciously took a step back. Caught of guard she slipped and with an "Ouch" fell heavily into the puddle made of water which was just used to splash her. Her whole body got covered in mud.
"Bwahaha" That embarrassing appearance set the people off into laughter again.
Zou Mei and the siblings couldn't help but start laughing as well. Particularly Fang Qing, who laughed with the most joy. Her laugh was like a tinkling clear sound.
Mrs Liu felt shamed and angry. Her flat like a pancake face turned purple. When she was about to get up, she saw Zou Mei standing in front of her. The girl, voice cold and full of condescension, said : "Stop dirtying my doorstep and bug off! Breaking the engagement is no big deal, right? Just bring money! Now scram!"
Mrs Liu's face went through various shades of red then back to purple. She choked and choked, and while she really wanted to be like her usual self, hurling vicious, ferocious at that damn Lian Fang Zhou, her tongue was numb. She couldn't even spit out a single abusive word.
Eventually, after much difficulty, she picked up herself and her jaw, threw out a "You just wait!" and ran away.
Lian Fang Zhou faced the excited onlookers and bowed around: "All the uncles, aunties, brothers and sisters, that Mrs Liu was a beastly bully. Us siblings have no other way than fight back. If the Hua family come to look for trouble, please help by being a witness."
All the people nodded. Seven mouths, eight tongues talked and many said the siblings didn't have it easy.
"Fang Zhou, don't worry! Bullying few parentless orphans, justice won't allow it! If that kind of rumour spreads out, our Dafang village's reputation will be ruined! If they dare come and make trouble again, everyone will definitely help speak for you!"
Said a middle aged woman wearing somewhat old dark red dress stepping out. Other people chimed in that she was right. Hearing that the lady dismissed the gathered crowd "It's alright now, it's alright. Everyone go busy yourself!"
"Aunt Zhang, thank you!" Lian Ze bowed deeply towards the woman.
"Aah, this child, why so polite!" she quickly stopped him from bowing and exclaimed:"Alright, you guys quickly go back! Do what you're supposed to do, if you need any help, just come to our house and say so. Do not need to hesitate!"
"Aunt Zhang, you have already helped us out so much. In future we will definitely repay you and uncle Li." Lian Ze said gratefully.
Aunt Zhang sighed. She said softly: "Silly child, saying silly things! When your parents were alive, didn't they also help us many times? We're all one village, no need to see yourself as an outsider!
As she talked, she turned to Zou Mei---supposed to be called Lian Fang Zhou. Embracing Fang Zhou's hands, she continued: "Good girl, don't be depressed! No matter what the days are like, carry on living! You are the eldest, so let's not talk about others, just for your few siblings, you have to be strong!"
Lian Fang Zhou's heart warmed, she nodded her head and smiled as she said: "Aunt Zhang, thank you. I will. From now on, who would dare to even think about bullying us siblings!"
Aunt Zhang thinking of Fang Zhou's previous tough behaviour, smiled and said: "It's great that you thought it through!" but she couldn't help to ask : "You really --- promised to break off the engagement?"
"Aunt Zhang." Lian Fang Zhou laughed and said: "This isn't the question of whether I am willing or not. The other party already forced their way to the door. Why should I suffer from their pestering?"
Lian Fang Zhou, heart full of gloom, thought: Marriage? She's to lazy to want this bothersome marriage! If she can break it off, then she's lucky! If she can't then that would be bad!
"Well said!" Aunt Zhang couldn't help but give her a thumb up: "Have ambition! At last you can think it through! Your parents in heavens can rest in peace!"
With their parents mentioned, the siblings' looks darkened.
Aunt Zhang really softly said: "Don't be sad, sooner or later you will have to face it! It is the truth! For us, poor people, the most important thing is to realise the truth. Endure a bit and it will pass! Alright, this auntie should return now. The day isn't young, need to hurry home and make dinner. I told Ah Juan to pick lots of beans, and winter melon. In a while, come to my home and get some."
Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Fang Ze busily gave their thanks.
Seeing Aunt Zhang go, the siblings also returned home.
Their house was a three room one, there was a main room and two bedrooms. Upstair attic was used for food storage. Kitchen was located outside, under eaves in a corner.
Exterior of the building was perhaps the original stone structure, but due to long years, half of the roof tiles had been replaced with thick bark-based thatch.
While the interior, beside few pieces of old, rough, wooden furniture and partially missing tea set, was devoid of anything substantial.
It seemed like that Lian Fang Zhou wasn't a hard working person. With Lian Ze being a boy and Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che very young, the interior was dirty and messy, really chaotic in appearance.
"Sister, you rest a moment. I'll go cook the rice and after a while I'll pick some vegetables from the garden. Ah Che you watch the fire. Fang Qing go check if the two old hens returned yet. Spread some feed and quickly lock up the chicken cage ---but be prudent, don't use too much.
Lian Ze commanded skillfully and the little guys immediately agreed.
Lian Fang Zhou softly rubbed her forehead: Isn't she the eldest sister? Shouldn't she give out the orders? And---
"What about me? What should i do?" Lian Fang Zhou couldn't help asking.
Lian Ze froze. So did Lian Che and Lian Fang Qing. Lian Fang Zhou felt ashamed: so she was always a freeloader.... This Lian Fang Zhou was too unreasonable. For that unwanted betrothal, making her wallow in self-pity until she turned into this?
"How about this, I'll go to pick the vegetables! Qing'er, you'll accompany sister, is that okay?" Lian Fang Zhou felt uncomfortable under the gaze of three pairs of eyes.
"Okay, okay! I'll go accompany sister!" Lian Fang Qing crisply agreed, beautiful eyes laughing til her eyebrow curved.
Lian Che quickly said : "Brother, I'll look for the hens now."
Lian Ze still a little bit shocked, replied "Alright" in a daze while watching the two sisters carry the vegetable basket out.
"Brother, don't you feel that our sister is not the same?" Lian Che raised his small little head towards his older brother
"En." Lian Ze nodded his head. He rubbed his head and smiling asked: "Don't you think sister is great now?"
Lian Che thought about it, and nodded his head: "Great!"
"That's good!" Lian Ze laughed.
Lian's vegetable patch was not far away from the house's east wall. Six, maybe seven rows of vegetables. It was not pretty to look at. It was the end of September, the time of the year when vegetables were the most scarce.
Reaching this season, the ground really lacked in a potential harvest. Beans, chili peppers, and cucumbers were all coming to the end of their life. All the vines and stems were half dry and yellowish with scarce patches of green. An occasional leaf and puny shriveled fruit, really nothing to collect.
Under all that, a barely visible half a plot of red, sweet potato, but with leaves of unhealthy green color.
This made the agricultural graduate Zou Mei lament in her heart.
However, Lian Fang Qing was very calm and said: "Sister, we'll dig out some sweet potatoes! This morning second brother said that tonight we'll eat sweet potato porridge!"
In this whole garden only this looked edible. Lian Fang Zhou sighed and nodded: "Alright!"
These sweet potatoes had really small tubers. Even with one glance, Lian Fang Zhou could tell this was the result of growing the plant from a whole sweet potato, unlike the modern method of using a stem or root cutting.
This way of cultivation not only wasted the seeds but also offered low yields. Yet at the same time, she didn't know if other people knew the method of using cuttings.......
She thought to herself while digging.
The two sisters harvested five, then six tubers. Lian Fang Zhou also picked a handful of shriveled beans and some small chili peppers. Then they went back.
The bean vines were dead and could only be pulled out. As for the chili peppers, if the soil around them was loosened and fertilized, they might possibly revive, become green, bloom and bear fruit again.
She planned to come here tomorrow to tidy up a bit.
Like Aunt Zhang said, this life, she still had to carry on living it!
Wasn't that right! Now that she was at this place, she could only look forward to the days ahead.
On the way back, Lian Fang Zhou casually asked Lian Fang Qing about the condition of their field.
Lian Fang Qing was still young. Some parts of her answer were clear and some not so much. Lian Fang Zhou could only abandon the inquiries. Better to carefully ask Lian Ze. That child matured early and had to know more.
"Lian Fang Zhou, Qing'er, you came back! Mum told me to send down two bags of beans and a winter melon. I handed it over to Lian Ze!"
The two just reached the yard's entrance and saw a round-faced girl of a similar age coming out from the house.
Lian Fang Zhou smiled as she gave her thanks while Lian Fang Qing cried out with twinkling laughter: "Sister Juan!"
Lian Fang Zhou then understood this was Aunt Zhang's daughter, Li Juan.
"Auntie is really generous!" Lian Fang Zhou smiled.
"Say nothing of the kind. Our two families have always been close to each other, I will go back now!" Li Juan smiled as she departed.
"Ah, you can go slowly!" Lian Fang Zhou smiled watching her leave and then she with her sister went inside.
The porridge was nearly done cooking, with a faint aroma coming out from the dark metal pan. Even with a wooden lid on, the smell could be felt. Lian Fang Zhou was really a bit hungry.
The siblings washed the sweet potatoes clean, cut them into pieces and put them in the pan.
Lian Ze then went to chop some firewood. Lian Che watched the fire. Lian Fang Qing was luring the two hens, who were going in circles clucking around the yard, back into the chicken coop.
Lian Fang Zhou looked around, picked up a broom and then started cleaning up the room.
"What did you come for? Our home doesn't welcome you, get out!"
Lian Ze's voice suddenly boomed in the yard, the tone was cold and filled with hostility.
Lian Fang Zhou froze as she also heard Lian Fang Qing yell childishly: "You're not allowed to bully my sister!"
She quickly tossed the broom aside and went out asking: "Ah Ze, Qing'er, who came?"
"Sister!" Lian Ze was starting to panic. He wanted to stop her seeing the visitor. But his efforts weren't enough.
As she came over, a young man in a somewhat old, bamboo green robe yelled her name looking both surprised and happy.
"What are you doing! Did you not hear me tell you to get out?" Lian Ze was really anxious. He ran to block him while staring coldly.
"Ah Ze!" Lian Fang Zhou frowned slightly, she couldn't figure out what was going on.
"Sister. Why do you still wish to see him? The Yang family doesn't have a single good member, why do you still see him? Did you forget what you said just today?" Lian Ze was anxious as well as annoyed. With a dash of distressed anger on top.
"Fang Zhou no need to worry. Breaking the engagement is my parent's idea. I wouldn't agree! I just got back from helping at the horse races and heard about it. I came specifically to tell you, I will definitely marry you!"
The young man solemnly said as he looked at Lian Fang Zhou.
Lian Fang Zhou was stunned. This was the deity-like fiance, Yang Huai Shan? His looks were quite pleasing to the eye, with a darker than normal skin and rather nice face. He looked to be of fine spirit and quiet temperament
And he treated her not too bad. No wonder the previous Lian Fang Zhou didn't want to let go of this engagement.
A pity she wasn't the previous Lian Fang Zhou and this marriage wouldn't happen.
"No need!" Lian Fang Zhou's with a serious face said indifferently: " Marriage matters are decided by parents. Yours have already matched you with another... You better obey their will!"
"Fang Zhou, I----"
"Let me finish speaking!" Lian Fang Zhou continued quietly: "Now my parents are both dead. Before my siblings grow up, I will definitely not marry. Since your parents don't like me, I don't want to marry into your home and face their scorn all day. So better to forget about this betrothal. However, it's good that you came today! I'll tell you this; dissolution of the engagement was initiated by your family. So if you want the marriage contract, bring ten liang in exchange--- I hope my conditions aren't over the top?
Yang Huai Shan was completely lost and shocked, he looked at Lian Fang Zhou as if she was a stranger.
Lian Ze also froze. It looked like he wanted to say something and moved his lips, but he said nothing. He just stood closer to Lian Fang Zhou's side and silently supported his sister.
"Haha" Yang Huai Shan face paled and he said self-deprecatingly "Ten liang? Is that all? Why don't you ask for more? So in your heart, our engagement is worth only that much money?"
Lian Fang Zhou looked at him and calmly said: "I actually want more! I'm just afraid your parents would say I have a lion's big mouth and wouldn't give anything in anger. That's not worth it!"
"You!" Yang Huai Shan was so angry that he couldn't say anything. His heart hurt with disappointment.
He couldn't believe it. He looked at her with hope and said: "Fang Zhou, this isn't what you really think. These are words said in anger, right? Or are you in a bind? Don't worry, I will come back. My business I can decide for myself. I will talk with my parents!"
Lian Fang Zhou sighed in her heart. Shaking her head and meeting his gaze, she said: "Don't work yourself up, trying to find emotions that are not there! I can swear that these words come from my heart, so not another word. The day isn't young anymore, so you need to leave quickly. After all, hosting an adult man at this time in one's home isn't proper! Listen to your parents and carry on living well. And don't forget to bring the money to exchange for the marriage contract!"
Yang Huai Shan's arms which he held by his sides began to tremble uncontrollably. His heart was extremely sad and extremely angry. For a while, he couldn't say anything.