Chapter 1 Someone Seeks Help

  Shen Huan slowly opened her eyes, listening to the sound of roosters outside the window. She blinked a few times and stared in the direction of the beam, as if she had forgotten when she last heard the sound of roosters. Probably after entering university, she no longer woke up so early. Shen Huan almost forgot that sound that urged people to get up early, which always started before dawn.

  As usual, she waited until the rooster crowed three times before sitting up and seeing a dim yellow light shining from the west wing, casting a slightly distorted shadow on the paper window. Immediately afterwards, she heard a rustling sound coming from the main house, and with a sigh of resignation, she got out of bed and started dressing.

  She put on a coarse linen garment, Shen Huan stumbled to the table in her shoes, and with still not very skilled hands, she fumbled in the dark to tie up her hair, made it into a simple bun, fixed it with a hairpin, and then couldn't help but look at her own rough hands again, and let out another sigh.

  A month's time was enough for her to understand what had happened to herself and start getting used to the life here, but it would still take some time to accept it calmly.

  Shen Huan quietly pushed open the door, habitually walked to the well, bent down to lift the bucket, but found that it was already filled with clear water. She couldn't help but slightly curl up her lips, turned her head to glance at the west wing, thinking that it must be that bookworm who got up early again to read books and helped herself by fetching water.

  She quickly picked up the water scoop, washed herself in the yard, and then refilled half a basin of warm water and carried it into the main room. She gently said to her mother-in-law, Li Shi, who was still on the kang: "Mother, wash your face!"

  "Shh... be quiet, Xiao Ge is reading."

  Mr. Li had already dressed and was preparing to get up when he saw his daughter-in-law enter the room with a basin, so he lifted up the quilt and got out of bed.

  "Don't worry, mom. My little uncle is so focused on reading that even if someone sets off firecrackers under his window, he probably won't hear it."

  Shen Huan put the basin on the basin rack and then soaked a coarse cloth towel in water, wrung it out and handed it to Li Shi.

  "That's also true!"

  Just thinking of her young son's diligence, Li was so delighted that her eyes narrowed into a line. She took the handkerchief from Shen Huan and wiped her face twice, then turned to look at her, revealing a slightly satisfied expression: "You've been in a good mood these past few days, but what's the point of always looking gloomy? Life has to go on, doesn't it? It's better like this, everyone is happy and comfortable."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Although Kai'er is no longer here, your father insisted that you marry as scheduled, which is indeed a hardship for you. However, since you're married to him now, you should just focus on living a good life at home. I won't skimp on your food or chopsticks either."

  "The mother scolded her, and the daughter-in-law knew."

  It seems to be the case, but Shen Huan didn't take it to heart anyway. She wasn't clear about how her body was before and didn't want to ask too much, so she just nodded in agreement. Anyway, she has temporarily adapted to life here for now.

  With her left hand, she took over the wet towel that Li had used to wipe his face and with her right hand, she picked up the butter on the table and handed it to him.

  Mrs. Li rubbed a small amount of rice-sized grains on her palm and then wiped it on her face, while continuing to mutter: "Yesterday I heard Wang Erpo's wife say that the grain price seems to be going up again, so today you'll follow me to the street to buy two months' worth of rice and flour, and also collect the rent from Old Wang and Old Li's house."

  "Uh-huh."

  Shen Han responded with her mouth while her hands didn't stop, quickly tidying up the house, pouring water under the trees in the yard, and going to the corner of the yard to fetch a bundle of firewood to prepare for cooking. Although she was a small white-collar worker in her previous life, she was originally born in the countryside and wasn't unfamiliar with these chores either.

  Breakfast is not complicated, the buns were steamed beforehand, just scooped two spoons of rice to cook porridge, waited until the rice was soft and rotten, poured yesterday's leftover dishes into it, beat an egg in and stir-fry, and the vegetable porridge was done.

  After the bowls and chopsticks were laid out, Shen Huan went to call her mother-in-law and younger uncle to come and eat. The Zhao family attaches importance to not speaking while eating and not talking in bed, so the three people bowed their heads and ate, the room was quiet with only the occasional sound of bowls and chopsticks colliding.

  The courtyard door was suddenly slammed open with a loud "bang", and Shen Huan immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks, got up to see what was going on, thinking who would be so reckless as to rush in without even knocking.

  Just as she was thinking, she had just walked to the door when she bumped into the younger daughter of the wealthy Yuan family in town, Zuo Xing. All she heard was a "ouch" as she covered her nose with one hand, while the other hand grabbed Shen Han's sleeve and pulled her towards the gate, shouting non-stop: "Aunt Zhao, come with me quickly! My aunt has just seen red, it looks like she's going to give birth, my mother asked me to find you to help out..."

  The sound of chopsticks tapping on the table came from behind, followed by a clear and slightly dissatisfied voice: "So early in the morning, you're already like this, without a head or brain, truly lacking discipline."

  Zuo Xing's hand hastily dropped, and she turned her head to see Zhao Xi Qiao's fair and handsome face, although with a thin layer of anger, but still better-looking than any other man she had seen. She was embarrassed by her own thoughts, her face flushing red, and she lowered her head to fiddle with the hem of her clothes, her voice unconsciously softening: "Zhao Er Ge, my mother asked me to come invite Sister-in-law to help out?"

  Zuo Xing's hand trembled slightly as she grasped Shen Han's hand, then let go. Shen Han also understood the reason behind Zuo Xing's awkwardness, but she didn't care about what Zuo Xing was thinking. After hearing Zuo Xing's words, Shen Han's face showed a look of difficulty, not because she was unwilling to help, but rather...

  Whether in this life or the previous one, she doesn't understand even a bit, how can she help?

  Shen Han's embarrassed expression was taken in by Zhao Xi'ao, whose face became even more displeased. However, he didn't say anything else and instead turned around to tell Li: "Mother, you go take a look!"

  Before Li could respond, the half-closed courtyard door was slammed open again. Seeing Zhao's increasingly furrowed brow, Zuo Xing didn't even bother to look at who had arrived and loudly scolded: "Don't you know how to knock on doors? Do you understand etiquette?"

  Shen Huan wanted to reach out and tug on Zuo Xiang's sleeve to remind her, but she restrained herself. No one expected that the person who pushed open the curtain and entered was actually Zuo Xiang's mother-in-law, Liu Shi. Originally already fuming, Liu Shi became even more enraged upon hearing these words, and stormed forward, pinching Shen Huan's ear and shouting: "You little wretch, you dare to scold me? You were called here to help with the chores but you disappeared without a trace, making me wait anxiously at home..."

  That loud and arrogant shouting voice was heard here, Liu's eyes turned to see Zhao Xiuzhuo sitting at the table, secretly exerting force with his hands, and a smile that was not quite a smile floated on his face: "Ah, I said so? It turns out that someone has captivated your soul, no wonder you came and didn't know how to go home."

  She said, and then fiercely used up the strength in her hand, her left cheek hurt so much that tears almost flowed out of the corner of her eyes, and she could only beg for mercy: "Mother, what are you talking about? I'm just calling Zhao's wife to come to our house to help..."

  Looking at Zuo Xuan's face, which was red to the point of being abnormal, Shen Han didn't know if she was in pain or embarrassed. Tears were already welling up in her eyes, but she didn't dare resist, and she leaned to one side, allowing Liu Shi to pinch her ear. The sight was quite pitiful, and considering they were making a scene at their own home, it wasn't very becoming either. So Shen Han immediately stepped forward to mediate.

  "Yuan's aunt, Zuo Xiang's sister just called me, I was stunned for a moment, which delayed the work. If you don't mind my clumsiness, I'll follow you to help now, even if it's just lending a hand."

  Unexpectedly, Liu scolded her with a big white eye and said: "Pfft pfft pfft, Zhao's wife shouldn't talk nonsense, who asked you to help? Although you lost your husband after marrying in, you are still a virtuous woman. Have you ever seen any virtuous woman entering the delivery room? Even if you dare to go, our family will avoid it!"

  After finishing, she didn't give Shen Huan a chance to speak at all. She then turned to Li and said: "Zhao's wife, my daughter-in-law is still more than half a month away from her due date, but she has already seen the red (gone into labor). I haven't even found a midwife yet. I heard that you used to be a midwife too. Quickly come with me to help out in this emergency. Tomorrow, I'll give you the midwifery gift."

  Shen Huan was left speechless for a moment, and it turned out that the Zhao family's aunt she had asked Zuo Xing to invite was actually Li Shi, while Zuo Xing thought it was Shen Huan according to her own way of calling. This is how the current misunderstanding occurred. However, this Liu Shi clearly came to ask for help, but her words were as piercing as a needle, making people feel uncomfortable in their hearts. Shen Huan's mood was naturally not good either, but she didn't show it at all. Li Shi's eyes only flashed with a hint of displeasure.

  Zao Xiuzhen sat upright at the table, her face stern as she spoke to Liu disapprovingly: "Aunt Liu, as an elder, should be mindful of your status. When speaking in front of younger generations, you should be more discreet. Otherwise, if word gets out, it will only give people something to gossip about, and it will also tarnish the reputation of your family! Although my family has fallen on hard times, we are still a family of scholars who value propriety. Now that we are a widow and orphan, we must be even more careful about what others say. If you continue to be so reckless with your words, don't blame us for closing our doors and refusing to receive guests again!"

  He obviously countered Shen Huan's scolding by Liu just now, and his face didn't hide the obvious displeasure. On the other hand, Liu's face was both embarrassed and angry at this moment. Although she dared to use words to provoke Shen Huan, she didn't dare to offend Zhao Xiuzhuo. Firstly, she respected his identity as a scholar, and secondly, she knew that Li had only one son left, who was extremely cherished. If she provoked him, how could she ask for Li's help in the future?

  Zhao Xi's implicit and explicit teasing, as well as Liu's flustered expression with a hint of embarrassment yet still trying to force a smile, almost made Shen Han's mouth corners twitch into a smile, and she quickly covered it up by coughing and lowering her head.

  Apart from Liu's awkwardness, Li didn't know whether it was because he couldn't save face or wanted the birth gift. He had already gotten up to help Liu, but his own son's words made him speechless, and now standing there, he felt too embarrassed to lift his foot.

  "Mother, don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. You should hurry and go help Aunt Yuan with the childbirth, it's a big matter that can't be delayed."

  Mrs. Li indeed had her eyes on the childbirth gift, calculating that with the Yuan family's wealth, the gift money they gave would be enough for their own family's living expenses for a month. Since it was a fat sheep sent to their doorstep, why wouldn't they slaughter it? Hearing her daughter-in-law find an excuse for herself, she was overjoyed in her heart but still put on a displeased expression. Ostensibly scolding her son with a glance, she still wanted to vent the unhappiness from earlier and so hastily said to Mrs. Liu: "Sister Yuan, let's hurry up and go, don't delay any longer."