A bucket of cold water was poured over her head, accompanied by the shrill, harsh scolding: "You laze around in bed, sheltering maggots all day. This house doesn’t support lazy people. If you don't want to work, then pack your things and get out!"
The cold water triggered all her senses, finally pulling Lu Mosheng back to reality.
The old floral bedsheets and the enamel basin in the hands of her mother-in-law all hinted to Lu Mosheng that she was back to the 1980s.
Seeing her mother-in-law, who was scolding her with a bucket of cold water, and her younger aunt watching them amusedly, Lu Mosheng replied, "Mom, I have a child in my stomach. Are you not afraid of causing me harm by pouring cold water on me?"
Zhao Xiuli, her mother-in-law, spat out:"Just by pouring a bowl of cold water on you, it might bring harm to you?"
In her previous life, Lu Mosheng was forced to divorce by her domineering mother-in-law and her wicked younger aunt. Moreover, Zhao Xiuli plotted to have her married off to a man over a decade older than she was. He was violent and abusive towards her post-wedding.
Following her divorce, her ex-husband, Song Jiayan, transformed from a poor country boy to a billionaire entrepreneur.
And riding his coattails, Zhao Xiuli and her younger daughter led a comfortable life while Lu Mosheng was ruthlessly killed in her bath by domestic violence.
Lu Mosheng stared coldly at Zhao Xiuli: "A few days ago, I was sick with a fever. If it comes back again and anything happens to me, will you be responsible?"
"Ha-ha, what a big joke," Zhao Xiuli retorted. "You’ve barely done anything yet and there you go throwing your tantrums."
Her younger aunt chimed in: "Yes, she doesn't step out of this house. I do not know what she is getting all sensitive about. She acts like a delicate lady, but we didn’t marry a lady. I don't know how the Song Family ended up with you as a daughter-in-law. Mother, you were really wrong about her…"
Zhao Xiuli glared at Lu Mosheng: “It was your mother who was wrong!”
Lu Mosheng’s lips curled into a slow smile; she'd never had anyone insult her this way.
Seeing Lu Mosheng laugh, Zhao Xiuli shook a finger at her nose, "Stop waste time over here. Go to work right now, or get out of my house. The Song Family does not raise idlers!"
Lu Mosheng: "Okay, you said it yourself."
Zhao Xiuli was taken aback by Lu Mosheng, "What do you mean?"
"Pack your things and get out, isn't that what you said?" Lu Mosheng retorted, "Anyway, I really can’t stand living here anymore, this is just what you all wanted."
Zhao Xiuli chuckled, "Where could you go besides Song's family?"
In Zhao Xiuli's mind, Lu Mosheng had nowhere to go except the Song family.
Lu Mosheng was raised by her grandmother from a young age. Her parents passed away early, and there were not many relatives left in the family.
Lu Mosheng hadn't been married to the Song family for half a year before her grandmother passed away.
"I'll go find Song Jiayan." Lu Mosheng said.
In her previous life, she was forced to divorce Song Jiayan, and in this life, she was determined to protect their marriage at all costs.
Hearing this, Zhao Xiuli burst into laughter, and her younger sister-in-law next to her was laughing so hard that she couldn’t stand straight, "Song Jiayan has contracted a piece of barren land in the middle of nowhere and treats it like a treasure. Are you planning to go and help him take care of that tiny piece of land…"
Zhao Xiuli had her fill of laughter, she then put on a stern face: "Enough, go wash the pile of clothes at home, and the pots and dishes in the kitchen. Stop wasting time here talking nonsense with me. If you don’t work, don’t expect to have lunch and dinner today, we don’t keep idle people in this house…"
Her words were so grating that Lu Mosheng felt like she was getting callused ears. She said: “In that case, it works out just fine. With me gone, you’ll have one less set of dishes to wash.”
Zhao Xiuli scoffed, "Keep pretending, do you think I don’t know what you're thinking? You don’t want to work and you’re using leaving home as an excuse.”
"Think what you want."
"Don’t say that as your mother-in-law I don't give you face. If you're willing to go and suffer with Song Jiayan then fine, but don’t come crying and begging me to let you come back later —"
"Don't worry."
Zhao Xiuli was about to say something more when her daughter-in-law pulled at her. "Mom, there's no need for you to upset yourself over her. If she doesn't appreciate our efforts, then let her be. The journey is neither short nor long, I wonder how her delicate body could withstand the trek. I bet she’d not take a few steps before shedding tears and returning home."
The daughter-in-law chuckled arrogantly at Lu Mosheng.
Lu Mosheng couldn't be bothered to exchange any more words with them.
Packing up her things.
She really didn't have much, but she quickly packed the important items and change of clothes into a bag and stepped out of the room.
Lu Mosheng tried to borrow a cart to the neighboring village from someone in the village, but after asking around, no one was willing to help.
Knowing it was Zhao Xiuli's doing, Lu Mosheng pursed her lips and decided to go to the neighboring village herself.
Her feet were blistered, and she was parched, she retched a few times on the road, but that did not deter her from continuing. With intermittent rests, she finally made it to the neighboring village.
Once there, the first thing she did was to ask for water to drink; grabbing a ladle, she drank half a bowl in one go and finally felt relief.
Song Jiayan, after demobilization, took the money he had saved while in the army and leased a plot of land in the neighboring village to plant medicinal crops.
Zhao Xiuli, and everyone else in the Song family, thought Song Jiayan must have been kicked in the head by a donkey. Could they possibly make much money from growing medicinal plants?
However, the reborn Lu Mosheng knew better that these medicinal plants could be very valuable…
Shaking off these thoughts, she casts her eyes on the lush landscape before her. She inhaled deeply, finding the air sweet and fresh.
As Lu Mosheng was enjoying the scenery, a local dog suddenly dashed past her, almost knocking her off her feet.
Just as she had caught her breath, a familiar voice came from behind: "Are you alright?"
Turning around, it was Song Jiayan.
The tall man stood backlit by the sun. He seemed thinner but his facial features were more distinct. His deep-set eyes watched her attentively, his voice was low and pleasing to the ear as he said: "Mosheng..."