"I heard she married an incompetent man, totally not interested in women!"
"What?! So, doesn't that mean she shares a bed with her 'girlfriend' every day? No wonder she works late into the night every day. How pitiful..."
Exhausted from working three shifts, Shen Chuzhi's head felt as heavy as lead, and yet people were still chattering in her ears.
"Shut up!" she yelled in anger, suddenly jolted awake.
"Mama... Mama..."
The idle chatter vanished, replaced by a child's faint cry.
Who was calling out for their mom?
It was definitely not her; after all, she was the unlucky one who had married an inept man. She hadn't even touched a man's hand, let alone had a child!
Before they got married, she thought he was a gentleman who respected her and wanted to save everything for their wedding night. Little did she know, he was only interested in men, had no interest in women, and had only married her to appease his elders.
In her drowsy state, Shen Chuzhi closed her eyes and was about to snap out in irritation. "Whose bratty kid is making such a racket? It’s so annoying!"
Suddenly, she touched a soft body, which startled her awake, and she sat up abruptly.
Seeing the frail child sitting next to her, as thin as a matchstick, she couldn't help but yell out, "Ah, who are you?"
Where did this little imp come from? How did he end up on her bed?
Something was off. This wasn't her bed... and this room... why did it look like a leaky woodshed?
The little boy on the bed curled up, looking like a small pup.
His eyes were squeezed shut, his small face turning bright red, and he was murmuring incoherently: "Mama, Mama... Er Gou is unwell! Mama... Er Gou hurts..."
Mama? Er Gou?
Shen Chunzhi suddenly felt like she was struck by lightning — the dilapidated little house, this child…
She was dumbstruck as a buzzing noise filled her head.
Wait, isn't this the content of the novel she was reading before going to sleep?
A fierce headache came in waves. After confirming that she had truly time-traveled, Shen Chunzhi was almost mad enough to want to kill someone!
"What the hell! I really crossed into a novel?"
"And I'm cannon fodder character?"
She had transformed into a character called Shen Chunzhi from the book, a wretched supporting female character who was forced to marry the second male lead; her husband was a soldier who hadn't been heard from in five years, essentially a poor creature abandoned.
What's worse was that her adopted son was running a high fever!
Come tomorrow, this poor son of hers would end up a fool due to the untreated fever.
Then, the former main character was sold by her mother-in-law into the deep mountains to be an old bachelor's wife. She fell off a cliff and lost her life while trying to escape!
How wonderful!
Feeling a jolt running through her body, Shen Chunzhi instinctively reached out her hand. A burning sensation passed to her palm; it was the child running a fever...
She couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat: "Poor child!"
"Mom...Mom...It hurts...Mom…it hurts so much…" Er Gou whimpers.
Shen Chunzhi's heart aches at this. In her previous life, she was never given a chance to become a true wife, and neither was she able to bear her own child. Was heaven sympathizing with her, thus sending a child to her?
She quietly comforts him, tears unknowingly trickling down her cheeks; "Don't be afraid, we're going to the doctor soon."
Seeming to understand her words, the boy manages a weak smile: "Mom…Er Gou is not in pain...really no pain...”
Shen Chunzhi's felt a sharp pain in her heart, such a small child, has he already learned to keep a brave face? She shakily picks up the child, stumbling off the bed.
The pitter-patter of the rain came from outside, it seemed like it was about to pour heavily. But Shen Chunzhi had no time to worry about that, her mind was filled with one thought: she must quickly bring the child to see a doctor!
Just as she was about to rush to the door with the child, a woman stepped in her way.
"Third sister-in-law, where are you going?"
Shen Chunzhi recognizes her as Yu Mei, the wife of the second son of the family; she attempted a smile and explained: "Second sister-in-law, Er Gou is having a high fever, I need to bring him to the clinic."
Hearing this, Yu Mei was slightly astounded, then asked in worry: "The child has been feverish for three days and hasn't recovered yet? But...do you have the money for a clinic visit?"
Money? Only then did Shen Chunzhi remember the dire situation she was in, penniless.
But looking at the burning hot child in her arms, she clenched her teeth and turned towards the room of her mother-in-law.
"Motherinlaw! Wake up quickly!" She yelled with a hoarse voice, "Er Gou is ill, I need to bring him to the clinic. Can you lend me some money?"
A furious scold came from the room: "Shen Dunkey, what are you wailing about? Is a small cold worthy of a clinic visit? There's no money, if you need anything, take your life! Get lost!"
Shen Chunzhi clenched her fist, suppressing her anger she said again, "Motherinlaw, Er Gou is your grandchild, what if something happens to him, how do we explain to his father when he returns? Just lend me some money, I promise to pay you back twice the amount in the future!"
With a "bang", something unknown hit the door.
From inside, Old Mrs. Yu's sharp voice could be heard saying, "Get lost! You pair of cheap seeds, get away from me! If you want to die, do it sooner!"
Shen Chenzhen trembled all over, filled with both rage and despair.
This damn old hag was really too bullying!
Were they, mother and daughter, cheap seeds?
If the child wasn't sired by a member of the Yu family, then whose was it?
This old hag, wasn't she cursing her own family?
She looked down at the child in her arms, and suddenly made a resolution. She bent down to pick up a stool from the ground and fiercely smashed it against the door.
"Fine, people of the Yu family, you wait!"
She sneered once, holding the child and walked away without looking back, "Yu Beiyuan, I'm intrigued to see what sort of person you are!"
Having not returned home or cared to ask about it for five years, Shen Chenzhen was forced to marry you, was it so reprehensible to you?
