Shen Wan's husband, Ji Jiang, brought home a baby, claiming it was his son.
Ji Jiang's mother, upon seeing her grandson, had a big smile on her face that she couldn't close.
She wouldn't forget to taunt Shen Wan, "Shen Wan, you've been married for ten years and yet, you've not given our Ji family a son or a daughter. Ji Jiang hasn't divorced you yet, you should be happy about that,"
She continued, "You should take good care of my grandson going forward. If he cries or is hungry, just wait and see how I deal with you."
Shen Wan's gaze fell upon the child in Ji Jiang's arms.
Looking at the face that resembled Ji Jiang partly, she felt a heart-wrenching pain that was so intense she couldn't breathe: "Ji Jiang, let's divorce."
When Ji Jiang initially pushed the medical examination report into her hands and told her that she couldn't have children, Shen Wan suggested a divorce.
Ji Jiang didn't agree.
He reassured her, claiming that her condition was curable and they would definitely have a child.
Over these years, all in an effort to have Ji Jiang's child,
Shen Wan was busy running her business on one hand and on the other, she was seeking medical advice and treatment everywhere.
She had been drinking the bitter traditional medicines three times a day, without fail.
Her buttocks were full of injection marks, causing her piercing pain with each step.
Whenever Shen Wan thought about the hardships she endured trying to have a baby,
It disgusted her to know that Ji Jiang was cavorting with other women in bed during this time.
The moment Ji Jiang heard that Shen Wan wanted a divorce, he was in panic.
Ji Jiang exclaimed, "Shen Wan, is it necessary? I will take care of the child's birth mother so she won't be an eyesore to you. Can't you even tolerate this child? Are you satisfied with watching our lineage end?”
His mother also scoffed at Shen Wan, "You ungrateful wretch! My son runs a company as the boss, everyone calls him Ji President. If he divorces you, there are heaps of young and pretty women waiting to marry him."
Shen Wan paused in packing her bags, almost breaking out in laughter.
As for business, Ji Jiang was nothing more than a failure.
Everything he touched went wrong.
If it weren't for her constant financial support, Ji Jiang wouldn't have been able to run any company.
He spent her money on other women while expecting her to raise their son.
If she really agreed, then that would be the definition of despicable.
After packing her luggage, she spat out at Ji Jiang who was blocking her way, "Get lost."
The mother-in-law glared at Ji Jiang, "Let her leave. I want to see who would want a barren woman like her."
Shen Wan pushed Ji Jiang aside and headed straight down the stairs.
Their sister-in-law, who had been in the room, suddenly burst out and fiercely pushed Shen Wan, "You're nothing more than a nanny in our family, yet you dare speak to my brother and my mother like this!"
Caught off guard, Shen Wan lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs.
...
Shen Wan lifted her heavy eyelids, the scene before her taking her aback.
Dirt walls surrounded her, the windows were covered by paper, and a wooden door creaked with each gust of wind.
This place is...
Her grandmother's house!
Shen Wan jolted upright, hearing her mother-in-law Ji talking to her grandmother in the yard.
Ji's mother: "Betrothal gifts... I really can't afford them right now. How about we make up for it after the baby is born?"
In a flash, Shen Wan realized.
She had reincarnated.
She had returned to November of 1978, a month before she and Ji Jiang were married.
In her last life at this time, Ji's mother suddenly approached Shen Wan's grandmother, saying that her house needed renovations.
The promised betrothal gift of 100 yuan, she couldn't provide.
The new bed and cabinet they'd agreed on...
Because Ji Jiang's little sister Ji Mei, who had just graduated high school, was back, they'd give them to her first.
But, Shen Wan's dowry couldn't be a penny less.
It would be best if they added another quilt as a meeting gift for her younger sister-in-law Ji Mei.
After listening, Shen Wan's grandmother was somewhat reluctant.
But thinking that as long as the Ji family treated Shen Wan well, everything was negotiable, so she agreed.
Unexpectedly, the Shen family's concession did not earn respect from the Ji family.
On the contrary, it led Mrs. Ji to boast everywhere that Shen Wan was eager to marry her son even if it meant dowry.
Members of the collective farming team in the village whispered about this behind their backs.They said that Shen Wan must be addicted due to one-year dating with Ji Jiang, unable to leave men alone.
Otherwise, why would Shen Wan still want to marry into the Ji family even knowing they looked down upon her?
The memory of her past life flashed through Shen Wan's mind one by one.
Shen Wan took a deep breath, clenched her fists silently.
The chance to live once again was given to her by God.
In this life, under no circumstance would she repeat the same mistake and be humiliated by the Ji family again.
Outside the house,
Shen Wan's grandmother understood the intent of Zhang Guihua's visit, and her eyebrows furrowed: "Are you from the Ji family planning to take Wan away without giving a penny?"
Zhang Guihua: "Oh dear, cousin-in-law, you speak too harshly. Our Ji family is just in difficulty, so we came to discuss with you."
"Besides, Shen Wan and my son Ji Jiang have been dating for over a year. Everyone in the village knows about their good relationship. Being able to marry my son, it's Shen Wan's good fortune. As for the bride price and other minor issues, Shen Wan definitely wouldn't mind."
Zhang Guihua's mention of this left Shen Duan's grandmother speechless in an instant.
She had calculated this precisely. If Duan Duan did not agree to marry Ji Jiang, no one else in the commune would be willing to marry her. That's why she dared to make these demands.
Shen Duan's grandmother felt her vitality leave her.
She opened her mouth: "Since your Ji family is having difficulties, then..."
"Then don't get married." Shen Duan pushed open the door and walked out.
Zhang Guihua thought she must have misheard: "What did you say?"
As soon as Shen Duan saw Zhang Guihua's face, the humiliation and pain from the past surged in her heart.
She held her anger and replied: "I said, if the Ji family can't afford a wife, then just don't get one. I, Shen Duan, can marry someone other than Ji Jiang. Let's leave this fortune to others."
Shen Duan's grandmother was taken aback: "Duan Duan, have you lost your mind? You are getting married in a month, how can you not get married?"
Zhang Guihua sneered.
Was Shen Duan threatening her?
She is already arguing with her future mother-in-law before the wedding.
What would happen after the marriage?
Zhang Guihua wanted to teach Shen Duan a lesson. She put her hands on her hips and started berating Shen Duan.
Zhang Guihua: "Not getting married? I would like to see who else would want you, a bastard without parents, other than my son Ji Jiang!"
Shen Wan's grandmother's face changed abruptly as she got up sharply, "Zhang Guihua, what are you talking about!"
Zhang Guihua: "Your daughter got pregnant before marriage, and no one knows who the man is. Who in the commune doesn't know about the child she gave birth to?"
"I disagreed when Ji Jiang tried to court Shen Wan. I said there's something wrong with the Shen family's values. Now, my accusations have come true."
Ji's mother's loud voice quickly attracted the attention of passing commune members.
Seeing the crowd growing, Ji's mother became even more aggressive in her scolding.
She accused Shen Wan’s grandmother of selling her granddaughter.
Despite her old age, she was still greedy for wealth, demanding an exorbitant dowry, having money to keep but no life to spend it.
When Shen Wan heard this, her face changed instantly.
With a raise of her hand, she slapped Ji's mother in the face.
A crisp "smack" echoed around.
Shen Wan glared at Zhang Guihua: "If you dare curse my grandmother again, I will kill you right now!"
