Wang Caihua had no great learning in her life.
She had two older brothers, and in the family, she was the youngest.
The elders in the family already favored sons over daughters.
When she was three years old, she threw a small tantrum because she wanted to go out and play with her parents and brothers.
She was locked in the woodshed by the elders in the family.
If it had only been like this, it would have been fine.
The next day when she came out again, she was met with a severe beating.
Her grandparents said she had brought about the deaths of her parents and brothers.
While hitting her with a wooden stick, they cursed, "You jinx, can't you stand to see your brothers doing well?"
"Can't you stand to see your parents go out to rest for a bit?"
"Why are you so wicked? Didn't you want to go play, then get out and play!"
Being locked in the woodshed for two days was difficult.
Her parents were gone, which was difficult.
But what remained most deeply etched in Wang Caihua's memory was a sentence from her grandparents.
They said, "Jinx, why didn't you die?!"
If only it had been you who died!
If only it had been you who died...
If only it had been me...
This sentence echoed in Wang Caihua's mind.
However, she was afraid of death.
She dared not die.
"You must listen to your grandparents at home," her parents had told her before they left.
"Okay."
...
And so, Wang Caihua slowly grew up.
She never went to college, nor did she attend high school.
She only finished elementary school because the village head would come every few days to urge her grandparents to send her for nine years of compulsory education.
"What's the point of schooling for such a little girl?"
"It's a miracle she hasn't died yet."
Her grandparents were indifferent.
Seeing that they wouldn't listen, the village head brought out the police.
"Not letting a child go to school is against the law."
Her grandparents were stunned. They raised their hands and grabbed Wang Caihua by the arm twice.
Fiercely, they said, "Against the law? Let's see who dares to arrest me!"
"She's my own child, who can control me?"
Wang Caihua felt a sting and clutched her arm.
She looked at these family members and thought: I must listen to my grandparents.
Not long after, her grandparents allowed her to go to school again.
Because they heard that girls who could read and write were easier to "marry off" these days.
They also heard from the village head that nine years of compulsory education were free.
Thus, she was able to successfully enroll and learn to read.
She came into contact with more people and things.
Indeed, it was better to be obedient.
...
After six years of elementary school, Wang Caihua still had no friends.
Everyone disliked her worn-out clothes and said her family were trash collectors.
They also said she was abused, and if they played with her, they would get lice and be beaten.
It was strange.
Her family were clearly not trash collectors.
Her grandparents knew how to farm and how to carry night soil.
She also knew how to gather pig feed, burn firewood, cook, and wash clothes.
The injuries on her body were her grandparents' way of loving her, not abuse.
Their family was quite good, so why did they dislike her?
These people outside were truly strange.
Wang Caihua put those people out of her mind, "I just need to listen to my grandparents."
...
As she grew older,
Wang Caihua's face gradually matured, and her figure began to develop.
A pair of almond-shaped eyes that seemed to speak, a round face, and a small, upturned nose.
Even though her clothes were not great, her appearance was very attractive to others.
In her second year of junior high, a boy confessed his feelings to her.
When her grandparents found out, they rushed to the school angrily.
And they shouted, "No one is going to touch our girl, not studying properly, their heads are full of nonsense all day."
"Without a dowry of five to six hundred thousand, Caihua will not be married off."
At that moment, Wang Caihua realized that she was actually that valuable.
"Grandparents truly love me. I cannot let them down."
When she received the dowry in the future, she could support her grandparents in their old age.
Buy them a big house and hire servants to attend to them.
The future was truly beautiful.
...
After that public declaration, no one dared to approach Wang Caihua casually.
The boy who had confessed was also so scared that he avoided her whenever he saw her.
"People without money should stay away from me; they can't afford the dowry anyway."
Wang Caihua didn't care about the gazes or gossip of those people.
How could they understand her grandparents' foresight?
After some more time passed.
One day after school, Wang Caihua was stopped by a senior.
He pulled out a red bill and asked,
"I can't afford to marry you, I only have this money. You'll just spend one night with me, okay?"
Wang Caihua looked at the senior in front of her,
Tall, with messy hair, and a few small freckles on his face.
One hundred yuan, for one night?
Installment payments? Small profits, quick turnover?
Wang Caihua glanced at the bill, shook her head, "Grandparents will worry if I don't go home at night."
After speaking, she turned and left.
She still had to gather pig feed, prepare dinner, wash clothes, and do homework when she got back.
Where did she have time to play?
Her grandparents said that playing was a waste of life.
It was better to move more and do housework.
"Wait." The senior suddenly grabbed her, "My skills are quite good, I'll take good care of you."
"You want to love me too?"
Wang Caihua looked at him strangely and touched her arm.
Love, it hurt a little.
"I don't know you, and I don't love you, so I don't need your care."
"If you don't let go of me, I'll call the teacher."
"...Damn it, acting all pure and innocent. You'll still be sold off in the end!"
The senior cursed under his breath and left with a flick of his hand.
"..."
Wang Caihua stood there and looked around. The people outside were truly strange.
...
In her third year of junior high, a major event occurred.
A thief broke into the house.
At that time, only her grandparents were home, and they were beaten by the thief.
After they woke up, they were unable to move freely.
The original plan was for Wang Caihua to start looking for work through connections after graduating from junior high.
But plans couldn't keep up with changes, and now, she had to stay at home.
She had to take care of her grandparents while farming and raising pigs.
As for marriage, her grandparents said they would figure it out themselves.
"I'll listen to my grandparents," Wang Caihua said.
Since she no longer had to go to school and had to do all the housework,
Wang Caihua spent more time at home and had more opportunities to meet people in the village.
At first, the aunts in the village would help her out.
They also said she was growing up so beautifully and was so capable.
"Whoever marries Caihua in the future will be blessed."
The aunts teased.
When she was sixteen or seventeen, Wang Caihua's figure began to change.
Gradually, she felt more people looking at her.
The aunts also stopped talking to her as much.
But they would gather together and chat amongst themselves.
"What are they out wandering around for all day, really."
"She's pretty, and her figure is good, who wouldn't like her?"
"Pah, a vixen!"
"Oh, has your man perhaps changed his mind?"
At first, they would still be discreet.
Later, they would simply put on a sour face when they saw her.
Someone must have gone to her grandparents and spread rumors.
"Kneel!"
Her grandparents were very angry.
Holding a fire poker, they struck her repeatedly.
"For going out and seducing people!"
"For being restless! We're not dead yet!"
...