When Zhang Fengzhi arrived with her family, a shroud had already been hung at Li Xinzhu's house. Given Li Xinzhu's condition, the coffin and burial clothes had been prepared in advance.
Zhang Fengzhi didn't care about respecting the deceased. No matter who showed up, they wouldn't let her suffer any injustice. So, her family cornered Li Erzhu, who was handling matters outside, and gave him a thorough beating.
The neighbors were all around and felt obligated to intervene, offering words ofๅ.
"Nobody knows what this bastard did to wrong my sister. He's so old, and yet he's not ashamed. He's actually gotten involved with his sister-in-law."
The onlookers were shocked. A few aunts who knew the inside story quickly shared the gossip.
"You shameless thing, I've been married to you for over 30 years, have I ever wronged you in any way? Is this how you treat me?"
"So that's what happened, then he deserves to be beaten."
"At his age, truly shameless."
"Tsk tsk tsk, this Li Xiumei isn't any good either. How will Da Shuang and Er Shuang hold their heads up in the future?"
"He deserves it, deserves it."
This farce finally concluded with Li Erzhu being beaten half to death and Li Xinzhu dying with unresolved grievances. The Zhang family kicked Li Erzhu out, and all possessions in the house went to Zhang Fengzhi.
With nowhere to go, Li Erzhu shamelessly moved into Li Xinzhu's house. Li Da Shuang and the others didn't give him a good look, but they didn't kick him out.
After all, work would start again in half a month, and an extra labor force in the house meant more work points. This illicit couple also became open about their relationship.
Zhang Fengzhi was so angry that she cursed countless times in secret, and Jin Moyu's life became even harder. Now, Zhang Fengzhi was like a mad dog, biting anyone she saw.
She stopped doing any work, ordering Jin Moyu to do everything. She watched her like a supervisor, and any slight slowness resulted in beatings and scolding.
These past few nights, she had been having frequent dreams. In her dreams, she was a coveted lady of a wealthy family. Everyone praised her kindness and generosity, and she was surrounded by accolades and compliments, a stark contrast to her current reality.
Looking at Li Si, covered in scars and sleeping soundly beside her, and thinking of the handsome and refined Qin Jingxuan, she was unwilling to accept her fate.
Several times she woke up from a dream only to find it was all an illusion. She wanted to reach out and strangle Li Si, but she dared not. She feared that if Li Si died, she wouldn't see the sun the next day.
She tormented herself in this masochistic way for half a month, and finally, a few days later, when work started, she had the opportunity to interact with Qin Jingxuan.
"Jingxuan, don't go. I truly have no ill intentions."
"Comrade Jin, please don't call me so intimately. You are a married woman now. Don't let others misunderstand that there is something between us, it's not good for your or my reputation."
"Qin Jingxuan, I know you grew up in the courtyard of the military region in Kyoto. You came to the countryside for your grandfather, and your parents are university professors. You also have a younger brother named Qin Jingwen, five years younger than you."
Qin Jingxuan was greatly shocked. He had never told anyone these things. How did the person in front of him know?
"I truly didn't lie to you, I am your wife from your past life. Everything has gone wrong. I shouldn't have married Li Si; it was Jin Moli who married Li Si."
"Jingxuan, help me. It must be my sister who dreamed this dream beforehand and deliberately framed me. She's about to marry you in my place."
"Jingxuan, you should love me. Our destiny across two lives cannot be broken by a few words of instigation from others. My current life is unbearable, sob, Jingxuan, please save me."
"I don't know what Comrade Jin is talking about. You agreed to marry Li Si yourself back then. I have no standing to save you, please respect yourself."
"Jingxuan, don't go, don't go. I truly love you, and I know many future events. I can definitely help you. The college entrance examination will be resumed in October this year."
Qin Jingxuan continued walking without stopping. Jin Moyu, remembering this, yelled at Qin Jingxuan, "Qin Jingxuan, don't regret this."
Upon hearing that the college entrance examination would resume in October, Jin Moyu desperately tried to recall her own exam answers in her dreams. To her surprise, she remembered them.
She tricked a child in the neighbor's house out of a pencil and meticulously recalled the answers, copying them all down. She secretly recited and memorized them daily, preparing to shine in the college entrance examination.
She longed for the college entrance examination the following year day and night; it was her only hope. After going to college, she would forget everything here and start a new life.
Every day she used the college entrance examination to motivate herself to live, to persevere even if life was difficult, for dawn and light were just around the corner.
Because of Jin Moyu's words, Qin Jingxuan tested Jun Jiuli several times. Each time, Jun Jiuli easily deflected him.
Indeed, not everyone could have such a miraculous encounter. It seemed his fate with Jin Moyu had ended, and this life had a different outcome.
After all, Jin Moli had no interest in him whatsoever, and when he mentioned his premonitions, she looked completely bewildered.
As for Jun Jiuli and Qian Lingling secretly studying, Qin Jingxuan was unaware of it, so he couldn't suspect anything.
Jin Moyu waited and waited, finally reaching the college entrance examination of 1978. Every day, when Zhang Fengzhi wasn't paying attention, she would secretly pocket a handful of grain.
This way, she wouldn't go hungry during the exam. She was determined to seize this opportunity no matter what.
The night before the college entrance examination, she sneaked out of Li Village and waited at the entrance of the examination venue in town.
Zhu Baizhou did not participate in the college entrance examination. His family feared that he would abandon their daughter after being admitted, so they kept him under strict watch. He had wanted to marry a village girl only because he couldn't do farm work.
After serving as a scorekeeper for two years, benefiting from it, he wanted to run away. That was impossible.
The other educated youths in the youth dormitory all went to take the college entrance examination. Before leaving, they encouraged each other, checking their belongings, a scene of camaraderie.
After the Chinese exam, Zhang Fengzhi arrived outside the examination site with her family. Jin Moyu was caught as soon as she came out, unable to escape.
Bound and tied, she was dragged back to Li Village. That feeling of having hope right in front of you, grasping it, only for it to turn into nothing, was truly unbearable. She cried out and vented her frustration to her heart's content.
This only drew disgusted glances from the villagers of Li Village.
"Li Si's wife, you are too ungrateful. Now that Li Si is bedridden, if you leave, who will care for his mother, who will look after Li Si?"
"Yes, yes. Fengzhi hasn't treated you badly either. She provides you with food and drink every day. What are you dissatisfied with? You caused Li Si to be bedridden. It's only right for Fengzhi to beat you to vent her anger."
"Oh, my life is so hard. My old man ran off with someone else, my son is bedridden, and my only daughter-in-law is always thinking of leaving our family. Her heart isn't here, how can I go on living?"
"Oh, Aunt Zhang, look at what you're saying. From now on, we villagers should unite. If anyone sees Jin Moyu running away, inform us. Beat her a few more times, and see if she dares to run again."
"Yes, yes, Fengzhi, you are still too kind. Daughters-in-law need to be beaten, otherwise, they won't listen."
"Where can you find a daughter-in-law like this, who dares to glare at her mother-in-law? She even dares to scold people. If she were mine, I'd tie her up and throw her into the pond!"
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey. It's the new era now, we don't do that sort of thing."
A group of people chattered endlessly, paying no mind to Jin Moyu, who had already fainted.
The college entrance examination ended, and after waiting for another month, those who were admitted received their acceptance letters.
Those who were admitted rejoiced, while those who weren't were not discouraged. With the quota for returning to the city, they had motivation.
Jun Jiuli, holding her acceptance letter, went to annoy Jin Moyu. Qian Lingling was also admitted to the normal university she had desired in her previous life.
This time, no one could stop her from going to university. Jun Jiuli also enrolled in the same school as her.
Qin Jingxuan, as before, was admitted to a university in Kyoto. The grandfather and grandson happily returned to Beijing.
Before leaving Li Village, Jun Jiuli set up a magic array for them. Those who had harmed others' lives with their words could not escape. During the day, they worked normally, but at night, they were plagued by nightmares.
In her third year of university, Qian Lingling started dating a boyfriend. They shared similar aspirations and temperaments, and the boyfriend's parents also liked her very much.
After graduation, Qian Lingling pursued postgraduate studies and successfully stayed at the university as a teacher. She and her husband had a pair of lovely children.
Seeing her life get back on track and finding the happiness she deserved, Jun Jiuli prepared to leave this world.
Over the years, Jin Moyu had tried every possible method but could not escape Li Village. She settled down, farming and supporting the family daily. Finally, she outlived Li Si and Zhang Fengzhi.
She laughed heartily, thinking she could finally leave this cannibalistic village, when she was killed by Jun Jiuli, who had returned. Without taking away this scourge, Jun Jiuli would not leave with peace of mind.
The people of Xiao Li Village still did not realize their mistakes. Those who were unrepentant were haunted by nightmares until their deaths.