"Can a woman who throws herself at a man be any good?"
"You're a college student, and her family's situation didn't allow her to get into college. How could she possibly be worthy of you? If you dare choose her today, I'll die in front of you!"
"Qiaoqiao, if you love me, you should understand me, don't keep pushing me."
"..."
Two voices echoed back and forth in Li Qiao's head, causing her a headache.
Her eyes barely opened to a sliver, revealing a dark ceiling where reeds were neatly arranged.
She suddenly woke up.
Earthen walls, a hard board bed, two large boxes placed in the corner, and a long table by the window.
She was stunned, where was this?
Shouldn't she be at Gorge Mountain Temple in Yanjing with her cousin, burning incense for a marriage?
Fragments of memory slowly seeped into her mind, and it took her a long time to piece together her current situation.
She had traveled through time!
It was now the winter of 1977. The original owner had the same name, age, and was 18.
Not long ago, her childhood sweetheart's mother forced them to break up, claiming that the original owner wasn't worthy of him after failing the college entrance exam. Desperate, she jumped into the river, but thankfully Qin Jin from the neighboring Feng Family Village saved her.
The two emerged from the river soaked, and many people witnessed it. Gossip spread throughout the village, and the original owner's parents demanded that Qin Jin take responsibility.
Qin Jin, a notorious troublemaker, had a fierce reputation. On the day of the wedding, he was reported and arrested for causing a disturbance while drunk the night before.
The original owner, hopeless about living with such a person, ended her own life with a rope while unattended.
Just then, there was a creaking sound.
The door opened from the outside, and an eighteen or nineteen-year-old walked in, wearing a dark blue cotton coat, tall and lean, around 1.88 meters.
His hair was thick and his facial features were sharply defined.
With a piece of dry grass between his lips, he had an unruly air and didn't even look her in the eye. "I heard from the neighbors that you tried to kill yourself when I wasn't around? If you want to die, do it far away, you unlucky thing!"
Li Qiao was surprised, her original husband? He was quite handsome, but unfortunately, he opened his mouth.
At this moment, an elderly woman in her sixties burst in from outside. Of average height and full of energy, she jumped up and pulled on his ear, "You little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Hiss~ Ouch..."
"Get lost!" Old Mrs. Qin added a kick, then turned with a smile to Li Qiao and said, "Qiaoqiao, he doesn't know how to talk, don't take it to heart."
"Grandma, is she going to visit her family or not? I'm going out."
Old Mrs. Qin took a deep breath and shouted from her belly, "You stay put at home!" Then she turned back to Li Qiao with affection and said, "If he dares bully you on your return today, don't hesitate to tell me, and I'll take care of him."
Li Qiao replied with a complex feeling, "Mm."
After the old lady left, she got up and tidied her clothes, then sat in front of the mirror to comb her hair. The reflection frightened her into retreating.
Heavens! Apart from the hairstyle and clothing, it really was her appearance.
Unable to understand it, she adjusted her mindset, sat back in front of the mirror, braided her thick bangs into her hair, revealing her full forehead, tied two short braids with hairbands, and wore a scarf to cover the marks on her neck.
Then she stepped outside and looked around. Two earthen houses with walls extending on both sides formed a small courtyard.
There was a shed on the left neatly arranged with kitchenware and farm tools, the ground was clean.
But where was everyone?
After a moment's hesitation, she called out for grandma.
The girl's voice was soft and tender.
Qin Jin peeked out from the next room, a glimmer of amazement in his eyes.
A small, palm-sized oval face, almond-shaped eyes, peach blossom cheeks, and naturally rosy lips slightly pursed. Her skin was so fair and delicate-looking.
Why hadn't he noticed how vibrant and beautiful she was before?
He watched her give him a sweet smile and say, "I'm all ready."
The young woman's radiant smile dazzled the young man's eyes. Did she think a brush with death taught her to be agreeable?
Too late!
He still remembered the harsh, insulting words she had thrown at him.
He squinted his cold, piercing eyes, suddenly looked away, strode over to his bike, and impatiently said, "If you're ready, get on the bike already, quit dawdling!"
Li Qiao: "..." Didn't people say you shouldn't hit someone who's smiling? Why was he acting like this?
She took a deep breath and silently chanted, "I'm magnanimous, I won't lower myself to your outdated ways."
She stepped forward and sat sideways, but as soon as she settled down, the bike took off, and she instinctively grabbed onto him in fear.
"Why are you making a fuss in broad daylight?" The young man forcefully slapped her hand.
On the wedding day, the bride's feet shouldn't touch the ground, and when he carried her inside, she cursed him for not knowing where his hands had wandered.
Li Qiao cried out in pain, her hand tingling, her exquisite facial features twisted with grievance.
Every house in the village had its doors wide open, yet no one was in the yards or on the roads.
As they neared the village entrance, they saw groups of children sliding on the ice.
Weren't the village adults afraid the children might slip into the river while skating?
Li Qiao wanted to warn the children to stay away from the ice, but the young man's bike was too fast for that.
About twenty minutes later.
The bicycle halted at the entrance of a farmhouse.
Three large earthen rooms came into view, with farming tools scattered messily around the yard, and rotten vegetable leaves and firecracker scraps tossed carelessly on the ground.
Four women of varying ages and a boy around ten came out to greet them.
Li Qiao's mind went blank as she heard Qin Jin call the middle-aged woman "Mom," then address the sisters "Big Sister" and "Second Sister" and the boy "Jinniu." She followed his lead and also sized them up discreetly.
The big sister looked around twenty-five or six, and the second sister was in her twenties as well. Both were very pretty, with fair skin.
Jinhua seemed about her age, and since Qin Jin referred to both Jinhua and Jinniu by their names, were they his younger siblings?
As her gaze shifted, she saw Jinhua staring wide-eyed at Qin Jin, mesmerized by his looks?
When she looked at him, all she got was a dagger-like glare.
Li Qiao: "..."
After a few polite exchanges, Li Shengcai, Li Qiao's father, and the other two brothers-in-law emerged from the main room, casting a glance over the cigarettes and liquors Qin Jin had brought, smiling broadly, "Good to have you back, really good. I heard you can drink a lot, so today let's have a proper toast."
Qin Jin busied himself handing out cigarettes and making small talk. The room was filled with smoke, making Li Qiao cough constantly, a sharp pain throbbed in her head. She excused herself for the bathroom to go outside for some fresh air.
Li's mother, Dong Lamei, caught up with her, "Third one, later go to the village store to get two bags of peanuts as snacks for the drinks." Then she walked away.
Li Qiao was incredulous, hearing for the first time that she'd have to buy snacks herself when visiting relatives.
Why should she buy them? And it's not like she had any money.
She wouldn't buy them!
She went to a dirt pile not far from home and looked around. She saw endless wildlands and low hills with villages hidden among them. If it weren't for the foreign memories in her head, she'd really think she was abducted to some godforsaken place.
"Third sister."
Li Qiao turned to see it was Jinhua, "What's up?"
Li Jinhua's eyes twinkled, "Third sister, a couple of days ago, Cai Hechuan came to discuss taking you out to avoid some heat during your visit today. I can help you meet him."
Li Qiao questioned, didn't this older girl know that running away with a man might affect her reputation too?
Maybe she only thought of Li Qiao, but as an elder sister, she couldn't be so careless. "If I run with him, it'll ruin your chances at a good marriage. Don't set up a meeting with that guy, pretend I don't know him."
"Don't say emotional things, see you at the threshing field." Li Jinhua ran off.
"Hey!" Li Qiao wanted to stop her, but a sudden cramp in her lower abdomen hit her. Was her period coming?
She had no money, what could she do?
Holding her aching stomach, Li Qiao went to the village store where the shopkeeper told her they didn't sell sanitary pads, instead handing her some yellow paper.