Chapter 3 - 1: "Awakening

Chapter 3: Chapter 1: "Awakening

"It was her fault in the first place!" Lin Zhao cut her off, saying angrily, "This is my house. She came here to steal from me. If it’s not her fault, is it mine? I’ve never seen a sister-in-law lay a hand on her brother’s wife. Someone as unreasonable as Gu Xing’er should have the police called on her..."

And let them judge.

Before she could even get those last three words out, Mother Gu, who thought she was serious about calling the police, grabbed her hand. "Please, don’t call the police," she said frantically. "For my sake, after all the years I’ve been good to you, don’t do it. How about this? We’ll have Xing’er give you ten yuan as compensation, and we’ll call it even. How about that?"

"Absolutely not!" Lin Zhao was far from satisfied.

Mother Gu had expected that her third daughter-in-law wouldn’t be so easy to persuade. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Then what do you propose? You tell us. We’ll do it, as long as it’s within our power."

Lin Zhao had been waiting for her mother-in-law to say just that. Gu Xing’er had dared to push her, and her head was still throbbing. There was no way she was letting her off easy.

The delicate invalid on the bed gave a soft huff, raising a slender, pale hand as she began to list her demands.

"First, our household will no longer pay for Gu Xing’er’s tuition and living expenses. Second, you and Father need to keep her in line, and from this day forward, she is not to set foot in my house again. Third, she will gather firewood for me—two bundles a day for an entire month, with no help from anyone."

After listing her three demands, Lin Zhao paused. Mother Gu was stunned. ’That’s it?’

’Did her third daughter-in-law have a sudden personality change?’

Mother Gu found it not just surprising, but a little unsettling. ’Da Zai’s mother isn’t just holding back, waiting to spring a bigger trap, is she...?’

It wasn’t that she wanted to assume the worst of her third daughter-in-law. The truth was, ever since Lin Zhao married into the Gu Family, she had been a bundle of problems. Not only was she spoiled and delicate, but she was also a drama queen.

When she first joined the family, she put on a good act for a time. Other than being a bit lazy and unwilling to work, she was bearable. But then, as soon as she became pregnant, she started raising hell about splitting the family assets. She pitched fits, made scenes, and threatened suicide—the whole dramatic routine. In the end, the Gu Family had no choice but to separate the third son’s household.

Once the households were divided, she complained that she had no one to look after her. Mother Gu had to run over three times a day to cook and do her laundry... Looking back on those days was a nightmare.

For her third daughter-in-law to be so reasonable today, Mother Gu truly felt like she was seeing a ghost!

Seeing her mother-in-law silent for a long time, Lin Zhao assumed she was about to try and bargain. Her expression immediately soured, and she started to get out of bed.

"If you think I’m being unreasonable, Mother, then perhaps we should just call the police!"

Mother Gu snapped back to her senses. "Not unreasonable," she said quickly. "Not unreasonable at all."

"We’ll do as you say! Your father and I will make sure Xing’er is kept in line!" she promised repeatedly.

Lin Zhao pursed her lips and said nonchalantly, "Let’s hope Gu Xing’er learns her lesson. Because if there’s a next time, I will definitely call the police."

Mother Gu was left speechless.

’This daughter-in-law of hers had such a cutting way with words.’

She was used to it, so she didn’t bicker with Lin Zhao.

She had been working all morning and still had things to do back home, so Mother Gu didn’t linger. She offered a few more words of concern, told Da Zai and Er Zai to come get her from the old family house if anything happened, and then hurried away.

Inside, Lin Zhao lay on the bed, studying a prize wheel.

"How do I start this thing..." she muttered.

The moment the words left her mouth, a line of transparent text appeared in front of the wheel.

"You have received one free spin. Use now?"

Lin Zhao thought, ’Use.’

The red pointer started to spin, accelerating before gradually slowing down. It finally landed on a "Grand Pantry Package." The text on the package’s itemized list was minuscule, yet strangely, Lin Zhao could perfectly read what it said.

[5kg Eight-Star Snowflake Wheat Flour ×5 bags]

[5kg Premium Pearl Rice ×5 bags]

[2kg Egg Noodles ×2 packs]

[Farm-Raised Pork ×5 kg]

[Authentic Free-Range Chicken Eggs ×100]

[Peanut Oil ×5 jugs]

[Braised Chicken Drumstick ×1]

[500g Rock Sugar ×2 bags]

[Canned Meat ×2 cans]

[Essential Household Seasoning Pack...]

"Claim rewards?" The text appeared before the wheel again.

Lin Zhao said in a daze, "Claim."

「In the next instant.」

The empty floor space in the room was suddenly piled high with supplies.

!

Lin Zhao stared, dumbfounded.

The noise from inside the room traveled outside, and a small voice called out, "Mom?"

Da Zai had grabbed a small stool and was sitting guard by Lin Zhao’s door. Hearing the commotion, he had called out cautiously.

Lin Zhao was incredibly fertile, making her the envy of the whole commune. Her first pregnancy resulted in twin boys, Da Zai and Er Zai. A few years later, when Gu Chenghuai came home on leave, she became pregnant again, this time giving birth to fraternal twins—a boy and a girl—who were now a little over a year old.

Two pregnancies, four children.

Lin Zhao snapped back to her senses. She shoved the pile of supplies into a cabinet, locked it with a CLICK, and went to open the door. When she saw the small, thin figure of Da Zai standing there, she suddenly recalled his eventual fate—a violent death on the streets—and she felt like she was having a heart attack.