RIRW – Chapter 2

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Zuo Dan volunteered to help Xu Fengxia with cooking. On the one hand, she intended to foil Xu Fengxia’s little schemes—after all, according to her memories, Xu Fengxia often stirred up trouble and caused discord. On the other hand, it was a good excuse to avoid Zuo Dacheng and his wife, as even though she had inherited the original Zou Dan’s memories, emotionally, they were still strangers to her. She didn’t know how to interact with them.

Xu Fengxia wasn’t pleased at all. “Why would I let you cook? Your head injury hasn’t healed yet. Go rest. I’ll ask your sister Huanhuan to help instead.” As she spoke, she shouted toward one of the rooms, “Huanhuan, come out and help me cook!”

“Mom, my stomach hurts,” came a whiny voice from behind the window.

Xu Fengxia’s face immediately fell. This little daughter of hers had many good qualities but was undeniably lazy.

At this moment, Zuo Qing, who had been silent, timidly suggested, “Mom, how about I help you cook?” Her dark complexion revealed a trace of eagerness to please.

Looking at this honest and overly obedient cousin, Zuo Dan couldn’t help but pity her. Among all the members of the Zuo family, Zuo Qing was undoubtedly the most unfortunate. Lacking the favor of both parents, she did more work than anyone else but never received a word of praise.

Already irritable, Xu Fengxia snapped at her daughter’s suggestion, “I wouldn’t dare expect anything from you! Useless and wasteful!”

Her frustration was evident as her eyes landed on Zuo Qing’s plain, slightly darker face. It only deepened her dissatisfaction. Xu Fengxia had been a renowned beauty in her youth—once the “flower of the village.” Her frustration stemmed from the fact that her eldest daughter was unattractive, dull, and far from the charming Huanhuan. She had long given up hope for Zuo Qing.

The commotion drew the attention of Zuo Grandma, who had been wiping her face. She scowled and barked, “What’s all the noise about? It’s just cooking. Whoever wants to go, just go. Stop making a fuss!”

Grandma Zuo was the matriarch of the family. Having raised three sons on her own after the early death of her husband, her authority was unquestionable. Her words immediately silenced Xu Fengxia.

Even Zuo Hongjun, who had been quietly smoking his pipe, chimed in, “Why are you causing such a scene? Just go cook already. Or are you not miserable enough?”

Zuo Dacheng and Li Hui couldn’t help but feel awkward at this remark, knowing it was a jab at their connection to the disgraced Li family, which had cost Zuo Hongjun his team leader position.

Li Hui quickly spoke up to defuse the tension. “I’ll help with cooking. Let me assist Sister-in-law.”

“No need,” Xu Fengxia retorted sharply. “I’ll cook with Dandan. I wouldn’t dare trouble you.”

Her words dripped with disdain. She avoided anything related to the “bourgeois elements,” lest she bring more misfortune upon herself.

Li Hui lowered her head and didn’t dare reply.

Grandma Zuo snorted coldly. “Alright, everyone, get to work and stop crowding around.”

With that, she headed for the clay-brick room, which served as both her quarters and the family’s grain storage. No one dared enter without her permission.

After Grandma left, Xu Fengxia regained her composure. She glanced smugly at the others and said, “Come on, Dandan, let’s cook. Not just anyone gets to use our Zuo family’s kitchen.”

With a haughty air, she opened the kitchen door and strutted inside, followed by the quiet and downcast Zuo Qing.

Zuo Dacheng sighed and pulled Li Hui aside. “Go rest for a while. There’s still work to do this afternoon.”

Li Hui nodded but looked back at Zuo Dan hesitantly, as though wanting to speak. Yet, noticing Zuo Grandma nearby, she swallowed her words. The matriarch’s disapproval of her and her children was well-known, and she didn’t want to provoke any more trouble.

Zuo Dacheng, sensing her unease, addressed Zuo Dan directly, “Dandan, come to our room. Your dad wants to talk to you.”

A wave of unease washed over Zuo Dan. There was no avoiding it now. Bracing herself, she nodded.

Well, sooner or later, she would have to face them.

The Zuo family was poor, but they had enough rooms for everyone, thanks to the Li family’s financial help when Zuo Dacheng and Li Hui got married. However, space was still tight for the children. Zuo Dan, Zuo Qing, and Zuo Huan shared one room, while her younger brother Zuo Cong shared another with their unmarried uncle.

Zuo Dacheng and Li Hui’s room was on the western side. Dimly lit, it was modestly furnished but tidy and orderly. Despite the simplicity, the arrangement hinted at the couple’s refined tastes.

Upon entering, Zuo Dan’s eyes darted around, deliberately avoiding her parents.

God knows how someone like her, who had never called anyone “Dad” or “Mom” in her entire life, was suddenly faced with parents. She had no idea how to deal with it.

“Dandan, does your head still hurt?” Li Hui asked, stepping closer with a face full of concern when her daughter stayed silent.

Zuo Dan instinctively wanted to step back, but seeing the worry in Li Hui’s eyes, she forced herself to stay put. No matter what, she had taken over someone else’s body. While she couldn’t immediately treat Li Hui like her own mother and show filial piety, she also didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

Grandma had always said that anyone willing to treat her well deserved a proper return in kind.

She touched her forehead. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Don’t worry about me.”

Li Hui’s weathered face grew even more guilt-ridden. “It’s my fault this time. I promise I won’t let you do such things again.”

Zuo Dan quickly replied, “I’m really fine, and it wasn’t your fault. This was just an accident. I’ve delivered things many times before, and nothing bad ever happened.”

Hearing this, Li Hui looked pleasantly surprised. She had been consumed with guilt and self-reproach for nearly costing her daughter her life. Now, hearing these words from her, the heavy weight pressing on her heart finally lifted a little.

Zuo Dacheng smiled and gently patted his daughter on the shoulder. “See? I told you our daughter is sensible. How could she blame you? Nobody wanted this to happen, so there’s no point blaming anyone. Besides, her grandfather spoiled her so much back in the day—our girl isn’t ungrateful.”

Zuo Dan didn’t respond to this. In her memories, the original owner of this body did hold some resentment toward the Li family. She had been young and naive at first, standing united with her family. But over time, as she was constantly ridiculed by others and subtly manipulated by Xu Fengxia, those feelings had begun to fester. By the time she was injured, she and Li Hui were barely on speaking terms.

But for someone who knew this part of history, Zuo Dan felt it was impossible to judge who was truly in the right or wrong—it was simply a product of those turbulent times.

Unaware of his daughter’s inner thoughts, Zuo Dacheng seized the opportunity to mend the mother-daughter relationship. “Dandan, your mom hasn’t had it easy these past few days. She’s barely slept and is holding up on sheer willpower. You know her health has never been great.”

Zuo Dan nodded. She knew. At night, Li Hui had even come to her room to tuck her in, though Zuo Dan had always pretended to be asleep because she didn’t know how to face her.

Thinking about it now, guilt crept up. She had taken over someone else’s body and received care she didn’t deserve. “I’m really fine now. I was even thinking about going to work in the fields this afternoon.”

Li Hui panicked. “Take a few more days to rest! The doctor said your head injury is severe.”

Li Hui’s concern wasn’t unwarranted. When they’d rescued her daughter, she was barely alive, with the doctor even issuing a critical condition notice. To this day, she felt it was a miracle her daughter had woken up.

Zuo Dan had just been speaking casually, but seeing such a big reaction, she quickly added, “It depends on what Grandma decides.”

She couldn’t bring herself to address the old woman as “Grandma.” In her heart, the one who had raised her was her real and only grandmother.

Fortunately, Li Hui and Zuo Dacheng didn’t seem to mind and instead turned their attention to the issue of whether Zuo Dan would have to work in the fields.

If it were an ordinary time, the tasks weren’t too demanding, and she could get by without much trouble. But now, during the busy farming season, the tasks were heavy under the production contract. If their daughter really went, it would be hard labor, and any mishap could worsen her injuries.

“Dacheng, how about I go talk to Mom? I’ll do more work. As long as the tasks are completed, Dandan can rest a few more days.”

Zuo Dacheng thought for a moment before replying, “Don’t worry. I’ll bring it up with Mom during lunch. Besides, the village is expecting educated youths to arrive soon. Uncle Shuisheng said he’s going to the town station to pick them up and is looking for young people from the village to help. When the time comes, we can have Dandan join. If it’s a team assignment, Mom can’t object.”

“What are you still hiding in there for? Do I have to invite you to come eat?” Xu Fengxia’s loud voice came from outside.

Zuo Dacheng couldn’t continue the conversation and quickly said, “Let’s go eat first. Afterward, I’ll go find Uncle Shuisheng.”

The Zuo family hadn’t split up their household, so they were still a large family by village standards.

The old lady had three sons and a daughter. Her daughter was already married and living in town, while two of her sons had settled down with families of their own.

The eldest son, Zuo Hongjun, had two daughters. The second son, Zuo Dacheng, had a son and a daughter. The youngest son, born late in the old lady’s life, was unruly and irresponsible—nearly thirty and still unmarried. He spent his days wandering about.

Because of his absence, he wasn’t at the table, nor was Zuo Dacheng’s son, who was away at high school in the county.

A square table was laid out with two large bowls—one with pumpkin rice, the other with boiled greens. Meals like this were rare, reserved for busy farming seasons. On regular days, they mostly ate coarse grains.

When Zuo Dan and her parents entered, the others were already seated, leaving only one side of the table open. Without saying anything, Zuo Dan squeezed in with her parents.

The old lady portioned out the food. The adults each received a full bowl, Zuo Qing a three-quarter bowl, while Zuo Huan and Zuo Dan got only half a bowl each.

After receiving her bowl, Zuo Qing instinctively switched hers with Zuo Huan’s.

The old lady glanced over but said nothing.

Just as Zuo Dan was silently criticizing Zuo Qing for being too self-sacrificing, she suddenly realized her own bowl had also been filled up—a full bowl now.

Li Hui’s bowl, meanwhile, was down to half.

Zuo Dan’s nose suddenly stung with emotion.