Ji Wenrou followed them into the women's dormitory, but her jaw dropped the moment she stepped inside.
They had been told it could accommodate eight people, but in reality, it was just rusted metal bunk beds with very narrow frames. The room was cramped, with four sets of bunks tucked into the corners and two locked cabinets sitting in the middle.
Fang Ping gestured to the dust-covered bunks and said, "Those are all unoccupied. You can just pick whichever ones you like."
Ji Wenrou was visibly reluctant, but Li Hongmei didn't mind. She was used to similar living conditions back home, so it was nothing new to her. She chose a lower bunk and began to unpack.
Ji Wenrou’s face darkened, but since the room was full of women, no one took pity on her. She had no choice but to sluggishly set down her luggage and start making her bed, looking utterly miserable. The thick dust made her cough.
"This is infuriating!" she thought. "Is this any place for a human to live?"
On the other side, Wen Ruocheng’s face was equally grim.
"Brother, it hurts."
Wen Yan’s little face was scrunched up in pain, and Wen Ruocheng quickly loosened his grip.
"Are we really supposed to live in a place like this?"
Back home, his smallest room had been bigger than this entire space!
"Among the villages in this area, our conditions are actually considered quite good," Wang Zhiping said gently. "I’ll leave you to settle in for now. We’ll have a welcome dinner prepared for you this evening."
With that, Wang Zhiping left. He had only earned two work points today and needed to get back to the fields.
Only Wen Ruocheng, Wen Yan, and He Jiawang remained in the room. Wen Ruocheng hung his head, harboring a secret resentment toward these snobbish, small-minded people.
Meanwhile, Sun Linglong took Sun Wanwan and followed Sun Dawei home.
"Linglong, make sure you look after Wanwan well."
Sun Dawei went into the kitchen and began to wash the pot and start the fire. Sun Linglong followed him in right after. "Dad, let me help you."
Sun Wanwan looked up and said sensibly, "Grandpa, Wanwan can help too."
Before long, smoke from the stove began to drift up from the Sun Family home.
"Wanwan, you stay here and keep an eye on things. Your aunt and I are going to go call the others back for dinner."
Sun Wanwan nodded obediently.
Sun Linglong and her father stepped out of the house. She slowed her pace, walking close to Sun Dawei, never leaving his side. She kept her head down, her mind in chaos, but the intense emotions she felt were impossible to suppress, and her eyes welled up with tears. She blinked rapidly to ensure Sun Dawei wouldn't notice anything unusual.
"Linglong, I watched you grow up. I know your personality better than anyone."
Hearing this, Sun Linglong looked up at Sun Dawei, her heart pounding. "Dad..."
"Listen to me." Sun Dawei stopped her. "My Linglong has always been well-behaved and obedient since she was small—innocent and sunny. Even when she encountered bad things, she would always face them with a smile."
"The Linglong I raised so carefully would never be this troubled, and she would never hide such hatred and pain in her eyes."
Sun Linglong could no longer control herself. Tears streamed down her face as she threw herself into Sun Dawei’s arms and sobbed uncontrollably. She let the tears flow as if venting, releasing all the grievances and hatred from her past life. She clutched Sun Dawei’s clothes tightly, crying her heart out. For ten full minutes, she wept until her eyes were red and swollen.
When her emotions finally settled, Sun Linglong sobbed as she pulled back from his embrace. During that time, Sun Dawei had simply patted her back in silence, just as he used to when she was wronged as a child.
"Dad, I... I’m sorry... It was me who caused your death."
Sun Linglong was overcome with guilt and self-reproach. Ever since she was reborn and saw that Sun Dawei was still alive, the initial excitement had been followed by a deep sense of shame. She was a complete sinner; she didn't dare to hope for her family's forgiveness.
Sun Dawei’s expression remained gentle. "You silly girl, I’m your father. How could you have caused my death?"
"Even if I died for some reason, it would have been of my own free will, because you are my daughter."
Sun Linglong’s tears fell once more.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Sun Linglong finally let go of her burden. "Dad, if I told you I was reborn, would you believe me?"
"Reborn?"
Sun Dawei had only attended primary school and didn't fully understand the concept, but that didn't stop him from feeling a deep ache for his daughter.
"Yes. It means I have already lived through one lifetime." Sun Linglong recalled her past life. "In my previous life, I fell in love with the new educated youth, Wen Ruocheng, at first sight. He tricked me into letting our family provide him with all sorts of conveniences."
"You could say our family poured out money and effort just to ensure Wen Ruocheng lived comfortably after coming to the countryside. Later, when the college entrance exams were reinstated, Wen Ruocheng lived up to expectations and got into university."
"I was full of hope, believing my efforts would be rewarded, but all I got was a denunciation letter. You were taken away, Dad. We ran everywhere, begging for mercy, but all we received was the news of your death."
Sun Linglong’s eyes welled up again.
*Wen Ruocheng?*
Sun Dawei had some impression of that educated youth. He did have a handsome face, but he wasn't a good person. He had seen more of the world than most, and he could tell at a glance that Wen Ruocheng was a fickle man, entirely unsuitable for his pampered daughter. Though, he did fit his daughter's aesthetic perfectly.
When Sun Dawei heard that he had been denounced, he instantly realized the motive. Wasn't this just the classic "ditch the lover as soon as you reach the shore"?
As he continued to hear how his whole family had either died or gone missing, his face twisted with rage. So, ruining his life wasn't enough for Wen Ruocheng? He had to make his entire family disappear?
Looking at the guilt-stricken Sun Linglong, Sun Dawei sighed. "Linglong, this is not your fault. Wen Ruocheng has a silver tongue that knows how to deceive. We raised you to be innocent and simple, which is why you were misled."
"We will always be a family. I believe your mother, and your brothers, won't blame you."
"Besides, if Heaven let you come back and do it all over again, perhaps it’s because it saw how innocent we were and wanted to give you a chance to turn the tables."
Sun Dawei comforted her as they walked. They soon reached their plot of land, though Sun Linglong’s eyes were still red and swollen.
"You old fool, why did you make Linglong cry?"
Zhang Guifen tossed her hoe aside, looked at her daughter’s red, puffy face with heartache, and glared at Sun Dawei.
"Mom, it’s not Dad’s fault. I was just feeling down." Sun Linglong quickly grabbed Zhang Guifen to explain.
Zhang Guifen shot Sun Dawei a look. "I’ll let you off the hook today." She then softened her face and turned to her daughter. "Sweetheart, tell Mom, why are you so upset?"
"Little sister, just tell me who bullied you. Your big brother will go fight them for you." Sun Youcai, not wanting to be left behind, hoisted his hoe and struck a heroic pose.
Her second brother, Sun Youyong, didn't say anything, but his eyes never left his little sister, and a dark, cold glint stirred in his heart.
Sun Linglong shook her head quickly. "I’m really fine. Let’s go home and eat."
Sun Youyong took the things from his wife, Song Linlin’s hands. They exchanged a glance, and both saw the same murderous intent for whoever had made their little sister (sister-in-law) cry.
*As expected, my wife is the same kind of person as me.*
Sun Youyong grinned, and Song Linlin shook her head helplessly.
*What a fool.*