The group returned home, laughing and chatting. Sun Wanwan heard them from a distance, threw open the gate, and beamed. "Welcome home, everyone!"
"Our Wanwan is such a sweet girl."
Kong Li tossed her belongings to Sun Youcai and scooped Sun Wanwan up into her arms, teasing her.
"Alright, enough. Let’s eat. Aren't you all hungry after a long day?"
Though Zhang Guifen’s words were clipped, she wore a smile. Life was currently grueling, but with her family harmonious and facing their hardships together, she felt content.
The family walked into the main room, laughing. The room was sparsely furnished: a single, weathered square table surrounded by four rickety benches that showed the wear of time. Zhang Guifen came out of the kitchen with a pot of corn-grits porridge—mostly water, very little grain. Kong Li followed with a plate of pickled radish and a dish of stir-fried wild greens.
This was the family’s meal.
Sun Linglong’s heart ached at the sight. Memories of the eggs and fatty pork she had given away in her past life made her wish she could travel back in time just to slap herself awake. Her family had been too poor to afford a proper meal, yet she had taken the meager portions they had scraped together out of love for her and given them away to others without a second thought.
Sun Linglong clenched her fists in frustration. Sun Dawei, watching from the side, sighed silently; some emotional knots could only be untied by facing them head-on.
"Sweetheart, come eat."
As always, Zhang Guifen handed the bowl with the most grain to Sun Linglong. It was a bowl brimming with her mother’s love.
Sun Linglong kept her head down, her voice low. "Mom, I’m not hungry. You all eat more."
She stood up and went to ladle herself a bowl of the thin, watery porridge. This was all she deserved.
Zhang Guifen quickly set her own bowl down, hurried to Sun Linglong’s side, and felt her forehead with concern. "Sweetheart, are you feeling unwell? Tell us, and we’ll go find a doctor."
The palm on her forehead was rough, yet warm. Sun Linglong found herself drowning in this affection. She closed her eyes, struggling to keep from crying, and felt her voice begin to tremble. "Mom, I’m fine."
Seeing their little sister in this state, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Sun Linglong with concern.
Sun Youcai stood up. "Mom, hurry and take her to the doctor. She looks really wrong."
"That’s right, Mom. Nothing can happen to Linglong. Please, go," Kong Li added, equally worried.
"Little Sister, if something is bothering you, just say it. Don't keep it all bottled up," Second Brother Sun Youyong added.
Song Linlin, always a person of action, was already preparing to head out the door.
"Everyone sit down and finish your meal," Sun Dawei said, taking charge. "After dinner, Wanwan, you go rest first. I have something we need to discuss."
Zhang Guifen rolled her eyes at the mysterious old man and stroked the top of Sun Linglong’s head. "Sweetheart, eat your fill. If something is bothering you, you tell Mom."
"Mom, I know. Please, just eat."
Sun Linglong gently pushed Zhang Guifen back to her seat, still refusing the porridge her mother had ladled for her, and sat by herself, head bowed, silently sipping the watery broth. Sun Wanwan, young but perceptive, sensed her aunt’s distress, set down her bowl, and hugged Sun Linglong’s arm, offering silent comfort.
The family finished their meal in silence. Once Kong Li had finished washing the dishes, she and Sun Youcai went into Zhang Guifen’s room.
There were only two chairs in the room. Zhang Guifen pulled Sun Linglong down to sit, though the girl was reluctant. Sun Dawei offered a helpless smile and voluntarily stood so his wife could have a seat. Sun Youcai and Kong Li stood straight beside the benches, while Sun Youyong and Song Linlin leaned against the doorframe.
"We’re all here. This is our first family meeting. I’ve called everyone here primarily to talk about Linglong."
"What happened to Little Sister?" Sun Youcai asked anxiously.
"Stay calm, nothing has happened to her yet," Sun Dawei said, patting Sun Youcai on the shoulder. "This afternoon, Linglong told me something that concerns our entire family. Because of it, she feels like a sinner in this household."
Sun Dawei heaved a heavy sigh.
"How is that possible? Little Sister could never be a sinner!" Sun Youyong said, agitated. He looked at Sun Linglong. "Little Sister, how could you have such an absurd thought? No matter what happens, you will never be a sinner in this family."
"Second Brother..."
Sun Linglong felt the tears rising again. She gripped her palms tightly, took a deep breath, and said, "Dad, let me tell them."
She stood up, scanned the face of every family member, and bowed deeply. "I’m sorry."
"Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, I have failed you all..."
Sun Linglong recounted everything from her past life. When she finished, her heart was racing so fast it felt like ants were biting at her, keeping her from finding any peace. She looked at everyone’s faces. Sun Youcai looked stunned; Sun Youyong had his brows knit tightly together.
The look on everyone’s faces was grim. *They really should hate me,* she thought.
Sun Linglong sniffled, fighting the urge to sob. Kong Li’s eyes turned red; she stepped forward and pulled Sun Linglong into a tight embrace. "Linglong, we’re sorry. When you were killed by those scoundrels, we weren't by your side."
Sun Youyong clenched his fists, venting the heavy emotions in his chest. Song Linlin reached out and took his hand, her own eyes dark with emotion.
Zhang Guifen burst into tears. "Linglong, my sweetheart, what terrible suffering you went through. We died, so we died—but to leave you all alone, helpless, only for you to be thrown into a lake and drowned? Those two heartless, wicked bastards! I will tear their skin off myself!"
"My poor, poor Linglong."
Sun Dawei was equally enraged. That afternoon, he had only known that his family had been killed, but he hadn't realized his daughter had been drowned alive! The thought of the pain of slowly drowning—feeling the water enter her lungs while knowing she was about to die and being powerless to fight back—was something he couldn't even bear to imagine. Just thinking about it gave him the urge to kill. His precious, pampered daughter had suffered so much!
"I’m going to kill them right now!" Sun Youcai grabbed a shoulder pole from the corner and started toward the Educated Youth Point.
Fortunately, Sun Youyong pulled him back. "Big Brother, if you act so recklessly and kill them, you’ll be thrown in jail. Little Sister wouldn't want anything to happen to you."
Sun Youcai turned and saw his little sister’s worried gaze. He dropped his arms powerlessly. "Are we just going to let them go without revenge?"
"Of course not. But revenge requires a plan. We’ll talk about that later."
After calming Sun Youcai, Sun Youyong walked slowly to Sun Linglong’s side. "Little Sister, is that why you think you’re a sinner? Because you think you caused our deaths?"
"How could that be?" Zhang Guifen immediately protested. "Linglong, how could you ever think that? As parents, all we want is to see our children live safe, happy lives. We would give anything for them. Linglong, none of this is your fault."
Zhang Guifen didn't know how to speak in grand theories, but she was trying her best to make Sun Linglong understand.
"Little Sister, how could we ever blame you? You aren't a sinner. You are our dearest family."
Kong Li patted Sun Linglong’s shoulder, offering her comfort.