Once he had recovered, Chen Sinian quickly hugged and comforted her, glancing around from time to time to see if anyone was watching.

“Xi’er, now is not the time to cry. Tell me everything in detail…”

He not only wanted to know what was happening now, but also about his past life. In his previous life, he had lived a very fulfilling and contented life with no unfulfilled wishes, and he had never thought about starting over. His childhood schooling had been incredibly stifling, and he didn't want to experience it all again.

As expected of Zhou Lingxi, who always listens to advice, she quickly shut up and helped Chen Sinian to his feet after hearing his words.

After finding a secluded spot, the two explained their respective situations. Zhou Lingxi told them a story that was 70% true and 30% false.

Even though Chen Sinian sensed something was amiss, he didn't say much, because he had no memory of his time before retiring from officialdom.

The only thing he remembered was the days after returning home in glory, surrounded by wives and concubines, with filial children, and being the center of attention. Therefore, he knew absolutely nothing about the current situation in the capital.

After listening to Zhou Lingxi's words, he came to a similar conclusion: that prince had also been reborn and had brought down the Seventh Prince earlier than expected.

Chen Sinian, who prides himself on his exceptional talent, doesn't care at all who will rise to power in the future. He was able to climb to the top on his own in his past life, and he can do it in this life as well.

As for the Xie family, he had no doubts, after all, he had almost wiped out the entire Xie family.

He was absolutely certain that it was because the Xie family had neglected him and caused him so much suffering after Chen Hehua fell ill that he instigated Zhou Lingxi to take revenge on the Xie family.

He also wondered why he had lost so many memories, and feelings of unease and fear would still occasionally surface in his heart.

(Xie Ming: Since you disdain the benefits offered by the Xie family, then delete your most cherished and glorious memories.)

After all, he had served as the chief minister for many years. Even though he had lost the knowledge he gained after the age of nine, he still possessed the ability to scheme and plot.

He knew very well that he couldn't stay in the Chen family any longer, but he couldn't remember how he had managed to leave the Chen family in his previous life.

Thinking of the hardships he endured in the Chen family after returning from the Xie family, Chen Sinian's anger surged. He admired his past self for achieving success and fame, then setting aside past grievances and making Chen Family Village even more prosperous than Xie Family Village.

However, he would never do that in this life, otherwise how could he justify the pain he has suffered?

In order to keep Zhou Lingxi, Chen Sinian tried to persuade her to go to the Chen family first, but Zhou Lingxi really didn't want to be a concubine. In her previous life, as Chen Sinian's wife, she knew very well what it was like to torment someone.

In the end, Chen Sinian had no choice but to arrange for the person to go to his maternal uncle's house. After all, he was familiar with his uncle Zhou Lingxi from his previous life, and she got along well with him.

And so, Chen Sinian endured the pain and took Zhou Lingxi to the mountains.

Xie family

After returning to the Xie family, Xie Chunlin finally discovered his son's "great undertaking".

Xie Youlin originally thought that his younger brother would oppose the idea like his grandfather, but to his surprise, his brother stayed in the room all night and came out having a change of heart.

In his words, the Xie family might really produce a "Shennong" (a legendary Chinese figure known for his legendary agricultural skills).

When Grandpa Xie saw that his own son was so reckless, he naturally gave him a good scolding.

Afterwards, seeing that Xie Chunlin still firmly supported Xie Ming, Old Master Xie gave up on his previous thoughts and began to focus on his second son's progress.

Xie Chunlin bid farewell to his once leisurely and peaceful farming life. However, he did not forget the little brat in Chenjia Village.

In his spare time, he would still use his position as uncle to ask people about Chen Sinian's good days.

The villagers told him some encouraging news: that heartless bastard hadn't had a single peaceful day at the Chen family's house since he went back.

Living in a pigsty, not having enough to eat, and wearing tattered clothes were all minor issues; his nightmare was the beatings he received several times a day from his brothers, uncles, and grandparents.

Thinking of the disasters that Xie Chunlin had suffered, Xie Chunlin felt it was still not enough, far from enough.

Just wait! When you feel you've reached the end of your suffering, then I'll let you experience what it means to be utterly destroyed.

In fact, Xie Chunlin was almost unable to suppress the beast in his heart when he saw that the Chen family had not retaliated. However, the suffering of the Xie family was holding him back.

Xie Chunlin could only devote all his energy to the imperial examinations.

He was also one of Mr. Zeng's most outstanding students, and he was the most promising student in the academy when he passed the imperial examination and became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

However, what followed was too cruel, completely decimating the seeded players.

Now that there are no obstacles in front of him and he has the motivation to prosper his family, Xie Chunlin can be said to have divine assistance.

Despite his father's efforts, Xie Ming's side made little progress.

It's not that he lacks ability, but rather that he's too young. Besides, farming is something that can be accomplished in just one or two months.

So he leisurely went about his business, scattering whatever he could find into the irrigation water.

The villagers just thought it was the kids playing pranks, and they would only tease them occasionally before moving on.

Of course, he did not fail to achieve the scholar's degree he had promised, and he was very proactive in his studies. In his spare time, he would also talk with Xie Chunlin about poetry and prose.

The more Xie Chunlin interacted with his own son, the more he hated the Chen aunt and niece, and the more he hated his own foolishness. Such a good son, ruined by his own hands in his past life.

It's always better to raise one's own son than to raise someone with no blood relation. With his son's intelligence, how could he possibly lose to that person with a different surname?

Regret welled up in his heart, and he unconsciously lowered Chen Hehua's treatment by several levels.

Xie Ming secretly went to check on Chen Hehua and found that the once plump and fair-skinned woman had become thin and sallow. Her room had been smashed to pieces, and there was nothing left to sleep in; the only redeeming quality was that it didn't smell too bad.

He knew that Xie Chunlin had arranged everything inside, and he also knew that Chen Hehua wasn't completely insane, she just had a bad voice.

Many relatives came to visit, but they all shook their heads in regret and left. No one believed that any of it was related to Xie Chunlin. Who would believe that such a devoted husband would do such a thing!

As for whether anyone will bring up Xie Ming's marriage in the future, Xie Chunlin doesn't care at all. As long as he climbs up the ladder, what's so difficult about choosing a good girl for his son?

Xie Ming, on the other hand, didn't have such worries at all. He had no intention of getting married. Wasn't it better to just farm?

While Xiejia Village enjoyed a peaceful and idyllic life, Chen Sinian's situation was dire.

After Zhou Lingxi escaped from the exile group with so many silver notes belonging to her grandmother, she hid them very carefully.

She only planned to take it out after going up the mountain with Chen Sinian, but the silver notes she thought she had a lot of were only 5 taels left, and the rest were all gone.

The two of them checked up and down in disbelief but still couldn't find it. Zhou Lingxi was almost going crazy.

That would be her future support. Not to mention the food and survival she needed right now, even with Chen Sinian's success in the imperial examinations, her dowry... would all be piles of silver.

Chen Sinian was more clear-headed than her, knowing that five taels of silver were also very important to him now. So, taking advantage of her inattention, he quickly put the silver note into his pocket. Zhou Lingxi didn't notice anything amiss, and with a mournful face, she followed him into the mountains in a daze.