By the time Yuan Doudou finished washing up and tidying up the house, it was already midnight, and through the window, one could hear the calls of a few night owls.

After working in the fields all day, Yuan Doudou felt incredibly happy the moment she lay down on her bed after doing laundry and cooking in the evening.

She was already very content to be able to eat her fill, stay warm, and have a place to sleep when she was tired in this strange world.

A few coughs came from the inner room. Thinking of her mother-in-law's illness, Yuan Doudou frowned. The medicine at home had run out, and she would have to go to town to get more medicine tomorrow. But before going to bed, she looked at her money bag, and it was as empty as her face.

Her husband, Anbao, died on the battlefield, his body never found whole. The housekeeper only brought back a set of Anbao's usual clothes. At the time, he also gave her a sum of money as compensation, which she kept.

Yuan Doudou had just given birth to Anji and needed to replenish her nutrition. Wang Shi took out money to help Yuan Doudou recover, and she kept putting off her own illness. Only when Yuan Doudou recovered her strength and was able to work in the fields did Wang Shi finally agree to see a doctor and take medicine. However, her body was too weak, and although she took a lot of medicine, she still did not get better.

Yuan Doudou cherished her mother-in-law's kindness and was determined to cure her illness. To this end, she borrowed money from relatives, totaling no less than ten taels of silver.

Now that her family is so poor they can't even afford to eat, Yuan Doudou is filled with worry.

Lost in thought, Yuan Doudou fell asleep.

In her dream, she saw her parents, who were holding her portrait and weeping bitterly, regretting that they had pushed themselves too hard. They said if only she hadn't gone to university, their daughter wouldn't have died.

Yuan Doudou really wanted to tell them that she wasn't dead, but had just moved to a different space, but no matter how much she talked, they couldn't see or hear her, which made her anxious and restless.

Yuan Doudou was startled awake by the sound of roosters crowing, and then realized that everything she had just experienced was a dream.

She felt something wet on her face, and when she touched it, she found it was cold tears.

Well, what's done is done, there's no point in thinking about it anymore. The important thing is to adapt to life here as soon as possible.

"Yuan Doudou, open the door quickly!" came an urgent shout from outside.

Yuan Doudou quickly got dressed, glanced at the sleeping Anji, and then opened the door to go out.

The gate to the courtyard was rather simple, just a carrying pole blocking the way from the inside, meant to keep out honest people but not scoundrels.

As she moved the carrying pole aside and opened the wooden door, before she could even see who it was, she was bumped to the side and nearly lost her balance.

"Second Aunt, what are you doing?" Yuan Doudou steadied herself against the wall and looked coldly at Zhuang Shuhui.

Zhuang Shuhui was wearing a green silk dress, her waist was thicker than a bucket, and she wore jade earrings. When she shook her head, the earrings swayed with her.

"What are you talking about? Shouldn't you pay back the money you borrowed from my family?" Zhuang Shuhui glanced at Yuan Doudou, her nostrils flaring, looking arrogant and haughty.

Yuan Doudou's heart sank. As expected, they had come to collect a debt. Before the New Year, she had indeed borrowed three taels of silver from An Bihuai to buy medicine for Wang Shi. At the time, they agreed that the loan term would be one year, with an interest of fifty cash.

It's only been March, less than half a year, and Zhuang Shuhui is already urging us.

"Second Aunt, the IOU is still here. It's clearly written in black and white. The due date isn't until the end of the year. Have you forgotten it, Second Aunt?"

Zhuang Shuhui lowered her eyes to hide her embarrassment. Of course she remembered, but she was afraid. Three taels of silver was no small amount. She had initially disagreed with lending it, but it was all because of her unreasonable husband who said that the family should help each other out.

“Yuan Doudou, I lent you the money out of pity. Now my family needs the money, and even if it's not due yet, I can still get my money back.”

Seeing that she was determined to get her money back, Yuan Doudou came up with a delaying tactic.

"Second Aunt, you are the creditor and have the right to get the loan back at any time. But I want to remind you that if you ask for it back in advance, I will not pay you a single penny of the fifty coins interest."

"What? You dare?" Zhuang Shuhui shouted anxiously, her voice cracking.

Yuan Doudou sneered: "Second Aunt, there's no use in getting agitated. This is also stated in the IOU, and it's fair to both of us."

"You, you're bullying me because I can't read! I'm going back to your second uncle right now, and he'll deal with you!" Zhuang Shuhui stormed off in a fit of rage.

Yuan Doudou put away the IOU, feeling even more pressure.

Although my second aunt is heartless, it is only right to pay back debts. Even if the due date has not passed, people can still ask for repayment, and at most they will only lose interest.

"DouDou, who was talking outside just now?" Wang asked while coughing.

Yuan Doudou walked to the door. Not wanting Wang Shi to worry, she made up an excuse: "Mother, it's Second Aunt. She's here to ask us what we need."

Wang lowered her eyelids and remained silent.

After Yuan Doudou prepared breakfast and served it on the table, Wang Shi and Anji had already sat down at the table.

Wang took out a crumpled red handkerchief from her sleeve, placed it on the table, and slowly untied it, revealing a pair of silver bracelets inside.

"DouDou, this is my dowry. You can pawn it. Pay back the money you borrowed outside if you can." This will save her second sister-in-law from being so distraught that she can't eat or sleep and comes to collect debts early in the morning.

Yuan Doudou was at a loss. She didn't expect her mother-in-law to have overheard and be willing to take out her own dowry. You should know that in the past, the husband's family could not use the daughter-in-law's dowry.

Yuan Doudou herself had no dowry. She was an orphan that Wang found on the road. After raising her, she became the wife of Wang's son. She was completely alone and helpless.

When her husband An Rong died, he was only ten years old, and she was seven.

The days that followed were very difficult. Wang saved every penny to raise her two children. She originally wanted Anrong to go to school, but she had no choice but to give up.

Yuan Doudou married An Rong three years ago, but An Rong went to serve in the military just one month after their marriage.

A month after An Rong left, Yuan Doudou discovered that she was pregnant.

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Yuan Doudou's belly was growing bigger every day, and she looked forward to her husband's safe return so she could witness the birth of their child.

But she waited until she was about to give birth, but her husband never came. The day after Anji was born, the government sent someone to deliver Anrong's belongings.

Yuan Doudou was paralyzed on the spot, and Wang Shi fainted after her vision went completely black.

"Mother, this is your dowry, I can't take it." Yuan Doudou wrapped the handkerchief and handed it to Wang Shi.

Wang's eyes reddened, and she choked up as she said, "Dou Dou, I know you're a good child, but my health is deteriorating day by day. To treat my illness, the family has incurred a lot of debt. Before, we thought Rong'er could come back, and that it was right for you not to use my dowry. But now, only the old, weak, women, and children are left in the family. Survival is the most important thing. We can no longer stick to the old rules."

Wang spoke earnestly, and Yuan Doudou's nose tingled with emotion as she listened.

She had never experienced such hardship before. This first time traveling through time made her truly understand what it meant to be forced by life's hardships.