"Ouch... why does my head hurt so much!"
Chen Xihua muttered to herself, "Didn't the doctor prescribe any medication? My head feels like it's going to explode! I don't even want to open my eyes!"
She had injured her head, and it was all her fault. She had been engrossed in reading a novel the night before and had stayed up too late. The next day, she had arranged to go hiking with her best friend in the suburbs early in the morning. Not feeling well, she lost her footing halfway up the mountain and fell. The slope next to her was too steep; even with her quick reflexes, she didn't have time to react. She only felt a sharp pain in her head before she passed out!
"Dr. Liu, why hasn't my daughter woken up yet? It's been a whole day!" Chen Xihua suddenly heard a hurried middle-aged woman's voice outside!
Doctor? Who is that woman? I don't recognize her, and her voice doesn't sound like my mother's.
Where's my best friend? She wouldn't be so irresponsible, would she? She didn't call 120 to take me to the hospital, would she?
“Baohua’s mother, Xihua fell and hit the back of her head. The wound isn’t big, but we don’t know what’s inside. We’ve applied some herbal medicine. Will she be able to wake up…” a somewhat aged man’s voice said hesitantly.
"Dr. Liu, it's just a head injury! It's not bleeding anymore, what do you mean it can't wake up?" The woman's voice grew more urgent! "Are you not treating it properly, trying to make more money? You don't think five yuan is too little, do you?"
"Li Yumei, stop making trouble. Although I'm just a barefoot doctor, I still have basic medical ethics. After I used herbal medicine to stop the bleeding this morning, I told you to take the child to the county hospital for further examination and treatment. You parents refused to listen, so don't come looking for me again!" The man's voice slowly faded into the distance.
"He's the only doctor in the village, otherwise who would bother to see him?" the woman scoffed.
"Alright, Baohua's mother, stop talking. Go to sleep and see if Xiao Wu can wake up tomorrow!" Another voice, belonging to a younger middle-aged man, rang out.
"Tomorrow, tomorrow, Chen Lao Er, we've already taken a week off. If we don't go back to work at the factory soon, we'll be laid off!" The woman's voice became agitated!
"Whether we ask for leave or not, the textile factory is going to lay off a batch of workers. I already found out, and we're both on the layoff list!" the man said in a somewhat somber voice.
"..."
As things gradually quieted down outside, Chen Xihua finally realized something was wrong. She opened her eyes, reached out to touch her head, and froze.
A dark, old mud house, with old newspapers pasted on the walls. Hands—yes, small and dark hands—not hers, not the hands of a 30-year-old career woman… a working-class woman, slender and long!
What's wrong with her? Is she dreaming? Is she still asleep?
Wait, Baohua, Li Yumei, Xihua, Xiaowu, Chen Laoer, laid-off... why do they sound so familiar?
"Ouch!" Chen Xihua's head suddenly throbbed again. After a while, she finally realized that she had transmigrated, and into a book at that.
She transmigrated into the book she had been reading last night, a modern-day romance novel where the female protagonist travels from ancient times to the present. It's a novel where the protagonist is pampered by her family!
She transmigrated into the body of a seven or eight-year-old girl named Chen Xihua, a character who wasn't even cannon fodder. The original owner of the body died as soon as she appeared, also due to a fall and injury, but never woke up. Chen Xihua transmigrated, and it was the summer of 1990!
Ugh, Chen Xihua couldn't help but want to curse. The family she transmigrated into was truly indescribable. She really wished she could die like the original owner!
She was as frustrated as she was when she was reading!
She finished reading this novel about a beloved family in one go yesterday, and it still resonates with her. The female protagonist is a time traveler from ancient times to the present. In ancient times, she was Zhou Qing, the eldest daughter of the famous Imperial Chef Zhou Feng. She was reborn as Zhou Qingqing, the beloved daughter of the Zhou family in the 1980s and 90s.
Chef Zhou only cooks for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in the palace. Other concubines, princes and princesses can hardly get a bite. His family has a family recipe book with various recipes, especially the medicinal food recipes, which are particularly eye-catching.
Originally, Zhou Qing was the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife and was raised to be the matriarch of the family. She was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, shop management, and household affairs. She also learned her father's cooking skills. It could be said that she would be happy and fulfilled after marriage.
Unfortunately, apart from his eldest daughter Zhou Qing, born to his principal wife, all of Zhou Yuchu's other concubines had daughters born to concubines. He had no sons. In the end, he realized that he really could not have a son, so he asked his eldest daughter Zhou Qing to find a husband to live with him and passed on the recipes to her.
It was the son-in-law she had taken in that led to Zhou Qing being drugged and dying in her thirties without leaving any children. Her husband also tricked her out of the Zhou family recipe book. In the end, she was just doing the work for someone else, which she was truly unwilling to accept!
The female protagonist was reborn into the Zhou family, where she had five older brothers and was the only daughter.
Zhou's father was Zhou Hongjun, the eldest son of the old director of the county textile factory, and Zhou's mother was Zhao Yuqing, the youngest daughter of Teacher Zhao from the county middle school.
In 1973, Zhou's parents went to the countryside as educated youth. In response to the national call, they volunteered to go to the countryside and were assigned to Xiangyang Brigade, Shanghe Village in this county.
They met, fell in love, and got married while working in the countryside. After the college entrance examination was reinstated, they both passed the exam and were admitted to vocational schools. After graduation, Zhou's father returned to the textile factory as the deputy director, and Zhou's mother became a Chinese language teacher at the county middle school.
The female lead has five older brothers who are all doting on their sister, making her the darling of the family. From a young age, she has shown intelligence, maturity, cooking skills, and independence. Later, when the textile factory was struggling, she persuaded her father to open a private restaurant in the county.
Later, Zhou Family Private Kitchen restaurants opened in the city, the provincial capital of Southern Province, and Beijing, all using the Zhou Family Imperial Chef's recipes. After Zhou Qingqing started school, she claimed she found the imperial chef's recipes at a junkyard!
In the original book, Brother Zhou joined the army at the age of sixteen and later became a battalion commander; Brother Zhou helped out at the family's private restaurant after graduating from high school and later took full control of the business; Brother Zhou was admitted to the University of Southern Province and became a financial elite after graduation; Brother Zhou became a star after university; and Brother Zhou became a famous painter!
Zhou Qingqing herself was admitted to the Humanities University in Beijing, majoring in Chinese Language and Literature, and stayed on to teach after graduation! She also met the male protagonist at the university.
The male protagonist is named Gu Tingxiao. He is from Beijing. He was the student council president in school and after graduation, he opened restaurants and other catering businesses, and he is well-known in the industry!
His family is a scholarly family; his grandfather was a professor at a humanities university, and his parents also teach at the same university. The male protagonist also graduated from the humanities university.
During his university years, his grandmother fell ill and had a poor appetite after being discharged from the hospital. He learned by chance that the medicinal cuisine at the newly opened Zhou Family Private Kitchen in the capital was very good, and his grandmother liked it very much. It also improved his grandmother's health!
Later, I learned that Zhou Qingqing, the beautiful and elegant junior at school, was actually the daughter of the Zhou family's private restaurant!
The two gradually became attracted to each other, got to know each other, cherished each other, fell in love, got married, had twins, and lived happily ever after!
Both the Zhou and Gu families have happy endings, making up for the regrets of the female lead's previous life!
However, the Chen family that Chen Xihua wore was a family that favored sons over daughters and was obsessed with supporting their brothers. In the end, the whole family met a bad end, becoming a contrast to the female lead Zhou Qingqing's family!
Chen Jianshe, the father, was the second son in the family. Chen's grandparents were both employees of the Gaoyang County Textile Factory. Neither the eldest son nor the youngest daughter wanted to send them to the countryside, so in the end, it was the second son, Chen Jianshe, who went to Shanghe Village.
Chen Lao Er went to the countryside indignantly. He was not enthusiastic about working and was lazy, but he was good-looking!
Both were children of textile factory workers and were part of the same batch of educated youth. Zhou's father was the factory director's son. He had a positive attitude, worked hard, and worked diligently to earn work points, which attracted the admiration of many female educated youth and village girls!
Chen Lao Er disliked Zhou Hongjun very much. The two were educated youths, came from relatively well-off families, and were both good-looking. Zhou Hongjun was upright and dignified, while Chen Lao Er was refined and handsome!
Shanghe Village is a large village, mainly inhabited by the Li family. Li Yumei, a girl from the village and Chen Xihua's mother, initially fell in love with Zhou Hongjun.
However, Zhou Hongjun and the female educated youth Zhao Yuqing soon started dating, so she turned her attention to another handsome man named Chen Lao Er.
Zhao Yuqing and Li Yumei were known as the "Twin Jade" girls in the village and were often compared. Both had attended junior high school and were both tall, fair-skinned, and beautiful girls! However, one was from the county town and the other was a village girl!
Although Chen's mother, Li Yumei, was a village girl, she had a pretty high starting point. Her biological parents were Li Laoda and his wife from Shanghe Village. They had three daughters in a row, but they couldn't afford to raise them, so they gave their newborn third daughter, Li Yumei, to their younger brother, Li Laoer. Later, they finally had a son.
The two brothers in the Li family were both very good-looking. The second brother, Li, became the son-in-law of Zhang Shuyun, the daughter of the landlord Zhang in Xiahe Village. After the Zhang family handed over all their property to the state, Zhang Shuyun and the second brother lived in Shanghe Village.
When he was young, Li Lao Er was injured while saving his wife and could no longer have children. He died soon after, leaving Zhang Shuyun alone. That's why Li Yumei was adopted later!
Zhang Shuyun, Chen Xihua's maternal grandmother, was literate and knowledgeable from a young age. She also had some money and raised Li Yumei with great care, sending her to junior high school.
Li Yumei was originally just a bit spoiled but well-mannered. However, she changed after meeting the educated youth. She became competitive and wanted to excel in everything. In particular, she had the biggest conflict with the female lead's mother, Zhao Yuqing, and always tried to bully others just because she was from the same village as the Li family.
After the college entrance examination was reinstated, Zhou's parents passed the exam and returned to the county town to attend a vocational school. Chen's parents, on the other hand, took over the jobs of Chen's grandparents at the textile factory before they were able to return to the county town!
Although Grandpa and Grandma Chen were a little biased towards their eldest son and youngest daughter, their second son was also their biological son, and they were getting old, so they simply gave their jobs to their second son and his wife!
Later, the Zhou family had five sons and one daughter, while Li Yumei of the Chen family had five daughters. She became even more mean and shrewish, and her preference for sons over daughters increased. She scolded her daughters every day, especially since Grandma Chen didn't like her, this country girl. She was holding a grudge.
When Li Yumei gave birth to her fifth son, Chen Xihua, she was injured and became even more hostile towards Chen Xihua. She then abandoned Chen Xihua to be raised by Zhang Shuyun in Shanghe Village. Three years later, she became pregnant again and gave birth to her youngest son, Chen Baohua. Only then did her temper improve.
When Chen Xihua transmigrated, it was during Zhang Shuyun's death, and Chen's parents returned to hold the funeral. Chen Xihua, who had been raised by her maternal grandmother since she was seven, was rather withdrawn and quiet, but she was a good student and would be in the second grade next semester.
The original owner started learning to read and write with her maternal grandmother when she was three or four years old. Later, under the guidance of the principal of the village primary school, she learned even more.
Especially this old principal, who was originally a professor from a provincial university who was sent down to the countryside. He had no other family members and did not want to return to the city, so he stayed in Shanghe Village as the principal.
Seeing that Chen Xihua was a quick learner, he privately taught her many lessons for upper elementary grades and also taught her simple calligraphy.
Xiao Xihua was afraid that her parents would abandon her after her grandmother passed away. She was truly heartbroken by her grandmother's death, so she knelt in front of the grave for a long time. When she stood up, she fell backward and that's how she died!
In the original book, Chen Xihua was no longer involved, and the Chen family's later life was ruined because of their youngest son, Chen Baohua, a golden nugget, and the four older sisters all met tragic ends!
All four of Chen's older sisters are "brother-supporting demons." Thinking of the various tragic endings of the four sisters in the original book, Chen Xihua's teeth itched and her hands itched: She should beat her younger brother as early as possible.
Fortunately, Chen Baohua is only two or three years old and hasn't gone astray yet!
She whispered in her heart: Chen Xihua, go in peace! I will take good care of you, and I will make sure the Chen family lives well, especially your four older sisters! They are my sisters now too, I am Chen Xihua now!
I hope my parents won't be sad because of my passing!
In my past life, my parents were my true love, and my child was an accident!
She was clearly a rich second-generation heiress and the sole heir to her family's listed company, but she was forced by her ruthless and cunning chairman father to become a miserable working-class person!
First, she was made to be a top student, and then she was taught how to manage a company from a young age. After she graduated from university, she was made to work for various companies outside, under the guise of going to the grassroots level and understanding the grassroots!
Once she turns thirty, we'll let her come back to inherit the company, and then Dad and Mom can travel all over the world!
She asked her parents what would happen if she couldn't manage the company well, and why they didn't just have another son to inherit it! It's not like they can't afford to raise a son!
Dad said that if he can't inherit the company, he'll donate it to the country as a charitable act! Don't even think about him having another child to steal his wife!
Sigh, her daughter must have been an accident! But even if she were really gone, her parents would still be heartbroken!
Perhaps because she was thinking too much, or because of the injury on her head, Chen Xihua fell asleep again. It wasn't until the next morning that she heard Chen Lao Er and Li Yumei talking next door!
"Baohua's mother, is Xiao Wu awake yet?"
"How should I know? I woke up just now, just like you, and haven't gotten up yet!"
"Okay, I'll go check. You can cook breakfast!" The sound of the door opening was followed by footsteps walking towards her room.
With a creak, the door to Chen Xihua's room was pushed open from the outside, and a middle-aged man of medium height, somewhat thin, and good-looking walked in, but his face showed the vicissitudes of time!
"Xiao Wu, you're finally awake. Does your head still hurt?" Chen Lao Er was a little frightened to see his youngest daughter staring at him. He hadn't had much contact with this daughter who hadn't been by his side since she was little. He had been busy with the funeral arrangements for the past week since he came back and hadn't spoken much to her. He heard from the villagers that she was a bit withdrawn.
"Hungry! I also want to drink water!" Chen Xihua said expressionlessly. After staring for a while, he had a basic impression of the original owner's father, Chen Lao Er.
The book describes him as having little opinion of his own, but being concerned with saving face and somewhat reckless.
But that was when I was young. Now, life has probably worn away more of my spirit, making me seem honest and at a loss.
Chen Xihua felt that the main problem with this person was that he didn't have money. If he were given a wad of bills right now, he would immediately start acting all high and mighty!
Furthermore, it was Li Yumei, his wife, who took the lead in all the shameless and abusive things, while he pretended to be a nice guy!
The original owner had never been in contact with the rest of the Chen family before, and during the funeral she was dull and silent, so there was no need to worry about discovering that she was not the original owner!
"Good, good, Baohua's mother, bring in a bowl of water. Xiao Wu is awake. Cook the porridge quickly!" Chen Lao Er was also a little excited and shouted loudly outside. His youngest daughter had finally woken up, so he probably didn't need to go back to the county hospital. He was thinking last night before going to bed that if she hadn't woken up by today, he would send her to the hospital. After all, she was his own daughter, and she could be exchanged for dowry money when she grew up!
"What are you yelling about? You're awake, so you're awake. Can't you come out and get some water? I'm still cooking porridge!" Li Yumei breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she was awake, she wouldn't have to spend any money. What a little brat!
As the sound grew closer, the original owner's mother, Li Yumei, entered, carrying a bowl. She was in her thirties or forties, tall and thin, with slightly yellowish skin, but her features were distinct, indicating that she had been beautiful in her youth. However, she had a stern face and looked somewhat mean!
"You feed her!" Li Yumei handed the water to Chen Lao Er and walked towards the door. She wasn't going to tolerate anyone. She didn't need a daughter; she was a money-losing burden, not her son Xiao Bao!
After breakfast, Chen Xihua felt much better, but her head still ached. After thinking for a moment, she said to Chen Lao Er, who was still in her room, "Dad, my head still hurts. Can we go back to the county in a couple of days?"
In the original book, after the original owner died, Chen Lao Er and his wife spent two days hastily handling the funeral arrangements before leaving. Now that she's here, they'll have to stay for two more days before she leaves.
Grandma had raised a few chickens before, and they all ate them. There was no need to take care of them. After seven days of mourning and eating vegetarian food, she stopped caring. In addition, she wanted to go and say goodbye to the old headmaster!
Chen Lao Er didn't object. The layoff was basically a done deal, so taking a few more days off wouldn't hurt. He could use the time to find acquaintances in Shanghe Village and see if there were any good ways to make money!
In the past two days, Chen Xihua had Chen Lao Er kill two chickens. After eating and drinking her fill, the pain in her head injury was not so bad. She briefly recalled the events.
Grandma left the original owner a thousand yuan, which he carried with him. After the original owner died in the book, Chen Lao Er and his wife returned to the county and were both laid off. They used the thousand yuan to open a restaurant, which was also because they were envious of the Zhou family opening a private restaurant.
Actually, Grandma had hidden two gold rings and a jade bracelet, buried in the corner of the room, left behind by the landlord, the Zhang family. Grandma told Xiaoxihua not to tell her parents!
She wouldn't give the money to Chen Lao Er and his wife; she'd keep it for her studies. She also wouldn't give them the gold ring and bracelet; she'd take them out and keep them on her person at night.
Chen Lao Er and his wife had saved a lot of money, after all, they had worked in the textile factory for more than ten years. However, the money was all held by Li Yumei, who was reluctant to spend it, saying that she wanted to save it for Xiao Bao's education, marriage and children!
I'm going back to the county tomorrow, so I'll visit the old principal's house this afternoon!
After noon, Chen Xihua, who had been lying in bed for two or three days, felt like she was going to get moldy. She slowly got up, didn't feel any discomfort, changed her clothes, and went out. Chen Lao Er and his wife were not there. They must have gone to Uncle Li's house to say goodbye. According to the adoption system, she was Uncle Li Yumei!
Chen Xihua arrived at the end of Shanghe Village, at the old principal's house. The gate was closed. It was summer vacation, so the old principal should not be at school.
"Principal, are you home? I'm here!" Chen Xihua called from outside the door, recalling that she often came to learn from the old principal before!
"It's Xi girl, she's here, come in!" A somewhat old but strong voice came from inside the house, and then came out an elderly man in his fifties or sixties with slightly gray hair, wearing glasses, a slightly hunched back, but still quite healthy!
"Xi'er, come here, I have a book for you. You're going back to the county, aren't you?" The old principal said with a hint of reluctance, then quickly went into the house. It was rare to meet such a good student, and it was a pity that she was leaving. But the outside world was vast, and it would be good for her to see more of it!
"Principal, don't rush!" Chen Xihua didn't know what to say, so she followed him into the room, afraid of saying the wrong thing. The principal and the original owner were very familiar with each other, even though the original owner didn't talk much!
"Take this. This is a calligraphy copybook. I've only ever loved calligraphy. I hid this away when I was young. I'm giving it to you as a memento. I don't have anything else to give you!" The old headmaster looked at the slightly yellowed copybook in his hand with great care and handed it to her.
"Principal, this is too precious, I can't accept it!" Chen Xihua could tell from the calligraphy that it was expensive; in later generations, it could be auctioned for millions or even tens of millions!
"Keep it. You're one of the young friends I made in Shanghe Village, and besides, I can't refuse a gift from an elder!" The old headmaster's voice was a little serious. He paused for a moment and then said, "You've pretty much finished learning the second and third grade textbooks. You should be able to keep up with the teaching in the county when you go back. Listen to English tapes more often!"
"Thank you, Principal!" Chen Xihua's eyes were a little red as she accepted the calligraphy copybook with both hands. She could see the old principal's fondness and care for her, a junior. Perhaps it was because her grandmother had helped him back then, but mainly it was an old professor's affection for his student!
"Principal, I'm leaving tomorrow morning. Could you tell me your name? That way I can tell people I learned calligraphy from you!" Chen Xihua knew that few people in the village knew the principal's name; they just called him the old principal.
"As for the name, let's not talk about it!" The old headmaster didn't want to say it, and sat down silently, as if he was thinking about something.
"Well then, old headmaster, I'll be going now!" Chen Xihua didn't plan to stay any longer, afraid that she would give herself away. The old headmaster's eyes were still very sharp. Although she could tell what the original owner and the old headmaster had said before, there were still differences between them and the person in question!
"Qin Xian!"
As Chen Xihua was about to walk out of the courtyard gate, a somewhat hurried voice came from the main room. She found it a little funny, and a smile appeared on her lips. "That awkward old man!"
The next morning, after breakfast, Chen Xihua packed her two or three sets of clothes and carried them in a coarse cloth bag. She put the thousand yuan, the two gold rings and the jade bracelet that she had found the night before in the small floral cloth bag that her grandmother had made for her, and then put on her schoolbag!
She didn't have much luggage, but she had a lot of clothes, all handmade by her grandmother. However, they were all too small, and she could only wear two or three sets now. In the six months before her grandmother passed away, she fell ill and stopped making clothes.
Chen Lao Er and his wife packed up and took everything they could use from the house, especially the tape recorder that their grandmother had bought for her to listen to the radio and English. The two of them carried two large bags of luggage!
The house keys were given to Uncle Li's family, presumably to ask them to look after the old house!
The journey back to the county was quite difficult. First, we took a tractor from the village, which took half an hour to reach the town. Then, we took a two-hour bus ride from the town's bus station to Gaoyang County!
Chen Xihua noticed that she was prone to motion sickness, and the summer heat and humidity made her feel nauseous. She managed to hold it in, otherwise it would have looked bad. There were quite a few people on the bus heading to the county during the summer vacation.
Around 11 o'clock, we finally arrived at the county bus station!
As soon as they got off the car and breathed in the fresh air, Chen Xihua felt much better. Then, she followed Chen Lao Er and his wife on a half-hour bus ride to the western district of the county, to the residential building near the Gaoyang County Textile Factory!
Chen Xihua's family was allocated a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment on the second floor of a four-story building on the west side of the staff quarters. It also had a kitchen and a bathroom, so it was quite spacious. Since both Chen Lao Er and his wife were employed, many other people were allocated single rooms.
Carrying her luggage, she followed them up to the second floor and to the door of a unit on the right. She deliberately lagged behind a few steps and saw Li Yumei throw both of her suitcases on the ground, shake her hands, and pound on the door. "Chen Chunhua, open the door! I'm exhausted!"
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