Chapter 5: Getting to Know the Sheng Family, Going to the Countryside?
In an era where muscle and labor determined a family’s survival, everyone desperately hoped for sons.
When Grandma Sheng gave birth to only one child—a boy—her mother-in-law was deeply displeased and constantly overloaded her with chores. Because her husband was the second-born son, caught squarely in the middle, the matriarch looked down on him even more.
But things changed when Sheng’s father excelled in his studies and was admitted to university, becoming the very first college student the village had ever produced. This achievement allowed Grandma Sheng to finally hold her head high.
Instantly, her sister-in-law expected the educated second branch to financially support the first branch. Fortunately, Grandpa Sheng loved his wife dearly. He ruthlessly drew a line and forced a family division. He had only one son, and he was determined not to let a pack of family vampires drain them and ruin his son’s bright future.
Years later, when the old matriarch passed away, the gap between the two branches only widened. Sheng’s father single-handedly shouldered the responsibilities of his own household, leaving the relatives to their own devices.
The eldest cousin from the first branch was the same age as Sheng’s father, so the original owner called him Uncle. He worked as a scorekeeper in the village, and he and his wife had three children—two sons and a daughter—all in their twenties and long since married.
The second cousin, whom she called Second Uncle, was just an ordinary farmer who earned daily work points to scrape by. He had four children—two boys and two girls. Except for his youngest daughter, who was the same age as Sheng Wanyan and currently looking for a husband, all of them were married.
Great-Uncle’s branch was incredibly large, boasting seven grandchildren—four boys and three girls—and the numbers only multiplied when the great-grandchildren were factored in.
The sole reason Sheng Wanyan’s academic performance had plummeted in high school was Sheng Xiuying, that youngest daughter from Second Uncle’s family.
Though they were the exact same age, their lives were worlds apart. Sheng Wanyan grew up sheltered, never having to do heavy labor, and was the envy of the family because of her education. Meanwhile, Sheng Xiuying was treated like a slave in a household that strictly favored boys. She endured endless chores and never had enough to eat.
Since childhood, Sheng Xiuying had been consumed by jealousy. They were the same age, so why did Sheng Wanyan get to live without a single worry about food or clothing? She believed Wanyan should be out in the fields alongside her, doing the hardest, most grueling work.
When she found out Sheng Wanyan had a chance to secure a permanent teaching job in the city upon graduation, Sheng Xiuying did everything she could to brainwash her. She constantly whispered in the original owner’s ear that physical labor was the truest form of glory, and that intellectual pursuits were worthless in the current political climate. Slowly but surely, the naive original owner succumbed to the manipulation.
As a result, her grades tanked, and she completely missed her chance to stay at the school.
The original Sheng Wanyan had lived a sheltered life, entirely blind to Sheng Xiuying’s malicious schemes. Knowing her cousin had a miserable life at home, she had constantly snuck her food. She truly believed they were best friends and had gifted her countless items over the years.
Sheng Wanyan felt a sudden urge to slap the original owner. How could a high school graduate be so remarkably foolish? She would definitely find a way to claw those items back later. For now, her top priority was dealing with the employment issue.
“There’s still half a month left,” Grandpa Sheng said thoughtfully. “If it really comes down to it… we’ll just arrange a blind date for her.”
His words caught everyone off guard, causing Sheng Wanyan to break into a sudden coughing fit. She had just arrived in this era, and they were already trying to set her up on a blind date?
“What on earth are you talking about, old man?” Grandma Sheng protested immediately. “How can we just marry her off to anyone?”
“Then would you rather watch her go to the countryside?” Grandpa Sheng countered.
Going to the countryside was out of the question. It was a brutal environment that could swallow a young woman whole. Life out there was a constant, petty struggle where people would fight tooth and nail over a scrap of meat. Since the grandparents had come from the countryside themselves, they knew that rural villages always prioritized their own locals over outsiders.
“If she goes on a blind date now, she can at least find someone with a secure city job,” Grandpa Sheng reasoned. “If we can’t find anyone suitable here in Chengdu, we’ll have Xiaoze look for someone decent in the military.”
His logic was sound. If all else failed, this was indeed their only safety net.
Sheng Wanyan opened her mouth to object, but Mother Sheng immediately shot her a sharp warning look that clearly translated to: ‘Behave yourself and stay quiet.’
As the subject of the entire crisis, Sheng Wanyan found herself stripped of any voting rights.
“Tomorrow, write a letter to Xiaoze,” Grandpa Sheng finalized, settling the matter with no room for negotiation. “Tell him to start looking for a good family right away.”
That night, Sheng Wanyan lay in her small bed, staring up at the dark ceiling of the apartment. Once the muffled footsteps outside faded and she was certain her grandparents and parents were fast asleep, she slipped into her space.
This new body was incredibly weak; even walking down the hall left her slightly winded. She hurried over to the Spirit Spring and drank several deep gulps of the crisp water.
The effects were instantaneous, sending a wave of comfort through her limbs. However, she suddenly noticed a foul, sticky odor coming from her skin as the spring flushed out her body’s impurities. Pinching her nose, she ran into the bamboo house to take a thorough hot shower.
Stepping out, she looked into the mirror. The face staring back at her was identical to her original one. She possessed a classic oval face with elegant contours, bright, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and naturally plush, crimson lips. She looked like a classic Hong Kong cinema beauty, her hair styled in two thick braided pigtails, standing at a striking height of about 168 centimeters.
However, her current frame was noticeably gaunt, and her hair carried a slight yellowish tint from a lack of proper nutrition. Still, the original owner’s starting point was far better than most girls of this decade.
Father Sheng brought home a comfortable monthly salary of 40 yuan, while Mother Sheng earned 25 yuan. A combined household income of 65 yuan was more than enough to live well. Furthermore, her older brother, Sheng Wanze, had joined the military seven years ago. At twenty-five, he had already risen to the rank of battalion commander, pulling in a hefty monthly salary of 70 yuan, including his mission bonuses.
As an unmarried man with no dependents, he kept only 5 yuan a month for his basic living expenses—which was equivalent to a village family’s entire monthly income—and sent the remaining 65 yuan back home to his mother for safekeeping.
Sheng Wanyan fetched a bottle of fresh milk from her stash, cooked a bowl of savory lean meat porridge, and ate happily before exiting the space. For now, she couldn’t risk bringing any meat or fresh produce into the apartment. She would have to wait until she secured a job of her own to use as a cover.
The next morning, Sheng Wanyan decided to go out. Her grandparents didn’t stop her, assuming she just needed some fresh air to clear her head.
The family’s apartment was on the third floor—a highly coveted location that required climbing few stairs while avoiding the dampness of the ground floor. As she made her way down the communal hallway of the tube-shaped building, she crossed paths with several neighbors.
“Oh, the Sheng family’s daughter is out and about?”
“I heard you came down with a nasty fever over the countryside assignment?”
“Take it from me, girl, going to the countryside isn’t a bad thing. It’s a good way to ease the burden on your parents.”
Sheng Wanyan offered a polite, distant nod, fully expecting the passive-aggressive remarks. The residents of the building deeply envied the Sheng family’s lifestyle. Both parents were state factory employees, the son was a high-earning military officer, and with only a few mouths to feed, their quality of life far surpassed everyone else’s.
It was impossible not to breed jealousy. However, because Sheng Wanze was a military commander, the neighbors only dared to snark behind their backs, never daring to cause an open confrontation. After all, they might need to beg the influential Sheng family for a favor down the line.
Still, there were a few households in the building who openly despised them—especially the Li family.
