1. Reincarnated

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(This is a work of fiction, set in an imaginary era.)

1956—a year marked by the spirit of its age. The air was fresh, filled with the calls of birds and the sounds of insects, everything so surreal it seemed almost like a dream.

In an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar country called the Eastern Nation.

It was foreign, yes, so different from the Dragon Nation, which had dominated the world since childhood days. Or perhaps, more accurately, it resembled the Dragon Nation of over a century ago, with a similar historical path but different leaders and landscapes.

And all this unfolded between life and death. She had thought she would end up in the underworld, only to awaken in a world unknown to her.

Or perhaps this was merely another Dragon Nation in a parallel world.

Time seemed to rewind, as if replaying a scene already lived.

She had arrived in this most extraordinary era.

Jiang Ruo couldn’t decide if her luck was good or bad.

Recalling all that had happened recently, Jiang Ruo lowered her beautiful brows and eyes. While getting used to these strange yet familiar memories, she hurried down the mountain.

“Jiang Ruo, what are you doing up here?”

After an indeterminate time, a surprised voice came from just behind her on the left. Jiang Ruo turned and, in an instant, matched the face to a memory.

“Uncle Liu, you came to collect firewood?” Jiang Ruo replied.

“Yeah, but why did you come up here by yourself? Didn’t have your brother with you?” Uncle Liu grinned, shifting the heavy bundle of wood on his back.

“No, my eldest brother is busy.”

“True, autumn harvest is near—there’s a lot to do in the fields.” He glanced up at the sky. “It’ll be dark soon. Hurry home, it’s not safe on the mountain. Your grandparents will be worried.”

“I’ll go right away.” Jiang Ruo mimicked the girl’s tone from her memories and nodded, quickly making her way down the mountain.

Neither overly friendly nor cold—just as Jiang Ruo had always been.

Uncle Liu glanced at her empty hands, shook his head, and also headed down.

The old Jiang family’s granddaughter truly was spoiled. Went up the mountain and didn’t even bother to collect some firewood or dig up wild vegetables.

Perhaps worried about the approaching dusk, Jiang Ruo moved quickly, soon leaving Uncle Liu behind.

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“Sweetheart, sweetheart…”

“Ruo Ruo…”

“Ruo Ruo…”

Before reaching the foot of the mountain, anxious shouts reached her ears.

Whether it was the influence of the girl’s memories or not, hearing the words “sweetheart” filled Jiang Ruo with an inexplicable sense of warmth, and she quickened her pace.

“You wretched girl! Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on your little sister? If anything happens to her, you’ll be sorry!”

“Grandma, I didn’t know. I thought Ruo Ruo was asleep, so I went to the backyard to work…” Jiang Dani’s face was full of grievance, tears brimming in her eyes, and a clear handprint marked one cheek.

Slap!

Before Madam Liu could even start scolding, a hand smacked Dani on the back, followed by a face eager to please.

“If it’s not your fault, then whose is it? You should have watched Ruo Ruo more closely. Hurry up and apologize to your grandma…”

She looked to the older woman as she spoke. “Mother, I promise I’ll punish the girl properly when we get home. Please, calm your anger.”

“You and your daughter just want to drive me to my grave! If anything happens to my precious girl, you can take this one and go back to your Li family! If it weren’t for my sweetheart, do you think you’d have such good days now? Other families are barely able to fill their bellies, and thanks to her, all our children—boys and girls—get to go to school. If not for her, you’d be lucky to even have scraps to eat!”

The more Madam Li spoke, the angrier she became. Unable to contain herself, she raised her hand again, but when she saw her second daughter-in-law shielding her child, her fury only grew. She lashed out with a kick, sending the woman staggering to the ground, sitting there in aggrieved silence.

“Mother, please calm down, it’s all our fault,” Second Jiang hurried forward, shooting a look of displeasure at his wife. “Get up and apologize to mother. If anything happens to Ruo Ruo, you’ll be sent back to your family.”

At the mention of being sent away, Li Cuihua panicked. “Mother, it’s all my fault. You know I have a sharp tongue—please don’t stoop to my level. It’s all because Dani didn’t watch Ruo Ruo. I’ll teach her a lesson when we get back.”

She yanked her daughter over, regretting that she had tried to protect her earlier, especially when she saw the resentment flash across her daughter’s face.

All her efforts to please—who were they really for? She had already forgotten how she had hidden behind her daughter only moments before.

“What are you waiting for? Apologize to your grandma!”

Jiang Dani gripped her clothes tightly, anger roiling inside. She didn’t understand—why did other mothers shield their children, while hers only ever pushed her forward? Why was she always the one to blame, never cared for, no matter how tired or hungry or wronged she felt?

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They were both daughters—so why did she have to do endless chores, always give way to her younger siblings, while Jiang Ruo was cherished by the whole family, coddled from birth?

She was unwilling—so unwilling!

Heaven had finally given her another chance at life, surely because her previous one was too full of suffering, so that she could change her fate this time.

Thinking of her bitter past, hatred welled in Jiang Dani’s eyes, though instinct kept her from showing it. Yielding to her mother’s force, she moved back beside her grandmother.

Suppressing her discontent, her fingers twisted anxiously. “Grandma, it’s my fault. Ruo… Ruo Ruo will be fine in a moment…”

Madam Liu glared fiercely at her eldest granddaughter. Don’t think she hadn’t noticed the jealousy in the girl’s eyes—this one was another troublemaker.

If it weren’t for her precious girl, would the family be so well-off? Other families considered themselves lucky just to have enough food; thanks to her, all the children—sons and daughters alike—could attend school. It was all because of her sweetheart.

These ungrateful ones needed a stern lesson when they got home—especially Dani, that ungrateful wolf.

Thinking of her precious girl, Madam Liu’s heart clenched with worry. “Oh, my darling, please don’t let anything happen to you. Who could have deceived her? She’s always been so good—how could she just go up the mountain without a word? Is the mountain so easily climbed? My darling…”

“All right, old woman, let’s wait until we find her before making a fuss. Our sweetheart is lucky, nothing will happen to her,” an elderly voice cut through the wailing, casting a disapproving glance at his wife.

“Spit, spit, spit—let the bad luck stay away, may the good prevail,” Madam Liu quickly corrected herself, making a gesture of prayer.

“Mother…” her eldest son tugged at her, looking helplessly at his mother.

They’d been told not to be superstitious.

“Mother, Father is right. Ruo Ruo is lucky—she’ll be fine,” the eldest daughter-in-law said, though she was just as worried. Ruo Ruo had never gone up the mountain alone before.

“That’s right, Grandma. Little sister probably just lost track of time. Why don’t you and Grandpa head home first? The three of us brothers can look for her,” Jiang Dajun hurried to reassure her, signaling to his younger brothers.

“Yes, yes, Grandma, don’t worry. We’ll make sure our little sister gets home safely. You just make something good to eat—she’ll be hungry when she gets back.”