The beloved but ungrateful girl is reborn: This time she has truly changed.

Su Cuilan was completely unaware that she had been targeted.

She entered her own courtyard—three mud-brick houses with thatched roofs and a courtyard wall that had collapsed halfway down, patched up haphazardly with tree branches.

The yard was piled with firewood, farm tools, and several broken vats.

"Where have you been? You didn't even cook! The stove is cold and the pot is empty, are you itching for a beating again?!" A rough male voice came from inside the house; it was Zhou Binwa.

Su Cuilan's smile vanished, and she quickly went inside, saying, "Coming, coming, I'll get right on it."

She first took the money out of her pocket and carefully hid it under the kang mat—there was a small hole there where she hid her secret stash of money.

After hiding it properly, he went to the stove to start a fire and cook.

During this time, she didn't speak to anyone or leave the house.

Under the big locust tree at the village entrance, Qi Weiwei sat down on the leeward side, holding Xiao Qi in her arms.

The cold winter wind was like a knife, blowing from all directions.

She held Xiaoqi's swaddling clothes tightly in her arms, shielding the baby from the wind with her body.

She was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, but she was still shivering from the cold, and her teeth were chattering.

Su Cuilan said she would get her some food and drink, but she didn't.

Qi Weiwei has been waiting since noon, for five or six hours now.

She was thirsty, hungry, and so cold that her whole body was stiff.

My stomach feels empty, and my throat is so dry it's practically burning.

She remembered the small gourd in her pocket, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

It was baijiu that Ling Heping poured for her. It wasn't very strong, but after one sip, it burned from her throat all the way to her stomach, and she immediately felt warmer.

She took another small sip and felt that her hands and feet were not so stiff anymore.

The baby in her arms stirred and made a soft whimper; it was hungry.

Qi Weiwei quickly took out the baby bottle from her bosom—she had been holding it to her stomach, but it had gotten a little cold after a while.

She tested the temperature; it was okay, not cold.

Xiaoqi didn't mind and started sucking on it in big gulps.

The milk in the bottle was quickly reduced by half. The baby was full, let out a small burp, and then... peed a lot.

The diaper got soaked quickly, and it must have been uncomfortable to have it sticking to my body.

But Xiaoqi didn't cry; she just twisted her body a few times and made "hmm" sounds.

Qi Weiwei quickly placed the child on her lap and unwrapped the baby.

The moonlight was so bright that you could see the child's face clearly.

She clumsily changed Xiaoqi's diaper—she had taken care of two children in her previous life, but that was more than thirty years ago, and her skills had long since become rusty.

Fortunately, the diapers were provided by Grandpa Ling's family; they were thick cotton cloths folded into triangles.

It took her some effort to change the clothes and wrap the baby up again.

Xiaoqi felt better and grinned.

Under the moonlight, that little face was fair and clean, and her eyes were dark and bright as she looked at her.

Looking at that face, Qi Weiwei felt a mix of emotions welling up inside her.

This child... really looks like Tang Aijun.

With thin eyebrows, long eyeliner, a straight nose, and thin lips, he was practically a miniature, innocent version of Tang Aijun.

Yes, physical appearance is so deceptive.

With his good looks and silver tongue, Tang Aijun completely fooled her, deceiving her for her entire life.

Why was she so foolish in her past life?

How can anyone think that good-looking people are necessarily good people?

Looking back now, it's really laughable.

Fortunately, it's not too late.

Having lived a second life, she saw through the filthy soul beneath that beautiful exterior.

She will no longer be deceived, and she will no longer be soft-hearted.

Qi Weiwei hugged the swaddled baby tightly, as if drawing strength from this innocent infant, or perhaps reminding herself—she must never be deceived by appearances again.

It got completely dark.

A few kerosene lamps flickered on in the village, their dim yellow light resembling fireflies in the night.

The moon was large and round, hanging in the sky, casting its cool light and illuminating the earth in a silvery white.

The shadows of trees, houses, and people all stretched long in the moonlight.

It was quiet all around, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional barking of dogs in the distance.

Qi Weiwei held her child, leaning against the locust tree trunk. She was cold, hungry, and tired, and her eyelids began to droop.

But she dared not sleep, afraid that Su Cuilan might suddenly come, and also afraid that she might catch a cold if she fell asleep.

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, a soft call came from behind her:

"Vivi."

It was a male voice, very low, but exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Qi Weiwei shuddered and almost jumped up.

She turned around abruptly, her hand already reaching into her bosom—where she hid a small knife, given to her by Ling Heping before he left, for self-defense.

"It's me! Your brother Ping, don't be afraid!"

The man quickly spoke, his voice reassuring.

Qi Weiwei finally caught her breath and, by the moonlight, saw the face of the person who had come—it was indeed Ling Heping.

He was wearing a dark cotton-padded coat, a Lei Feng hat, and a smile on his face. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

"Why are you here..." Qi Weiwei wanted to ask why you came, but she swallowed the words back.

She remembered that Ling Heping had said he would arrange for someone to protect her, but she didn't expect him to come in person.

Ling Heping smiled and pulled out a basket from behind him: "Are you starving? I saw you finished that small pot of wine. Here, have something to eat first."

Qi Weiwei felt a warmth in her heart, but then she tensed up again: "Su Cuilan could come back at any time, you'd better get away! It'll be troublesome if she sees you!"

"rest assured."

Ling Heping waved his hand and found a spot to sit down opposite her.

"She's sleeping at home. My people overheard her telling her husband that she drank a whole pot of water, planning to take a nap, but then woke up needing to pee. She'll come back after that, probably around midnight."

As he spoke, he took a piece of tarpaulin from the basket and spread it on the ground:

"Don't worry, Weiwei, my people are keeping an eye on her. As soon as she leaves, someone gives me a signal. It's so quiet at night, they can hear it."

Qi Weiwei's tense nerves finally relaxed.

Ling Heping is really reliable.

She watched as Ling Heping skillfully laid out the tarpaulin, then took out an oil paper package and a water bottle from the basket.

Suddenly she realized that the cold wind that had been giving her a headache had subsided—it turned out that the angle at which Ling Heping was sitting was blocking the wind.

He did it on purpose.

A warm feeling welled up in Qi Weiwei's heart.

"Have something to eat first." Ling Heping opened the oil paper package, inside was a sesame flatbread and a juicy, steaming roasted chicken leg. He handed it to him, "Eat quickly, it's still warm."

Qi Weiwei was indeed very hungry.

She's only had a few sips of alcohol since noon, and her stomach is completely empty.

Without any hesitation, she took the chicken leg and sesame seed cake, let Ling Heping take away Xiao Qi's swaddling clothes, and hurriedly began to eat.

The chicken leg is roasted to a perfect crispy exterior and tender interior; one bite fills your mouth with a savory, oily flavor.

The flatbread is a sesame flatbread, with a crispy crust and a soft interior.

She ate ravenously, swallowing her food with barely any chewing.

"Eat slowly, don't choke," Ling Heping said, unscrewing the water bottle cap and handing it over.