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

Qi Weiwei mechanically tidied up the messy house—

I put the drawers back one by one, picked up the scattered items, and sorted them out.

The table was propped up, and the stools were arranged.

She picked up the wall calendar; the glass frame was broken. She carefully pulled out the photo inside—it was a family portrait taken a few years ago at a photo studio. Her grandparents sat in the middle, her parents stood behind them, her older siblings surrounded them on both sides, and she was on the very edge. Everyone had a serious expression, but she was smiling carefree.

The back of the photo is written in pen: Spring Festival of 1970, family reunion.

She ran her fingers over the words, her eyes welling up with tears.

She placed the photos on the table and began tidying up the bedroom.

Tear off all the sheets, pillowcases, and chair cushions covered in footprints—everything with big footprints—and throw them into the laundry tub.

The duvet cover was also removed.

Then I found a clean one in the wardrobe and sewed it up.

Although it was old and faded from washing, it no longer had those dirty footprints.

After doing all that, she picked up the mop and started mopping the floor.

The first time, the water that came out was black, mixed with dust, debris, and faint bloodstains.

The water was still murky the second time.

The third time, the water finally cleared.

She mopped the floor from the living room to the bedroom and then to the kitchen.

If your back aches, straighten up and massage it; if your hands are red from the cold, breathe on them and rub them.

Sweat soaked through my underwear, sticking to my back, feeling icy cold.

When Ling Heping returned, she had already mopped the floor for the third time and was standing in the middle of the living room, panting, while holding the mop.

The room looks much tidier now.

Although many things are broken and cannot be restored, at least it is no longer a complete mess.

Ling Heping was carrying a lot of things in his hands—besides iodine swabs, there were two new eight-pound thermos flasks, a tea set, a stack of bowls and plates, and on his back, he was carrying a large pot.

He practically brought back half of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Qi Weiwei hurriedly asked, "How much? You must have used quite a few tickets, right? Here you go."

Ling Heping stopped her: "Weiwei, Grandpa allocated me a special fund, specifically for you. Don't argue with me about it, okay?"

Qi Weiwei hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

She really doesn't have much money right now, and even if she gave him all the tickets she had, it probably wouldn't be enough to buy all the things Ling Heping bought.

That iron pot alone requires twenty industrial coupons.

Ling Heping was stunned when he saw the changes in the room.

"You're all done? So fast? You must be exhausted?" he asked.

"It's alright." Qi Weiwei put the mop against the wall and then realized she was thirsty; her throat was parched.

She walked to the table and picked up the surviving thermos.

— There were three thermos flasks, two of which were broken, and the last one felt heavy when I picked it up, so it must be full.

She washed the two new cups that Ling Heping had bought, then uncorked the thermos and poured water into it.

The water was poured out, but there was no steam.

She touched it with her hand; it was ice cold.

Yes, it's been three days.

My parents have been detained for three days. This water was boiled three days ago and has long since cooled down.

Qi Weiwei stood there, looking at the cold water in the glass, and suddenly smiled.

The laughter was soft, but it made Ling Heping's heart tighten.

"Vivi?"

"I'm fine." Qi Weiwei put down her cup, her voice eerily calm. "I just feel like I'm so stupid."

She turned to look at Ling Heping, her eyes shining brightly in the dim light:

"How could I be so naive as to think that the Tang family would still consider the kinship and would never be so cruel to my parents?"

Look at this room, they smashed Mom's most cherished vase, broke all the bowls, and even poked a hole in the frying pan.

This is no longer a simple search; it's venting anger, it's humiliation, it's telling us that in their eyes, the Qi family is less than a dog.

She walked to the corner of the wall, squatted down, and picked up a shard of a glass vase.

The shards had sharp edges and gleamed coldly in my hand.

"I, Qi Weiwei, swear that I will never share the same sky with the Tang family in this lifetime!" She clenched the shards tightly, a stinging pain shooting through her palm, but she didn't let go.

"Weiwei, let go quickly." Ling Heping walked over quickly, grabbed her wrist, and took the shards from her hand.

My palm was cut, and blood was seeping out.

Ling Heping took out iodine, cotton swabs, and gauze from the bag, pulled her to sit down on the stool, and began to treat her wound.

The stinging sensation when the iodine was applied made Qi Weiwei shudder.

"Does it hurt?" Ling Heping softened his movements.

"It's good to feel pain," Qi Weiwei said. "Only when it hurts can you remember."

Ling Heping looked up at her, said nothing, but carefully cleaned her wound and wrapped it with gauze.

His fingers were steady, and his movements were practiced, as if he did this often.

After bandaging her hand, Qi Weiwei looked at the bandaged palm and suddenly said, "Brother Heping, could you help me light the stove and boil some water? I'll go wash the sheets and stuff."

"I'll wash it," Ling Heping stood up. "I'm strong, I can wring it dry."

Qi Weiwei didn't argue; she was genuinely exhausted.

My lower back aches, and my hands are shaking.

Ling Heping went to the water room to wash the bed sheets and duvet covers, while Qi Weiwei started lighting the stove.

The coal in the stove had long since gone out, so she took out the ashes and rekindled the fire.

Light the newspaper, add some firewood, and once the fire is burning brightly, add honeycomb briquettes.

Black smoke billowed out, choking her and causing her to cough a few times, but soon flames leaped up, turning the furnace a deep red.

She placed the slightly deflated black iron kettle on the stove, then found three eight-pound thermos flasks, filled them with cold water, and placed them by the stove to wait for them to boil.

The room gradually warmed up.

After the water boiled, she first filled three thermos flasks with the water, and then used the remaining water to brew tea.

The tea leaves are jasmine tea powder, the cheapest kind, but the aroma comes out as soon as you pour hot water over them.

She poured two glasses, placed one on the table, and carried the other to the window herself.

It was getting dark.

The lights in the railway family quarters were sparse.

In the distance, the sound of a train whistle could be heard, long and desolate.

Ling Heping washed the bed sheets and duvet covers and hung them to dry on the wire strung up in the room.

Water droplets fell to the ground, quickly forming a small puddle.

"Everything's washed." He walked over, picked up the cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "Are you hungry? I'll go get you something to eat."

Qi Weiwei then remembered that they had only eaten two steamed buns before they came over.

"I'll go," she said. "The state-run restaurants should still be open; I'll go buy some."

"I'll go with you."

"No need, it's probably almost time to close up shop. I know people, I can still buy food." Qi Weiwei picked up her military green shoulder bag.

Ling Heping thought for a moment and nodded: "Then be careful."

Qi Weiwei went downstairs.

The night wind grew colder, feeling like knives against my face.

She wrapped her cotton-padded coat tighter and walked quickly toward the state-run restaurant at the street corner.

The restaurant was dimly lit, with only two windows open.

Behind the counter sat a middle-aged woman wrapped in a military overcoat, yawning.

"Sister Cui Cui, is there any food left?" Qi Weiwei asked.

The saleswoman glanced at her, her expression unenthusiastic: "Oh, Weiwei? Why are you going home to see your parents?"