It was May, and the trees were lush. On a winding mountain path, a woman dressed in simple elegance turned a corner and, using the rocks on the mountain for cover, slipped into the thicket not far away.
A moment later, a shifty-eyed, furtive man appeared on the mountain path. He climbed the mountain, looking around furtively, as if afraid of being seen. The woman observed the man’s every move through a narrow gap in the bushes until he was completely out of sight. Only then did she cautiously emerge from the bushes and run swiftly down the mountain towards the small village.
Wu Caiwei, who was this woman, only felt a lingering fear as she patted her still thumping chest after returning to her room. She closed the door and received the memories.
Wu Caiwei was from modern times, having just graduated from university and entered society. A voice in her mind inexplicably told her that if she cooperated and completed missions to help vengeful spirits, filled with resentment, willingly reincarnate, she would have a chance to see her deceased father. At first, she thought she was merely missing her father and hallucinating, but even so, she agreed without hesitation.
She then found herself on that mountain path, in an unfamiliar setting, wearing unfamiliar clothes. The strong physical sensations made her realize everything was real. Her instinctive fear of the unknown and a sense of impending danger made her hide in the bushes.
Having already received the memories, Wu Caiwei couldn’t help but feel fortunate for her actions just moments ago. Because this seemingly ordinary move was the beginning of changing the tragic fate of the target of this mission.
The target of this mission was named Liu Feixue. Today, as usual, she went up the mountain to gather firewood and was followed by Zhang Laosi, the village’s notorious hooligan. He defiled her purity on the mountain, and her cries for help went unheard. That very day, rumors spread like wildfire accusing her of immorality and wantonness.
Initially, the villagers didn’t believe it. After all, she was already engaged to Liu Yixuan, the village’s only scholar. Moreover, Liu Yixuan was handsome and refined; how could he have been blind enough to associate with someone like Zhang Laosi, a good-for-nothing? Liu Feixue was also a child they had watched grow up, known for her diligence and upright character.
But they couldn't withstand the detailed accounts, and the next day, Zhang Laosi went to her home, claiming she was now his woman and he intended to marry her. Liu Feixue, being an innocent maiden ignorant of worldly affairs, had never encountered such a situation. Her face showed guilt, which Liu’s father noticed.
Unable to bear such a blow, Liu’s father immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed. The matter was eventually dropped, but how could the onlookers not realize that this seemingly preposterous event might be true?
Although the Liu family suffered a scandal, Liu’s father was the village’s only private tutor. If something happened to him, it would be extremely difficult for the village children to find such an inexpensive and dedicated teacher again. Besides, the nearest private school was in town, far less convenient than the village one. Therefore, after Liu’s father collapsed, some people volunteered to take an ox cart to town to fetch a doctor.
After three days in a coma, Liu’s father finally awoke. The hardships he had endured in his early years had already ruined his health. This blow was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He only managed to give a few simple instructions before leaving the world amidst endless worry.
Liu’s father had been the center of Liu’s mother’s world. The couple had a deep affection for each other, and even though they had only one daughter, Liu’s father never complained. After Liu’s father passed away, Liu’s mother also fell ill and, on a stormy night, completely faded from this world.
The departure of her parents almost turned Liu Feixue’s hair white overnight. Zhang Laosi came to cause trouble every day, believing that the Liu family’s house and land were rightfully his. Whenever he became too aggressive, neighbors would step in to drive him away. But he was like a persistent fly, returning the next day. This situation was unsustainable.
Liu Yixuan had not shown his face once since her incident. He even tried to avoid her during the funerals of Liu’s father and mother, though he put on a show of being deeply saddened by the loss of his mentor. Everyone praised him. Liu Feixue knew what people were saying about her in private, but she couldn't explain. After all, whether forced or not, the event had occurred, and a woman was at a disadvantage.
She was innocent but not foolish. The loss of her parents, Liu Yixuan’s avoidance, the Liu family’s disdain, and the judgmental stares of others plunged her into despair. Her father had asked her before his death to sell their house and land and move elsewhere with her mother. But now her mother was also gone, leaving her utterly alone in the world. In her despair, she ended her young life.
A year later, Liu Yixuan passed the provincial examination and married a wealthy young lady in grand style. Everyone flocked to flatter him, and no one remembered his former fiancée.
If things had truly happened this way, Wu Caiwei would not have arrived.
She felt the unfairness of fate and harbored a lingering unwillingness after death, especially unable to let go of Liu Yixuan. After all, he was the one she had set her heart on and vowed to marry. Although his indifference after her ordeal disappointed Liu Feixue, she had long considered him her future husband, holding him in her heart for years. It wasn't something she could forget just like that. She wanted to see him one last time, to see if he was living well, and if he had grieved over her departure. However, what she saw and heard filled her with rage, making her unwilling to reincarnate and determined to avenge the destruction of her family.
With a creak, the courtyard gate opened, interrupting Wu Caiwei’s thoughts. It was likely Liu’s mother returning from washing clothes by the river.
“Mother, you rest. I’ll hang them.” Wu Caiwei opened the door and said with a smile.
“Mother is truly old now; my back aches after doing a little work.” Liu’s mother handed her the basin and walked away, rubbing her lower back.
“Mother isn’t old, just tired. How many times have I told you, I’ll do this work when I get back? But you never listen.” Wu Caiwei said while hanging the clothes.
“Didn’t you go to gather firewood at this time every day? Why are you back so early today?” Liu’s mother sat on a bench in the courtyard and quickly changed the subject, afraid her daughter would start chiding her again.
“I didn’t gather firewood today, and I don’t want to go anymore. Look at my face, it’s all tanned.”
“You’ve really grown up; you’re starting to care about your appearance. It’s true you need to pay attention. After all, Yi Xuan is handsome and fair-skinned, and my daughter is also beautiful, just a bit tanned. If you get a bit fairer, you’ll be a perfect match.” Liu’s mother said meaningfully, with an expression that implied she knew everything.
Wu Caiwei knew she had misunderstood and couldn’t be bothered to explain.
At noon, Liu’s father returned from the private school. The meal was already laid out on the table. The Liu family did not have a rule of not speaking during meals. Liu’s father shared amusing stories from the school, while the mother and daughter listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with agreement. Seeing such a warm scene, Wu Caiwei’s heart ached and swelled, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
This frightened Liu’s father and mother. “What’s wrong? Have you been wronged? If there’s anything bothering you, don’t keep it to yourself. Father will help you resolve it.”
“No, I just feel that living happily together as a family is the greatest happiness. I’m shedding tears of emotion.” She wiped her tears and silently recited, “I will avenge you. I will avenge you…” After a while, she felt a release in her body, knowing it was the original host’s emotions.
After the meal, Liu’s father had a habit of going to his study to read, and today was no exception. Seeing Wu Caiwei enter, Liu’s father looked at her with the expression of someone who knew their daughter had something on her mind, his eyes full of worry.
“I want to break off the engagement,” Wu Caiwei said to her father with a serious face.