Uh...
Going from crying to silly laughter, such a big change in mood in such a short time, could this person be so heartbroken that they've gone insane? Like Mrs. Yao from Shanling Village, who schemed her way to becoming a concubine of the landlord, thinking she would live a life of luxury, only to be driven mad by the upheaval during the land redistribution.
Lianshan felt a heaviness in his heart, pondering how he might persuade this person who seemed to have hit a dead end. Yet, this person took the large ceramic bowl, chugging the ginger soup with a masculine vigor.
"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Didn't you tell me to drink some ginger soup to warm my body and stomach? I've thought it over, you're right. Things are already this way, crying my heart out won't solve anything. Dying for love just hurts those who care and pleases the enemies. Better to gather myself, live well, and let those who can't see my value realize they've lost a treasure while clinging to trash."
"Do you think I'm right, Brother Lianshan?" Seeing her silly husband staring at her in stunned silence, clearly bewildered, Liu Shuzhen quickly laughed aloud, expressing the above words. She guided him to perceive her transformation as if she had walked through hell's gates and returned with clarity.
Hearing her words, Lianshan indeed laughed foolishly, showing a relieved expression, "Yes, yes, Sister-in-law Dai, you're truly someone who's educated, speaking much better than us common folk..."
"Since I'm already divorced from that heartless man, Brother Lianshan, stop calling me Sister-in-law Dai, it's sickening. If you don't mind, just call me Sister Shuzhen!" The title Sister-in-law Dai was revolting. Having been given a second chance at life, she didn't want any ties to that scumbag!
The kind-hearted and responsible man before her, one who valued her despite poverty, was the person she wanted to be entangled with for life.
"Yes, my lack of consideration. Sister... Sister Shuzhen, you rest, I'll get you something to eat!" Lianshan startled, realizing calling her Sister-in-law Dai was inappropriate.
He quickly changed how he addressed her, blushing down to his neck, calling her Sister Shuzhen as she wished, then scurried to the makeshift stove nearby. After a short while, he brought out a bowl of potato black noodle soup: "There's nothing good to eat at home. Made a bowl of potato black noodle soup for Sister Shuzhen, bear it and fill your stomach."
"Look at what Brother Lianshan says, in times like these no family is well-off, managing to eat porridge like sorghum or millet is good living, let alone noodle soup. Thank you for saving my life, and taking such care of me. After I eat this noodle soup and gather my strength, I'll explain what happened to my family, I'll definitely come by to thank Brother Lianshan properly."
Offering herself in marriage, to be his wife, Liu Shuzhen mentally added.
Being called Brother Lianshan repeatedly made his face turn as red as a beet and his speech stumble, yet Lianshan hesitantly asked, "Going home? Yes, to Brother Liu's place? Earlier, when I saved you from the river, I went to the Liu family first, Second Brother Liu and Saozi went to her parent's home for a feast. Brother wasn't home either, though Saozi was, but..."
Recalling how Shuzhen always got along well with her sister-in-law, Wei Hongying, Lianshan didn't know how to express himself. He feared saying something that would be misunderstood as stirring up trouble between the sisters-in-law. On the other hand, he worried that this naive girl might not discern between good and bad and fall victim to her vicious sister-in-law. Having narrowly escaped death and still pregnant...
If not carefully handled, it could be a matter of life and death!
Maybe it's because he personally pulled her back from the brink, Lianshan felt a subtle sympathy and concern for this girl everyone deemed foolish.
"But what? My sister-in-law has always treated me like her own sister, even braving hardships with me to Beijing to confront that scoundrel Dai. She's not afraid of retaliation or settling accounts by Chen Shimei's heiress. Surely, she'd accept me, right?" Even though Liu Shuzhen knew her sister-in-law was someone who could do anything for self-interest, until that mask was ripped off, she couldn't say a thing.
Seeing through and letting go of Dai Weiguo was understandable, his betrayal burned her deeply. No longer would she warm up to cold-heartedness.
Yet, her cruel sister-in-law hadn't revealed her true form!
As the doted-upon, submissive sister-in-law, Shuzhen couldn't just break ties over nothing before something transpired.
At least, wait until her sister-in-law exposed her ugly nature, until she relinquished all the ill-gained benefits from her deceit; then kick this vile woman out of the Liu family!
That would spare the family any more suffering from her ruthless tyranny, conducting herself like the mother of the household, suffocating Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, and the nephews. And prevent her heartless betrayal, ratting on the Liu family's alleged harboring of reactionary art, hoping to resume exploiting class privileges.
While she made herself a hero of justice by divorcing Brother Liu, she caused the Liu family's legacy to be confiscated, Brother Liu to die heartbroken. Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, refusing to confess, were publicly shamed, tortured under false allegations. Due to heartless Wu Xia, the Liu family was doomed.
Liu Shuzhen didn't quite understand how she spent half her life unclear-minded, yet in her last days, saw clearly and vividly remembered past events. But with these memories, she felt as if she possessed the golden finger Yanzi spoke about!
Being able to 'foresee' decades of events could help avoid many disasters and risks, right?
Eating large mouthfuls of the dark potato noodle soup, she glanced at the man, standing at a respectful distance yet facially concerned. Liu Shuzhen's once anxious heart slowly calmed: youthful days, a loyal man by her side, golden finger activated, a turnaround was just a matter of time. Why be nervous? Steady planning, ensuring the safety of her family in turbulent times is what matters.
As for that heartless man?
Liu Shuzhen sneered, let fate deal with the despicable, solving the issue of the child in her womb was enough to thwart Chen Shimei's lifelong scheming!