Liu Shouren, Liu Shouyi, and Su Hongying, who had just placed the dishes on the table, all widened their eyes: Oh my goodness! Is this still our timid, indecisive little sister / little sister-in-law who couldn't tell right from wrong? The change is way too drastic!
Of course, Su Hongying thought that her little sister-in-law's jump into the river might have drained the water from her brain. This restored the intelligence, decisiveness, and vision that the Liu family's children should have. If she can maintain this, it's definitely worth buying some firecrackers to celebrate this fortunate blessing in disguise. As the brothers, Liu Shouren and Liu Shouyi exchanged glances and hated Dai Weiguo to the core.
If it weren't for that treacherous, heartless scoundrel, how could their sweet and innocent little sister have been forced to grow to this point?
It's a pity that their father and uncle passed away early, and the empire the two brothers built collapsed. Otherwise, how could they let that bastard bully the Liu family's only cherished daughter so wantonly!
For the first time in their lives, the brothers felt some regret: back then, for their parents' sake, they both gave up on their military ambitions. Instead, they settled in the small Liu Village, didn't study well, only graduated from high school, then got married in succession, and ended up in the pitiful position of being unable to support their sister.
In both lifetimes, Shuzhen was raised protected by her two brothers. How could she not know what caused the sudden despair, regret, and self-blame in them?
At that moment, she smiled gently, full of reassurance, and softly comforted her two brothers and second sister-in-law: "Big brother, second brother, why do you both get stuck in a dead end when I've already figured it out? Yes, if our family were more powerful than the Bai family, and had more backing, Dai Weiguo would be groveling like a lapdog around me."
"But what's the use? Everyone goes through ups and downs throughout a lifetime. Unless our family is more powerful than the Dai family for a lifetime, how could Dai Weiguo pretend forever in front of me?"
"Rather than waiting until I'm old and worn out, slaving away for the Dai family for many years, only to be kicked out with a bunch of kids, I think it's quite good now. After all, I'm only twenty-two, genuinely young, and the future still holds limitless possibilities, right?"
Liu Shouyi felt a pang in his heart, wasn't that exactly the truth?
It was regrettable that back then, their parents misjudged, thinking that Dai Weiguo, who was handsome, ambitious, and motivated, was destined for a great future. The idea was that once their sister followed him, she'd be fine even after a brief hardship. But that guy did become successful, yet turned out to be a wife-abandoning scoundrel. Had they known, they would have found a modest, steady young man for Shuzhen in the village. Even without great achievements, it would've been better than someone so callous and heartless.
But now the situation was set in stone, talking about it wouldn't change a thing!
The hot-tempered second brother Liu Shouyi, who disliked pondering those twists and turns, didn't think as much as his older brother. He was just full of surprise, looking at his sister, who was suddenly quite sharp: "Little, little sister, you've changed a lot. If it weren't for your unchanged appearance, I could've mistaken you for an impostor!"
Shuzhen was startled, knowing her drastic change aroused her second brother's suspicion. But she kept her composure, sighing sorrowfully: "If I always had an umbrella, who would be willing to run in storms exposed? As a child, I was protected by our parents and you two. After marriage, I hoped to endure the hard first few years.
I thought once I settled the little sister-in-law and little brother-in-law issues, I could take my mother-in-law to enjoy life in Beijing.
Who would've thought he'd actually get promoted and rich, but discarded me as a relic of arranged feudal marriage?"
"Upon knowing I was pregnant, Da... Wu Xia said it wasn't hopeless, urging me to demand an explanation immediately. But she got dazzled by the city's splendor, heartlessly helped Bai Jing persuade me to think of the family. Don't ruin it for a changed man, risking brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews. I was so startled by her words, I instantly gave up seeking explanations and thought of packing to return home, uncaring of the marriage's success, just to prevent harming the whole family."
"While looking for Wu Xia, I unintentionally overheard Dai Weiguo, Bai Jing, and Wu Xia plotting against me and my unborn child. I felt the sky collapse, thinking it's better to die than live this disgracefully. But even thinking of death, I refused to die before that callous man.
Instead, I thought of dying in the clear river by our village entrance, hoping that clear river water might let me leave with a clear conscience. No more worries or pains, staying by my parents' side like in childhood. Yet, the freezing water choking my lungs upon jumping into the river was unbearable."
Feeling dizzy, I heard my mom crying, asking why her silly girl, who wasn't afraid of death, wouldn't live properly? Dad scolded that I was a coward, looking for death over minor issues, unworthy of being a Liu family descendant."
I don't know if I overthought or really saw them, but after being rescued, I came to understand. I won't die; I'll live well! The guilty aren't ashamed, so what's the point of me, the victim, looking for death?"
"If I had succeeded, only my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews would've been heartbroken. Those vile couples would've celebrated, thinking they eliminated a future threat. I surely won't harm myself and my family again, but live well to see what justice befalls those sinners!"
To make her insight, regret, grievance, and anger more vividly and deeply expressed, Shuzhen clenched her fists, veins bulging, gritting her teeth loudly. While cleverly unraveling the puzzle, she dug a deep pit for Wu Xia. Seeing her brother's deeply guilty look, Shuzhen knew Wu Xia certainly had no hopes of returning to the Liu family in this lifetime.
After hearing their sister's reflections from these days, Liu Shouren and Liu Shouyi were no longer troubled by their sister's sudden transformation. They simply took it as a broader perspective gained after surviving a life-and-death ordeal. The brothers hurried to comfort her, while the sentimental Su Hongying even embraced Shuzhen like a child: "Auntie, if you feel bad, just cry it out and let all the grievances out.
After wiping away the tears, let's stand up and shake off the dust. The future is still long, how can you lose your spirit just from a fall? Don't fear, you're such a good girl; after leaving the Dai family mud pit, great prospects await you. Your big brother, second brother, and I are your support. With us, you won't suffer any more grievances. As for those sinners, don't worry, good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds punished; heaven won't spare them…"