Kao Village, as the name suggests, is built against the mountains. Apart from a few fields a few miles away from the village, the main source of livelihood comes from this mountain.
By noon, the village is enveloped in a haze of cooking smoke. In a small courtyard at the east end of the village, smoke rises as well. Shortly, a middle-aged woman in a blue-gray coarse cloth jacket walks out, holding a basin in one hand and supporting herself with the door in the other. She carefully steps over the threshold, splashes water on the west side of the courtyard, her eyebrows showing a hint of irritation, and shouts back inside the house.
"Stop causing trouble, isn't tormenting people enough for you?"
"Mom, don't blame sister. She's sick." A youthful voice comes from inside.
"Sick? She deserves it!" The middle-aged woman snorts coldly and, supporting herself on the wall, slowly walks inside while shouting, "Don't mind her, go herd the sheep quickly, before it gets dark!"
"Okay, I know."
As he speaks, a four or five-year-old boy lifts the door curtain and runs out. The boy is all skin and bones, malnourished, and opens the sheep pen enclosed by wooden fences on the west side of the courtyard, herding five sheep out with a small whip.
On the kang in the west room, a sallow and emaciated woman lies in bed, listening to the shouting outside and the sound of a boy driving sheep. She sighs.
Her name is Beisitian, that's the name she has here, derived from "recalling hardship to appreciate sweetness." The one angrily scolding outside is her mother-in-law, Mrs. Qin. The boy herding sheep is her brother-in-law, Luo Anping. In the east room, lying paralyzed for years, is her father-in-law, Luo Anguo, whom she heard came here during a relocation policy.
The term "relocation," Beisitian took a long time to understand. It was a policy implemented years ago that changed later, leaving her father-in-law here because of her mother-in-law.
Regarding the naming order of her brother-in-law and father-in-law, Beisitian initially thought it was a local custom.
Oh, by the way, she also has a deceased husband, which is why she became a widow when she came here!
Beisitian doesn't know where this is. After being here for more than a month, she only figured out one thing: this is no longer the land she was on; it must be an entirely different place!
This past month, she has been lying in bed with two broken ribs, bruises, and wounds all over her body. It's said that she rolled into a mountain ditch and was found and rescued after a day and a night.
But she wasn't rolled down; she was pushed down!
At that time, the real Beisitian had already died, and the one who woke up was her, coming from a different land.
The concept of past lives and this life is quite puzzling, but having traveled across Jiangnan and the north, she could somewhat accept it. However, she was rejected by her husband's family in her past life and now directly becomes a widow in this life—isn't heaven being a bit unfair!
Furthermore, it's said there's no Emperor or royal family here. Who, then, is in charge of this world?
New terms kept entering her mind, and she soon realized this was a completely different world, with technology advanced enough to leave this land.
The concept of a planet greatly shocked Beisitian, shattering the long-held belief in a round heaven and square earth!
But where she is, it's a primitive planet, not so technologically advanced.
However, compared to her original land, it is still much more advanced!
"Always causing trouble for people. Look at my bad luck! After serving the old and the young, and taking care of those rooms and these rooms, the few nice things in the house have been ruined by you!"
"Watch how you speak!" A shout came from the east room.
"Can't even talk now? Can't a person even live anymore!" Mrs. Qin shouted, turning around and giving Beisitian a sharp glare.
"Mom, I want to turn over," Beisitian said softly.
She currently lacked confidence, speaking weakly.
"Turn over for what, with so many problems? Just lie there!" Mrs. Qin snorted, threw down the braid she was holding, and left the room.
Beisitian breathed a sigh of relief, finally, some peace.
Soon, voices came from the east room.
"Why bring that up, isn't it making her feel bad?" Luo Anguo's voice seemed much lower, and since Beisitian came over, for some reason, her five senses had become much keener, so she could hear clearly.
"She knows how to feel bad. First, Lian Qiao pushed her down the mountain, then bullied her at the door, relying on her many brothers. I told her to identify, and this coward didn't dare say a word!" Mrs. Qin was quite exasperated.
"You know her courage well. Moreover, even Lian Qiao brought three or four of her brothers over. If Little Tian'er pointed them out, who knows what might happen."
Mrs. Qin snorted and said nothing more.
"For you, poor old lady, it's been tough. Why don't you turn her over? If she keeps lying there, her body will become stiff. When she gets better, it'll be easier for you, won't it," Luo Anguo spoke from experience.
"Her ribs have two fractures and were just set; she can't be turned over. Yang the Fifth also advised that she should lie flat, so don't meddle." Mrs. Qin said.
Yang the Fifth is a traveling doctor in Kao Village.
Upon hearing this conversation, Beisitian gently closed her eyes. It's not feasible to simply lie down with broken ribs. The village doctor… the doctor's methods are somewhat lacking. If she continues to lie down like this, she will certainly develop problems. Hence, to recover quickly, she must rely on herself.
Although Luo Anping may or may not bring back what she needs.
Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door.
"Little widow, come out!" A loud voice called from the door.
The word "widow" has never been a good term throughout history. People in the village privately call Beisitian the little widow, but this term has caused her much trouble. If it weren't for her family to rely on, she would have even less peace.
"Little widow, don't think hiding at home will settle the matter. You say you fell down the mountain yourself, yet you accuse my sister, causing her to be talked about! Come out and clear things up in front of the entire village—was it my sister who pushed you, or did you fall down yourself?" the loud voice sounded again.
The person shouted twice, drawing in nearby people. Soon, there were many people gathered at the door of the Luo Family, gossiping and pointing fingers.
Beisitian's gaze turned cold. Zhang Lianqiao blatantly pushed her down, and now she came to claim "justice," ultimately bullying the real Beisitian for being weak and also bullying the Luo Family for being defenseless!
As the thought crossed her mind, she glanced up and saw through the curtain seam that her mother-in-law, Mrs. Jiang, was feeling her way out by the wall, equipped with the knives she usually used. She was startled; her mother-in-law is blind, needing care just to walk on her own, so how can she argue with others? If she suffered any losses, that would be trouble!
Now lying in bed unable to move, no matter how many tactics she might have, she can't use them!