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Reborn Rural Girl
墨書 Inktalez
The thin mist began to dissipate, and the morning light gently broke through. Su Wan'er suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of confusion and fear flickering in her gaze.
The familiar sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking filled her ears, while the scent of earth and straw lingered in her nose.
She stared blankly at the low wooden beams and the pile of firewood in the corner, her heart racing with disbelief.
This was… her old home?
Wan Er instinctively lifted the thin blanket, her fingertips brushing against the coarse cotton fabric.
Looking down, she saw her emaciated hands, veins slightly visible, and the old string of prayer beads still rested on her wrist, warm as ever.
Outside, she heard her mother calling, “Wan Er, are you up? We need to go weed the fields today!”
Wan Er's heart skipped a beat. It had been years since she last heard her mother’s voice.
She remembered that in her previous life, their family had faced misfortune; her parents had passed away early, their land taken by wicked people. She had wandered far from home, enduring countless hardships… until she died with resentment still lingering in her heart.
But now, she had returned—back to when she was twenty-two, before it all happened.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she bit her lip, taking a deep breath to force herself to calm down.
“Mother, I’m getting up now!” Wan Er called out, her voice trembling slightly but unable to hide the joy within.
She quickly dressed in a coarse cloth outfit, tied her hair into a neat braid, rolled up her sleeves, and pushed open the wooden door to step outside.
The garden was familiar; morning dew still clung to rows of green onions and radish leaves, glistening like tiny jewels.
By the stove, her mother was bent over drawing water while her father squatted in the yard repairing tools. Her younger brother stood nearby yawning as he helped carry water.
"Wan Er, come eat some breakfast. We’ll head to the fields with your father and mother soon!" Her mother handed her a bowl of steaming mixed grain porridge, a gentle smile gracing her face.
Wan Er took the bowl, her hands trembling slightly. She lowered her head and took a sip, the coarse texture bringing a long-lost warmth.
She made an effort to calm herself, silently resolving: this time, no matter what, she would protect her family and ensure that tragedy would not repeat itself.
After breakfast, the family set off to the fields with their farming tools. The spring morning mist was gradually lifting over the fields, the distant mountains lush and green, and a gentle breeze brushed against their faces.
Wan Er walked behind her parents, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
The hardships of her past life clung to her mind like a nightmare, but at this moment, the solid earth beneath her feet and the clear figures of her family made everything feel real.
On the ridge of the field, her father was directing her younger brother as he plowed, while her mother pulled weeds nearby.
Wan Er rolled up her pant legs and stepped into the field with familiarity. A spark of cleverness flickered in her eyes.
In her previous life as a wanderer, she had worked in a pharmacy and learned quite a bit about herbs and acupuncture.
Relying solely on farming would not lead to prosperity; she needed to find another way.
"Mother, look at those weeds in the corner of the field. I think they’re Wild Lettuce. We can cut them for cooking and even feed them to the chickens and ducks," Wan Er pointed out a patch of weeds.
Her mother paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "You clever girl, you’re even more attentive than I am."
Her father nodded in agreement. "Wan Er is skilled; our family owes much to you."
Wan Er smiled slightly but was already beginning to plan in her heart: since everyone in the village relied on nature for their livelihood, could she use her knowledge of herbs to help earn some extra silver for the family?
As she was lost in thought, a hearty laugh rang out from the neighboring field. “Wan Er, did you wake up early today? Do you want some mushrooms from your land? Don’t let them go to waste!”
She turned towards the sound and saw a plump girl carrying a bamboo basket, her head adorned with a bright red scarf, approaching with a cheerful smile.
It was none other than Zhang Cuihua from the neighboring village. Cuihua had a round face and carried herself with grace. Though her family was of modest means, she always radiated optimism and cheerfulness.
“Sister Cuihua!” Wan Er greeted her with a smile. “You can take the mushrooms; my family doesn’t know how to cook them well.”
“Thank you so much! My mother has been wanting to make mushroom soup,” Cuihua replied casually as she squatted down and picked a few mushrooms, handing some back to Wan Er. “You should keep some too; they’re great for stews.”
Wan Er accepted the mushrooms, feeling warmth in her heart.
She remembered that in her past life, she and Cuihua were merely acquaintances. Now that she had a second chance, why not cultivate a good relationship?
“Sister Cuihua, your family’s fabric is quite famous. Could you teach me how to weave sometime? I’m not very skilled; my mother often says my sewing always turns out crooked.”
Cuihua’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Of course! If you don’t mind, I’ll teach you how to spin and weave tomorrow when I’m free. We can make some handkerchiefs together to sell in town; who knows, we might even earn some pocket money!”
The two exchanged smiles, feeling a budding closeness between them.
In the afternoon, the sun grew stronger. The villagers working in the fields began to return home for a rest.
Wan Er noticed her father squatting at the edge of the field with a furrowed brow and walked over to ask, “Father, what’s wrong?”
He sighed deeply. “There hasn’t been much rain these past few days, and the seedlings are wilting. If it doesn’t rain soon, we’re likely to face a poor harvest this year.”
Wan Er felt a tightness in her heart. In her past life, she had suffered from food shortages, and in this life, she could not let her family go hungry again.
She crouched down to examine the seedlings in the field and noticed that several sections of the irrigation ditches were blocked by mud and sand, causing the water to flow poorly.
“Father, let’s clear the ditches so that the water can come in,” she suggested. “And we can pull out the weeds at the edges and bury them in the trenches; that way, they can block the water flow and also serve as fertilizer.” As she spoke, Wan Er rolled up her sleeves and began to clean.
Her father and younger brother quickly came over to help upon seeing her efforts.
Her mother watched from a distance, smiling with satisfaction.
After working hard for more than half an hour, the water in the field finally flowed smoothly. The seedlings received water and gradually regained their vitality.
Her father patted Wan Er on the shoulder, his eyes filled with admiration. “Wan Er, you really have a way with things. I’m getting old and confused.”
Wan Er smiled and shook her head. “Father, you’re not confused; I’ve just gotten lazy. It’s only today that I thought I should do more work.”
Cuihua also came over to help. The four of them chatted and laughed as they worked together, quickly solving the problems at the field's edge.
Wiping her sweat away, Cuihua remarked, “Wan Er, you’re really capable. If you ever run into any difficulties in the future, remember to call on me. Together as sisters, we can surely live well.”
Wan Er nodded, a determined light shining in her eyes. She knew that only by uniting with the villagers could they carve out a path through these hard times.
As evening fell, smoke curled up from every household. Wan Er tidied up the farming tools and headed home with her family.
Passing by the village entrance, she spotted a cluster of wild Mugwort by the creek and felt a spark of inspiration. “Mother, tomorrow I’ll gather some Mugwort to bring back for Father to use on his legs.”
"Didn’t you say you were in a lot of pain at night? I know a bit about moxibustion; it might help," she said.
Her mother’s eyes lit up with joy. "You know how to do that? We should definitely give it a try. Your father’s leg hasn’t healed since he injured it last year while working."
Wan Er nodded with a smile, but inside, she was calculating.
In her previous life, while wandering outside, she had learned some herbal medicine and acupuncture from an old doctor at a pharmacy, which unexpectedly became her lifesaving skills.
Now that she had these abilities in this new life, why not use them to secure a better future for her family?
As night fell, the room was dimly lit. The family gathered around the table, sharing simple yet warm meals of porridge and wild vegetables.
Wan Er looked at her parents’ loving gazes and her younger brother’s innocent face, feeling an indescribable warmth in her heart.
In this life, she would not let her loved ones suffer again, nor would she allow fate to dictate her path.
She was determined to use her own hands and skills to lift her family out of hardship and lead them toward new hope.
Clutching the prayer beads on her wrist tightly, she silently vowed: Su Wan'er, in this life, you must protect your family and change your destiny!
Outside, the moonlight flowed like water, and a gentle breeze brushed by. In the fields, the croaking of frogs echoed, while the distant mountains stood in silence.
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