Volume One, Chapter Two: I Want a Thousand Yuan

“Don’t, don’t, you wretched girl! Where would I get that much money?” Wang Cuilian shot her a resentful glare, teeth clenched, spitting out each word: “Just wait! I’ll get you your money. I swear, it’s as if I owe you everything.” Grumbling, Wang Cuilian stomped upstairs. Watching her retreating figure, Shen Ruzhi thought, Yes, it’s true. You do owe me.

In my previous life, I spent five years in reform labor on the farm for your Shen family—my skin sallow, my bones jutting, my hands cracked and bloodied each winter. It was your Shen family who owed me.

Wang Cuilian worked at the cultural center, earning just sixty yuan a month. She was never frugal, and a thousand yuan was her entire savings. She could only grit her teeth and hand it all over to this wretched girl, Shen Ruzhi. Once they made it to Hong Kong and exchanged those valuables for money, what would she have to worry about then?

“Here, take it, you little spendthrift. Go get your things, and don’t forget to sign up.”

Shen Ruzhi left happily with the money. “Sure, don’t worry. I won’t forget to sign up.”

To sign up her cousin, Wang Yaoyao.

Speak of the devil—just as she stepped outside, she ran into Wang Yaoyao. Yaoyao wore a white dress, her petite face full of delicate sorrow, those eyes always wide with innocent vulnerability—though her skin was quite dark.

Her face bore a striking resemblance to Wang Cuilian’s. In her past life, Shen Ruzhi had once remarked how much her cousin looked like her mother, not noticing the awkward expressions on the Shen family’s faces. Wang Yaoyao had simply laughed it off, saying she was Wang Cuilian’s own niece, and no one questioned it.

But the truth was written in their skin. The Shen family was dark-skinned, while Shen Ruzhi’s complexion was a cool porcelain white—there was no way they were truly related.

“Cousin, Aunt and Uncle told me everything. Thank you, truly, for being willing to go to the countryside in my place.” Wang Yaoyao smiled gratefully, taking both of Shen Ruzhi’s hands in hers.

Shen Ruzhi pulled her hands away, and as Wang Yaoyao caught sight of that flawless, snow-white skin, a flash of barely concealed envy flickered in her eyes.

Shen Ruzhi was beautiful—her beauty radiated from her very bones: fair skin, delicate features, long lashes, rosebud lips. If only she’d grown up in the Shen family instead, she’d surely look the same. The thought made Wang Yaoyao clench her fists unconsciously, envy and hatred swirling in her gaze.

“Cousin, I don’t even know how to thank you for your kindness.”

Shen Ruzhi replied at once, “Just give me money.”

Her answer left Wang Yaoyao momentarily stunned. When she came to, she asked in disbelief, “Cousin, what did you say? Money?”

Shen Ruzhi nodded cheerfully. “That’s right, cousin. I’m the one going to the countryside for you, enduring all that hardship. I’m helping you out of the goodness of my heart—shouldn’t you show some appreciation?”

In the year since she’d returned to the Shen family, Shen Ruzhi had always been quiet and well-behaved. Wang Yaoyao had never seen her so lively, so sharp.

Wang Yaoyao forced a smile. “You’re right, cousin. You’re taking my place, so of course I should give you money. But I only have a little over ten yuan right now—surely that’s not enough, is it?”

Shen Ruzhi held out her hand. “That’s fine, just give me what you have.”

Wang Yaoyao’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she couldn’t refuse. She fished the money out of her pocket.

Shen Ruzhi snatched it up and counted. “Cousin, you actually have thirty-eight yuan, don’t you?”

Wang Yaoyao smiled awkwardly. “Oh, silly me—I forgot. It really is thirty-eight.”

Shen Ruzhi pocketed the money. “I know it’s not easy for you. You grew up in the countryside, so you know what it’s like there. Our country isn’t fully developed yet—those places are still harsh and poor. If I’m going in your place, I’ll need a lot of things to get by. Shouldn’t you give me a little more, so I can buy what I need?”

Wang Yaoyao could only smile and agree.

Shen Ruzhi went on, “I know you’ve just arrived and don’t have much money, so just give me five hundred yuan. Let me get what I need. You know what it’s like to get caught in the rain in the countryside—surely you’d hold an umbrella for your cousin, wouldn’t you?”

When she heard “five hundred,” Wang Yaoyao nearly gasped, but the words that followed forced her to swallow her protest. If she refused now, it would seem ungrateful, as if she didn’t know how to repay a favor.

Wang Yaoyao took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Cousin, you’re right. I should give you the money, but I really don’t have that much.”

Shen Ruzhi wasn’t naive. Each of Wang Yaoyao’s dresses cost thirty yuan, and the watch on her wrist was a Shanghai brand, worth over two hundred. Her uncle’s money all went to his eldest son—none of it ever reached Wang Yaoyao. So whatever money she had, it came from the Shen family.

It was only after her death that Shen Ruzhi learned the truth: ever since Wang Yaoyao had been brought back, Shen Zhongguo had bought her a separate house—she’d never actually lived with the Wang family.

“Cousin, I really don’t want to go to the countryside, but Mom and Dad insist, saying you’ve suffered enough and I should go in your place. I can’t imagine living like you did, right? Maybe I shouldn’t go after all. You’re already used to life in the countryside—going back would just be returning to the way things were. Maybe I should discuss it with my parents again.”

As she hesitated, touching her chin thoughtfully, Wang Yaoyao turned pale with fright. Just the thought of those days in the countryside filled her with dread—three, five years without a single new dress. She absolutely refused to return to such a life.

“You’re right, cousin,” she stammered, face ashen. “You should buy some nice things before you go. I’ll go ask my parents for some money—wait here, I’ll get it for you.”

With that, she turned and fled, terrified that if she tarried even a second, Shen Ruzhi might change her mind.

In her previous life, while working on the farm, Shen Ruzhi had once seen Wang Yaoyao’s adoptive parents. They were poor, but kind-hearted. After Wang Yaoyao was found and brought home, they’d tried to visit their daughter of seventeen years, only to have the Wang family break their legs and leave them by the roadside. Her adoptive father was left crippled, and their already struggling family was plunged into even deeper hardship. Meanwhile, Wang Yaoyao went around telling everyone she’d been abused by her adoptive parents.

She was truly the ungrateful wolf of the Shen family.

Soon, Wang Yaoyao came running back with the money, and Shen Ruzhi took the five hundred yuan. By this time, Wang Yaoyao’s adoptive father must have already been maimed. This money would go to them—they had, after all, helped her once in her past life.

“Cousin, your watch is beautiful. It’s a Shanghai brand, isn’t it? I saw it once—it costs over two hundred,” Shen Ruzhi remarked, eyeing the watch on her wrist.

Wang Yaoyao bit her lip, knowing full well that Shen Ruzhi wanted her watch—a gift from her eldest brother. But if it meant sending Shen Ruzhi to the countryside smoothly, she’d have to give it up. The more delighted Shen Ruzhi was now, the more miserable she’d be once she left.

Shen Ruzhi! Just wait!

You’ll suffer a hundred times worse than I ever did.

If not for you, my life would have been the life of a true Shen family heiress. All the splendor and wealth you enjoy should rightfully have been mine.