The Liang family home was divided into a front and back courtyard. The front courtyard had a three-room house where Liang ManCang, his wife, and their two daughters lived. The back courtyard also had a three-room house, which was where the two elders and the two boys lived.

All the houses were thatched-roof, but the three rooms in the back were new, built less than two years ago. The money had supposedly come from Liang ManCang’s younger sister, who had married a city worker. Granny Liang was Man Cang’s stepmother, making the sister his paternal half-sister. She was well-off and often sent money and goods back to her mother. Although the two elders lived with Liang ManCang, they didn’t share meals. Granny Liang was particular about her food and disliked Aunt Liang, so they had separate stoves. However, Liang ManCang still had to provide them with enough grain and cover their living expenses.

Granny Liang was currently sitting at the entrance of the new house, shelling white beans into a winnowing basket. Xiao Man called out, "Granny Liang," but didn’t stop, instead running toward the siblings by the fence.

It turned out Liang ManCang had his children mending the fence that day, weaving branches together. Liang Xiuming and Liang Xiuyong were only fourteen and thirteen, respectively, but they were already quite skilled at the task.

Liang Xiuzhen, about a year and a half younger than Xiao Man, was digging up sweet potatoes in the vegetable patch with her seven- or eight-year-old sister, Liang Xiuzhu.

’In her past life, before she fell into the river, Xiao Man had only known the Liang children as fellow villagers and wasn’t close to them. After Uncle Man Cang saved her, she began visiting often and struck up some conversations. But later, they all left for school or work while she remained in Gongdao Village, and they drifted apart, becoming strangers once more.’

"Xiu," Xiao Man called out. All four siblings had "Xiu" in their names, but the family usually only used it to refer to Xiuzhen.

All four of them looked up at her. Just as in her past life, they were surprised to see the quiet, withdrawn Xiao Man suddenly appear at their house.

The youngest, Xiuzhu, blurted out with the innocence of a child, "What are you doing here?"

Xiuzhen shot her sister a look, then turned to Xiao Man. "Xiao Man, is there something you need?"

Xiao Man smiled. "It’s nothing. I came with my Grandpa. He’s up front talking with your dad, so I thought I’d come see you guys."

As she spoke, she pulled a handful of fruit candies from her pocket and offered them to Xiuzhu. ’This little girl is sharp-tongued, having inherited Uncle Man Cang’s acerbic wit and fiery temper. In her past life, she constantly taunted me. This time, I’ve come prepared to avoid any trouble.’

Kids will be kids. A handful of colorful fruit candies was all it took to win Xiuzhu over. She stuffed the candy into her pocket, beamed, and called out, "Sister Xiao Man!" Then she sat off to the side to unwrap a piece.

Xiuzhen watched her sister’s greedy display, speechless. Xiu Yong, however, immediately ran over. "Quick," he urged Xiuzhu, "unwrap one for your second brother! It’s been so long since I’ve had candy."

Xiuming also stopped what he was doing, but he sternly lectured his younger siblings. "All you think about is eating. Do you think Xiao Man just gave you that candy for nothing? Xiuzhu, shouldn’t you say something? And also... Mom’s medicine leaves a bitter taste in her mouth!"

After hearing that, Xiu Yong stopped pestering for candy and went back to work. Xiuzhu looked from one sibling to the next, then finally rewrapped the half-opened candy and stuffed it back into her pocket. Smiling at Xiao Man, she said, "Thank you, Sister Xiao Man!"

Xiao Man couldn’t help but take a second look at Liang Xiuming. ’He had an ordinary face and looked a bit like Uncle Man Cang. In her past life, he had been very kind to her, but after he finished junior high and got into the regional high school, she never saw him again.’

’This eldest brother had always been so sensible and capable. Only now did she realize he was what people called precocious—mature beyond his years, with a strategic mind.’

’Perhaps the credit for all four siblings escaping the farming life belonged to Liang Xiuming. Xiao Man remembered how in her past life, Liang Xiuzhen had been accepted into the township middle school and was thrilled. But ultimately, she hadn’t gone. Instead, she repeated a year of primary school and tested into the county middle school the next year.’

’She had told Xiao Man that she hadn’t actually wanted to repeat the grade, but it was her big brother’s idea, and she had to listen.’

’Back then, no one understood why Liang Xiuzhen would repeat a grade when she had already been accepted into the township middle school. Xiao Man hadn’t understood it either. The reason was actually quite simple: the township middle school’s environment and teaching quality were no match for the county’s. Furthermore, if Xiuzhen had attended the local school as a day student, her personality meant she would have inevitably been burdened with household chores. So, Liang Xiuming had her delay for a year, test into the county middle school’s honors class with outstanding scores, and from there, as long as she kept her grades up, it would be a smooth path into the county high school’s honors class. Getting into a university after that would be no difficult feat!’

Seeing Xiao Man staring at him, Liang Xiuming smiled. "Xiao Man, is your Grandpa here because my dad saved you?"

Xiao Man asked playfully, "How’d you guess?"

"What’s there to guess? Not everyone lacks basic decency like Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying."

"You’re right. Uncle Man Cang saved my life. I should have come to thank him sooner."

Liang Xiuming said, "You’re just a kid; it’s enough that you appreciate it. My dad doesn’t help people expecting a reward, but your parents..."

"They’re not my birth parents. Of course they don’t care about me."

Liang Xiuming looked at her in surprise. "I thought Xiuzhu was just spreading rumors. Is it actually true? They’re not your real parents?"

Xiuzhu bounced over from the side. "See, big brother? You heard it with your own ears! I wasn’t spreading rumors, was I? Hmph, and you even rapped me on the head for it!"

Liang Xiuming: ...

He waved his little sister away. "Don’t interrupt when adults are talking!"

Xiuzhu pouted and turned away. Xiuzhen then said, "Xiao Man, I heard about it too. I was washing clothes by the river the other day and overheard Guan Ailan talking with some other people. They said you might be from the city. Are you going to look for your real parents?"

Xiao Man shook her head. "The city is huge. Where would I even start looking? Besides, it’s not certain that I’m from the city. It’s been so many years; they probably wouldn’t want to find me. I don’t get hit by Liu Fengying anymore, and Grandpa and Grandma dote on me. I don’t want to leave them."

"That’s true," Liang Xiuzhen said, clicking her tongue. "Liu Fengying... Xiaoqiang’s mom was always abusing you. I heard that during the incident with Xiao Feng, she was actually trying to hit you, but you managed to run away... Tsk, tsk. Xiaoqiang’s mom is so vicious!"

Liang Xiuming opened his mouth, then closed it, hesitating several times before finally speaking. "Xiao Man, you and our Xiu are about the same age, right? Now that you live with your Grandpa and Grandma, you probably don’t have as many chores. You should talk to your Grandpa about going back to school. You can still help with work while you’re studying; that’s what Xiu does."

"I am. My Grandpa is letting me go back to school," Xiao Man replied with a smile.

Liang Xiuming nodded. "That’s good. You have to seize any opportunity to study. If there’s anything in your textbooks you don’t understand, you can come ask me or Xiu Yong. We’re day students, so we’re home in the mornings and evenings."

Huashan Middle School wasn’t in the commune center. It was built in a residential area for a factory and mine, located a few miles from Gongdao Village. Ostensibly built for the convenience of the workers’ children, the school had in fact been funded and constructed by the factory and mine. The school had dormitories, but most children from farming families commuted as day students. The reasons were just like for Liang Xiuming and his brother: it allowed them to help at home and also save money on boarding fees.

"I will. Thank you, Brother Ming," Xiao Man said.

Liang Xiuyong, who had his head down weaving branches, snorted with laughter. "Brother Ming? Brother Ming! I like the sound of that! Hey, Xiao Man, give it a try—call me Brother Yong! And you two," he said to his sisters, "don’t call me Second Brother anymore. From now on, you’ll call me Brother Yong!"

Xiuzhen and Xiuzhu rolled their eyes at him in unison.

Xiao Man: ...

’He was just as lively and cheerful as she remembered from her past life. However, in that past life, after the incident where she was doused with oil, Liang Xiuyong had treated her coldly the next time she visited. He told her the sight of her neck made him sick and disgustedly ordered her not to come back. Uncle Man Cang had given him a beating for it.’