Lin Qingping’s nickname was Pingzi. Gu Juncheng shoveled down his rice and grunted in acknowledgment. His mother and father quickly excused themselves to prepare the gifts for the couple’s visit back to her family. By the time Lin Qingping finished her meal at a leisurely pace, the gifts were all ready. Lin Qingping took a look: four large cuts of pork, a basket of eggs, a whole chicken, a duck, a fish, two bags of milk powder, and two bolts of new fabric. In their rural village in the seventies, this was an exceptionally generous offering. Liu Fen said to Gu Juncheng, “You should add the red envelope.” As she spoke, she kept glancing at Lin Qingping, trying to gauge her satisfaction, knowing full well her daughter-in-law’s habit of hoarding gifts for her own family. Gu Juncheng agreed, but Lin Qingping stepped in. “Wait.” Liu Fen’s expression soured, thinking she found the gifts lacking. Lin Qingping first took the two bags of milk powder and set them aside. “This is for Zhiyuan. He’s a growing boy, and milk powder will do him good.” Milk powder was a rarity in the countryside back then. She then picked out one cut of pork and the fish from the large pile, handing them to Gu Juncheng to hold. Wiping her hands, she said, “This is plenty. It’s enough.” Liu Fen stared, her eyes wide as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Gu Juncheng, too, wore a look of astonishment. “Let’s go.” Without another word, Lin Qingping took Gu Juncheng’s arm and led him out. Lin Qingping’s family lived in the next village over, a journey they had to make on foot. Gu Juncheng was a fast walker, and Lin Qingping struggled to keep up. Whenever he got too far ahead, she would simply stop walking and glare at him. He’d walk a good distance before realizing she wasn't behind him anymore and would have to stop and wait. Once she caught up, they would start again. With this stop-and-start pace, it took them nearly two hours to reach the Lin family home. At this time, her grandmother was still alive, her younger brother was just a boy, and she had a younger sister, Zhaodi, who was two years her junior. The family was thrilled to see her the moment she walked in. Her grandmother was the most enthusiastic, but her gaze drifted past Lin Qingping to Gu Juncheng. When she saw he was only carrying a single piece of pork and a fish, the light in her eyes visibly dimmed. Gu Juncheng, ever perceptive, couldn't miss the shift and stood there, a little uncomfortable. Lin Qingping gave his arm a firm tug, pulling him down to sit. Her grandmother took the meat and fish to the kitchen to prepare, while her mother stayed to chat with them. After some small talk about how her father, sister, and brother were still out working in the fields, her mother moved on to the village gossip, finally arriving at her main point. “You remember Old Mrs. Lin at the east end of the village, don’t you? Her daughter married a man from town, and he bought her a bicycle. So impressive!” Her mother’s eyes gleamed as she spoke. “Oh,” Lin Qingping replied flatly. The same thing had happened in her past life. Back then, after her mother’s prodding, she had pressured Gu Juncheng into getting a bicycle voucher. Using the money he gave her, she had immediately bought one for her family, and her brother had spent his days riding it around, lazing about. Not getting the response she wanted, her mother faltered for a moment before forcing a smile. “Zhaodi is almost of age to be married. If we can improve our family’s standing a little, she could find a good match…” Yes, her sister’s name was Zhaodi. The meaning behind such a name—"beckoning a younger brother"—was self-evident. In her past life, her sister had been married off before she was twenty, to an even “better” match than her own. She had been “exchanged” for a 500-yuan bride price. A bitter joke, really. The man was a cripple who beat her. Twice she was pregnant, and twice he beat her until she miscarried. Unable to conceive again, the beatings became a regular occurrence. In the end, she had fallen ill and died young… “We should change Second Sister’s name. Zhaodi is such an awful name,” said the Lin Qingping who, in her past life, would have readily handed over the money. Her mother was taken aback, then chuckled. “That’s a small thing. We have your brother now, so a name change is fine. About that bicycle…” Her mother’s gaze shifted to Gu Juncheng. “I’ll see what I can do about that…” Gu Juncheng, ever agreeable, started to promise, but he suddenly felt a small hand clamp down on his thigh, pinching hard. Lin Qingping cut him off. “That’s a difficult thing to get. You need a voucher, and we don’t even have a bicycle for ourselves!” An image flashed in Lin Qingping’s mind of her mother from her past life, goading her into buying a bike for her brother. It was all starting again. First, it was a bicycle, then a watch. Later, it would be a car, a house, all his assets… Her mother’s smile was strained. “Then how did Old Mrs. Lin’s family get a voucher? Her son-in-law is from town…” “Then why didn’t you sell me to someone from town back then? Why sell me to a soldier? Soldiers are poor. They don’t have connections. They can’t get things like that.” The words were a direct slap, and her mother’s face flushed crimson. *Sell*. It was an ugly word. Her mother’s expression changed, and Gu Juncheng’s darkened as well. Lin Qingping remained impassive. She knew perfectly well that Gu Juncheng was capable, but what was the point of such a hollow reputation? In her last life, her vanity had made her grant every request, and look where it had gotten her. Gu Juncheng didn't see it that way. He started to speak again. “It might be difficult, but…” He never finished his “but.” Lin Qingping’s hand tightened on his leg, pinching with a viciousness that seemed intent on tearing off a piece of his flesh. Gu Juncheng… Fine. He shut his mouth again. Lin Qingping, however, stood up. “I’m going to the fields to see Father and Second Sister, then we’ll head back. We have a lot to do at home.” Gu Juncheng prepared to take out the red envelope, but his thigh suffered for the third time. The red envelope remained in his pocket. Her mother stood up to protest. “Stay for dinner! Your father and Zhaodi will be back soon.” Lin Qingping didn’t stay. She went straight to the fields, greeted her father, and then pulled her younger sister aside. This was the true purpose of her visit. Her sister was covered in sweat, her skin tanned dark by the sun. The farm work was clearly grueling, yet even during the busiest season, her brother was nowhere to be seen. Even though this was her second time living this life, a familiar anger tightened in Lin Qingping’s chest. Looking at her small, thin sister, she asked, “Is Mom planning to arrange a marriage for you?” Her sister froze, then nodded, her lowered eyes hiding a deep sorrow. “Don’t agree to it!” Lin Qingping clasped her sister’s hand, pressing some money into it. “Take this, keep it hidden. Buy notebooks and pens. See if you can find any books to buy. If you can, get them. If not, I’ll figure something out. Study hard. You have to get into a university!” Her sister stared in disbelief, her eyes wide. *University* was a topic the city students sent to the village loved to talk about, but for a rural girl like her, the idea was more fantastical than reaching for the moon. “Listen to me! If Mom tries to arrange a marriage, you refuse, absolutely. If you can't, come find me in Gujia Village. I will stand up for you!” Lin Qingping delivered the words with unwavering resolve. Looking back at her small sister toiling in the fields, tears welled in her eyes. This time, she would change her sister’s life. She had to.