Chapter 1  

The sun was scorching the ground like a furnace, and heat waves surged everywhere.

The grass on both sides of the road seemed to be asleep. They were all bent over and looked dejected. In the heat, the constant noise of the cicadas made people feel even more frustrated.

Chu Qingzhi wiped her sweat and felt that she was about to melt under the sun. She sat on the donkey cart and was pulled towards the Chu Village by a middle-aged man in a straw hat.

“Father, stop for a moment. I want to drink water.” Chu Qingzhi’s throat was smoking. She couldn’t take it anymore. When she saw the well over there, she quickly shouted for her father to stop.

“Okay.” Chu Rong rode the donkey cart under the shade of the tree. “Qingzhi, wait a moment. I’ll go get water immediately.”

With that, he carried a bucket and a basin and walked to the well.

Chu Qingzhi jumped off the donkey cart and followed. She could not wait a moment longer.

Chu Rong quickly took out water from the well. He did not take a sip himself and handed it to Chu Qingzhi first. “Drink it.” He placed the rest of the water in front of the donkey. “Drink it. You must be thirsty too.”

The donkey did not stand on ceremony and immediately drank.

Chu Qingzhi felt like a stranded fish. After drinking the water, she finally felt alive.

She drank half of the water in the basin before handing it to Chu Rong.

After drinking the water, they waited for the donkey to finish before continuing on the way.

The sound of wheels slowly rolled along the road. After half an incense stick of time, they finally arrived at the Chu Village.

The donkey cart stopped in front of the courtyard of a brick house. Chu Rong helped Chu Qingzhi down and handed the bucket and basin to Chu Qingzhi. Then, he shouted, “Third Uncle, I’m here to return the donkey cart.”

Third Uncle was in his fifties and had a sturdy body. When he heard the voice, he quickly walked out and took the donkey rope. His gaze landed on Chu Qingzhi. “Did you bring your daughter back?”

Chu Rong quickly said to Chu Qingzhi, “Call him Third Grandpa.”

Chu Qingzhi called out obediently, “Third Grandpa.”

Third Uncle nodded. “Chu Rong, it is hot outside. Hurry up and take your daughter home.”

Chu Rong said respectfully, “Yes, Third Uncle.”

Chu Rong took the bucket and basin from Chu Qingzhi and brought her home immediately.

It was a courtyard with a few simple thatched houses. They were very clean. In the corner, there was an old hibiscus tree with lush branches.

Before entering the courtyard, Chu Rong suddenly said, “Qingzhi, our family is not as good as your adoptive parents’ family. Don’t mind it.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded.

Hearing Chu Rong’s voice, a group of people walked out of the house.

They were Chu Rong’s wife, Madam Li, his parents, and eight children.

Yes, there were eight children. Including Chu Qingzhi, there were nine children.

Chu Qingzhi was speechless.

Chu Rong introduced them to Chu Qingzhi. Chu Qingzhi obediently greeted them one by one before everyone entered the house.

Madam Li pulled Chu Qingzhi to sit beside her. Her eyes were red. “Qingzhi, it’s been hard on you. No matter what, I won’t give you away again.”

Chu Qingzhi was the fifth child of the Chu family. She was 15 years old this year. The year she was born, a well-off man from the county came to the village to collect food. When he saw that Chu Rong’s family had many children and that his son had been married for many years and did not have any children, he asked Chu Rong if he was willing to give him a child.

At that time, the Chu family was too poor, so Chu Rong and Madam Li agreed.

They did not want to abandon their children, but it was better for their children to live in a rich family than suffer in poverty with them. After considering the pros and cons, they agreed.

Fifteen years later, the daughter-in-law of the well-off man suddenly got pregnant and gave birth to a son. He no longer wanted Chu Qingzhi.

Actually, the daughter-in-law of the well-off man did not like Chu Qingzhi at all.

Every time she saw Chu Qingzhi, she felt that her father-in-law was deliberately reminding her of the fact that she could not give birth. As time passed, she hated Chu Qingzhi to the core.

Now that she gave birth to a son, she immediately wanted to send Chu QIngzhi away. Out of sight, out of mind. The well-off man listened to his daughter-in-law and informed Chu Rong to pick his daughter up.

Chu Rong went to pick her up the next day.

Chu Qingzhi was especially not used to it. She mustered her courage before saying, “Mother, let’s not talk about the past. Let’s live well in the future.”

Madam Li couldn’t help but cry. “Our family will always be together in the future.”

Chu Rong’s eldest son, Chu First, tried to get close to her. “Fifth Sister, I made you some syrup. Do you want it?”

Fifth Sister had always been separated from them. Now that she was finally back, they had to treat her well and let her feel a sense of belonging in the family as soon as possible.

Sugar was a precious thing at that time. Many people could not afford it. The sugar at home was bought last year during the new year. No one could bear to eat it.

Chu Qingzhi wanted to refuse, but this was considered a show of goodwill from her new home. If she refused, it meant that she did not like this place, so she nodded. “Thank you, Brother.”

Chu First said happily, “I’ll go get it for you immediately.” This sister was so polite. The children of the Chu family were so many that they were named by number.

Chu Qingzhi drank the syrup in one go. “Mother, I want to sleep for a while. Did you prepare a room for me?”

Madam Li quickly said, “Yes, yes, yes. I did. Come with me. I’ve already prepared it for you.”

Chu Second was a daughter. She quickly said, “Fifth Sister, there aren’t many rooms at home. You can sleep with me. If you’re not used to it, I can sleep on the floor.”

Chu Qingzhi looked at this not so well-off family and only felt that… it was so crowded. “There’s no need to sleep on the floor. We can sleep together.”

Chu Second said happily, “I’m well-behaved when I sleep. I won’t squeeze you.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded.

When she entered the room, Chu Qingzhi was stunned. The bed was only slightly wider than a single bed. If two people slept on it, the person outside could only sleep at the edge. SHe might even fall off the bed… It was really crowded.