Reborn Little Wife

Lin mei

On New Year's Eve, it's customary to stay awake through the night - a tradition called "shou sui". The Zhu family gathered in the eastern room's heated brick bed after dinner, cracking sunflower seeds and peanuts. Little Hua Hua, dressed in festive red, nestled in her aunt's arms nibbling walnuts. "Walnuts nourish the brain," Aunt Zhong Ling declared. "Our Hua Hua will grow smart enough for university!" Her words made Zhu Baoqin and his wife beam with pride, though their vision for their daughter remained traditional - finding a good husband sufficed.

"If our family produced a college graduate, it'd bring eternal honor!" Zhu Chunlai's voice trembled with emotion. "Getting into university nowadays is like passing the imperial exams in ancient times!"

"Honor for whom?" Feng Zhen cut in sharply, her habitual skepticism surfacing. "The child bears the Ding surname, not Zhu. And those two" - she jerked her chin at the young couple - "are too busy chasing a son to bankrupt themselves educating a daughter."

Zhong Ling's smile tightened. "Mother-in-law, how can you say that? If we had means, of course we'd support her. But haven't you seen bride prices skyrocketing? We must save for our future son's marriage."

"Son?" Feng Zhen's laughter held an edge. "You're counting chickens before they hatch! What's this obsession with male heirs? Ding Rong's an orphan - there's no ancestral line needing continuation!" Zhu Baoqin opened his mouth to retort but swallowed his words under his father's warning glare.

"Your mother speaks truth," Zhu Chunlai rumbled. "Favoritism breeds regret. The old saying warns - 'The partial never prosper'. This is modern times." His final tone brooked no argument.

By 1 AM, Hua Hua lay curled like a kitten in sleep. "You two retire," the elder Zhu told the newlyweds with meaningful emphasis. "Midnight's passed - traditions observed." The unspoken suggestion hung thick - newlyweds should seize private moments. Zhu Baogang nodded solemnly, the picture of propriety. Zhong Ling bit her lip, itching to tear off his mask of virtue.

In their chamber, Zhong Ling surprised them both. "Brother... could you step out briefly?" Her cheeks burned. Though puzzled, Zhu Baogang complied, disappearing toward his parents' quarters.

Alone, Zhong Ling moved with urgent efficiency. Three basins clattered - face, feet, and the secret fourth for feminine hygiene. At thirty-five in her past life, the gynecologist's warnings still haunted her: "Neglect leads to suffering - odors, infections, infertility." Now reborn, motherhood became her sacred quest. This afternoon's marital duties left uncomfortable reminders - his essence trickling down her thighs. She needed cleansing, though part of her longed to preserve every trace of their union.

Salt stung the warm water - no medicated washes here. She scrubbed until her skin pinkened, brushed teeth till mint overwhelmed other senses. The bedding posed new dilemmas. How close should bridal quilts lie? Too near seemed brazen, too distant suggested rejection. As she fumbled with blankets, Zhu Baogang reentered. She jerked her bedding away like scalded, avoiding his gaze while fetching his foot bath.

"Let me..." she knelt, reaching for his boots.

"No need!" His reflexive push sent her sprawling.

The thud echoed. Silence. Then sniffles.

Zhu Baogang froze - in his thirty years, no village wife served husbands thus. "Xiao Ling!" He crouched barefoot, cradling her. "I... didn't mean..." Panic threaded his voice. This wasn't mere tears - his shirt grew damp with her quiet despair.

Later, nestled in restitched quilts, their conversation meandered through army life and market stalls. When talk turned to children, his hand found hers. "A daughter," he murmured, "with your eyes." Her heart fluttered - whether truth or comfort, it didn't matter.

Dawn brought unwelcome guests. The Lin family descended like crows - eight relatives flanking pale, delicate Lin Mei. "Brother Gang..." Her whisper hung unanswered.

The confrontation erupted predictably. "Three thousand compensation!" Old Lin demanded. "Our daughter wasted three years waiting!"

Feng Zhen's cackle cut through. "Waiting? You demanded extra bride price last minute! Now you covet Zhong Ling's dowry money!"

Amidst the chaos, two figures slipped outside - the soldier and his former betrothed. Frost bit their cheeks as Lin Mei clutched his sleeve. "You promised..."

Zhu Baogang peeled her fingers loose. "Promises died when you priced our marriage." His retreating back left her trembling - not from cold, but the realization: Some losses stay irredeemable.

Zhong Ling seethed inwardly. How could she accept that her husband had once been betrothed to another? Worse, this detail never existed in her past-life memories, leaving her blindsided. Clearly, the Lin family’s greed had been stoked by the couplets venture’s success—and their resentment over the broken engagement. Now that the Zhu household prospered, they smelled blood.

Instead of trailing Zhu Baogang and Lin Mei outside, she retreated to their room—only to overhear them by the window. Not eavesdropping. Just… unfortunate timing.

"Brother Baogang, I’m not after money. Believe me," Lin Mei pleaded, her voice saccharine. Zhong Ling grimaced. I should soften my tone too.

"What do you want?" Zhu Baogang’s stare pinned Lin Mei like a moth.

"I… I never agreed to break the engagement! It was my father’s doing!"

"You stayed silent for three years. I asked when we’d marry. What was your answer then?" His words sliced cold.

"Dad said to wait! Please—send her away. You haven’t even registered the marriage, right?" Silence stretched. Inside, Zhong Ling’s nails dug into her palms. His reaction decides everything.

"Impossible. She’s my wife. Take your family home. This disgrace helps no one." He strode inside, leaving Lin Mei weeping. Spotting Zhong Ling’s stormy expression, he froze. She heard everything.

The unflappable Army Captain Zhu fumbled for words. How to explain a past he’d buried? No affair, no lingering ties—yet here they were. Zhong Ling’s glare accused him: You wanted her. Proposed multiple times. Was I just a placeholder? Jealousy, irrational and acidic, surged. Fifty-year-old souls aren’t immune to pettiness.

She brushed past him without a word. In the main room, the Lin family’s theatrics continued. Zhong Ling’s patience snapped. This chaos threatened her carefully built future. She caught Zhu Baoqin’s eye, signaling her outside.

"Don’t mind them—they’re after our money. Mom and Dad won’t cave," Zhu Baoqin reassured.

"But if this escalates, it could ruin Baogang’s career. Rivals in his unit would pounce on the scandal."

"His unit’s miles away!"

"Gossip flies. And he has comrades nearby. The Lins will twist the narrative, pressure us into paying."

Zhu Baoqin paled. "What do we do?"

"Who brokered the original engagement?"

"Village Chief Zhang."

"Find him. Say the Lins demand 3,000 yuan or a divorce, even dragging his name through mud."

"But—"

"Give his wife 100 yuan as ‘apologies.’"

"100? That’s a fortune!"

"Just go." As Zhu Baoqin sprinted off, Zhong Ling turned—and found Zhu Baogang watching from the doorway. His eyes held awe. She’s protecting me. But now she’ll own me forever.

"Thank you," he murmured. She ignored him, marching toward Lin Mei.

Outside, Lin Mei’s tear-streaked face twisted with hate. "You think you’ve won? Baogang and I shared three years! You’re just a legal footnote!"

Zhong Ling smirked. "Drag your family here on New Year’s, demanding my husband discard me? I could thrash you right now." Lin Mei flinched. "But I’m civilized. Your parents want cash. You want him. Neither will happen."

"Without a marriage certificate—"

"Does he want you back? Push this, and you’ll be branded a gold-digger. Who’ll marry you then? Maybe a rich cripple?"

Lin Mei blanched. Before she could retort, Village Chief Zhang arrived, summoned by Zhu Baoqin’s strategic bribe.

"Captain Zhu! This nonsense ends now!" The chief’s roar shook the walls. Within minutes, the Lins slunk away, defeated.

Zhong Ling feigned exhaustion, retreating to her room. The family tiptoed around her, Zhu Baogang hovering helplessly. At dusk, a neighbor’s boy tugged him aside. Zhong Ling intercepted the child with candy and coins.

"Lin Mei wants to meet him alone. By the mill," the boy whispered.

Idiot. Zhong Ling stalked toward the rendezvous, ready to bury this farce once and for all.