Cheng Ying in the twentieth century was a versatile talent, not because she was exceptionally smart or capable, but because from childhood, Cheng Ying was always the one who filled in wherever there was a need.

Her family had many siblings; the mother of Cheng Ying first gave birth to Cheng Ying’s elder sister, and then Cheng Ying herself. Feeling unsatisfied, the mother of the Cheng family felt the lack of a son.

So the family had a third child.

Cheng Ying was neither the eldest nor the youngest, having little presence in the home, but this was only when she wasn't working. The family wasn't wealthy, though not to the point of starvation; it was just that their living conditions were slightly worse than other families.

Otherwise, why the one-child policy? Open-minded parents, without needing others to tell them or policy to restrict them, knew they couldn't have too many children—they couldn't afford them, especially when raising children in modern times required heaps of money for education.

Cheng Ying was envious watching other classmates attend various art classes, but the money her family had could never pile up high enough for her.

So, Cheng Ying left home early, working part-time while attending high school. In university, she immediately took out student loans. Life was tight, but children from poor families mature early; Cheng Ying understood the hardships of life better than her peers, knew how to seize opportunities, and was absolutely not the type to spend everything she earned.

Cheng Ying’s dream was to save money to buy a big house and live like a mistress, to escape the home where she felt invisible.

Consequently, Cheng Ying delved into various occupations: she worked as a salesperson, handed out flyers outside department stores, took shifts at gas stations, and in her hardest times, washed dishes at a restaurant.

This phase of engaging with multiple industries only ended when Cheng Ying graduated from university. Cheng Ying felt there was nothing she couldn't handle.

When looking for a job after graduation, Cheng Ying had more opportunities than the average person. Someone who had walked the entire lowest tier of various industries possessed insight into bosses, clients, and industry focal points. Cheng Ying’s interviews went smoothly, and her work performance was even better. She was single, without even a boyfriend, and had no hobbies because any hobby was expensive—that was why Cheng Ying had no pastimes.

So, Cheng Ying’s career soared because she dedicated more time than others.

Cheng Ying rose through the ranks amidst the envy of her colleagues, her salary growing in direct proportion to her capabilities. Moreover, Cheng Ying's attitude was better than others; she wasn't the type to become arrogant just because she was talented.

Cheng Ying long understood that for talent to correspond with salary, one needed a corresponding level of social flexibility.

Cheng Ying excelled in this area; praising the boss a few times, while not effortless, carried absolutely no psychological burden for her.

Cheng Ying rarely returned home over the years. In that house, Cheng Ying couldn't find her place. Watching her parents favor her elder sister and her younger brother made Cheng Ying’s heart clench. Cheng Ying's petty nature had developed early; she was jealous of her sister and despised the brother her parents cherished above all else.

When she was little, Cheng Ying once thought that perhaps without her brother, her parents might notice her existence, maybe even praising her when she brought home a good report card.

Unfortunately, as Cheng Ying grew older, she lost even that notion.

So, Cheng Ying strove to build a good life for herself. She wanted to find a devoted boyfriend, start a family, and have a child. She resolved to be a good mother, having only one child, ensuring that child would never feel overlooked.

Therefore, Cheng Ying didn't refuse blind dates. When colleagues introduced potential boyfriends, Cheng Ying went forth generously. However, Cheng Ying’s standards for a partner were somewhat high.

Money and career weren't paramount but couldn't be missing. She didn't necessarily need a rich boyfriend, but he had to be someone capable of building a life together.

These things were quite simple for Cheng Ying. At her level in life, she wouldn't likely encounter many men without money or jobs. But the feeling Cheng Ying needed was crucial; she was determined to find someone to build a life with, someone who would make her feel significant. This was the difficult part.

Cheng Ying was truly lucky when she met her boyfriend; they were university classmates, but Cheng Ying hadn't been interested in dating then, never sparing an extra glance for men, thus naturally missing any admiring looks from the opposite sex.

At a class reunion, the boyfriend met Cheng Ying again, and they started chatting animatedly, exchanging phone numbers.

Later, the boyfriend said, "Even though you're only seeing me now, I’ve been watching you for years."

At that moment, Cheng Ying felt like the female protagonist; happiness had arrived so quietly. Their life together was simple but real; on Sundays, they would eat together, take walks, and even take short trips.

However, both felt it was too early for marriage. Cheng Ying also believed that before marrying, she needed to secure her foundation more firmly, at least ensuring their future child wouldn't suffer like she and her parents had.

So, time passed quietly. Watching her boyfriend become increasingly outstanding, Cheng Ying walked with pride. What if she was from the countryside? What if her boyfriend was too? They could still carve out their own success in the city.

When Cheng Ying approached thirty, she felt she had fought hard enough, capable of supporting her child, when her boyfriend suddenly became busy, making marriage another postponement. Cheng Ying understood the difficulty of striving externally, so she never complained about this.

Cheng Ying considered herself a good woman who understood men.

Tragically, on her thirtieth birthday, what Cheng Ying received was an invitation from another woman.

Cheng Ying was stunned. How dare she? How dare you throw a check at me? I never show off; if I were generous, I could toss two of those back at you!

But the small-mindedness Cheng Ying had only begun to shed in recent years immediately retreated.

Before she could even think if her boyfriend was involved with this woman, Cheng Ying suffered a stroke. It was definitely this woman’s fault; blood rushed entirely to her brain, and she died before even managing to raise a hand in protest—Cheng Ying felt profoundly unfulfilled.

Why couldn't you let me slap her twice before I die?

This thought consumed Cheng Ying’s mind. Cheng Ying didn't realize that such deep intent could lead to rebirth. Although the conditions of this rebirth were not ideal—a bit short on food—she had family around, and a grandmother who secretly slipped her roasted corn kernels.

Cheng Ying felt settled. Just staying near this old woman made her quite happy. She didn't miss her old home at all.

How could that be her home? The only time she returned for the Lunar New Year, Cheng Ying deeply regretted it. Her parents looked at her like a stranger, let alone her siblings.

And a single sentence from her father hurt Ying Zi deeply: "Why are you back?"

From that day on, Cheng Ying never returned. She felt nothing for that home.

Of course, the reborn Cheng Ying had considered finding the woman who angered her to death and strangling her, just to prevent this woman from irritating her again decades later. But seeing the old woman calmed her spirit. She took it as Heaven’s compensation for her lack of kinship.

In this strange, seemingly harsh old woman, Cheng Ying found the warmth of a home, the feeling of being protected.

Cheng Ying only grieved for the money she had saved over the years, and the house.

Although she acted early and didn't spend much, it had appreciated in value! It all went to her indifferent brother. Cheng Ying felt remorseful.

Given her ingrained pettiness, Cheng Ying sincerely didn't believe that saving money for her relatives would yield anything good; they had never treated her particularly well.

Cheng Ying didn't know if Heaven sent her back at this time to punish her with hunger or to grant her the start of a better life.

But after years of a pampered existence, Cheng Ying truly couldn't bear a hard life.

Cheng Ying's eyes were fixed entirely on ways to improve her current situation, at least to be able to eat her fill. It was hard for such a person not to prosper; wasn't the beginning for every millionaire rooted in wanting a better life, in not going hungry?

When she discovered the spatial dimension, Cheng Ying was terrified. She wondered if she was a fat pig being fattened up, perhaps being exploited? Once the other party was fully prepared, she’d be finished, having served only as a stepping stone for someone else.

Thus, Cheng Ying entered the space with caution, which was why the space had never thought highly of her.

Did she even possess anything worth coveting? Even her heart wasn't entirely pure; the woman was simply not endearing.

Cheng Ying wasn't overly anxious about having a stepfather. Her own father had treated her indifferently, and Cheng Ying couldn't imagine how a stepfather could surpass that level of coldness.

Aside from those few years with her boyfriend, Cheng Ying had hardly experienced life in a large extended family. She truly couldn't adapt to life in the Cheng household; setting aside other things, the hygiene alone was unbearable—so many people using chopsticks from the same holder, passing them in and out of the mouth multiple times a day, never knowing if they’d been scalded with boiling water.

Of course, after a few days of hunger, this concern vanished; having something to eat was better than anything.

Cheng Ying realized that obsessive cleanliness was a phenomenon restricted by environment. She wondered why psychiatrists hadn't used this as a point of entry for treatment.

However, Cheng Ying did become considerably more sensible. To maintain some semblance of hygiene, Cheng Ying started scrubbing pots, bowls, and chopsticks.

When Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying with those sharply contrasting black and white eyes, there was a hint of astonishment.

Cheng Ying thought then, what kind of look is this brat giving me? I’m hardworking! But Chi Wu’s next words made Cheng Ying want to kick him.

Chi Wu said, "You're so wasteful. Why boil the water until it’s hot before scrubbing? Think how much firewood you’re wasting!"

Cheng Ying felt stifled. This brat had no common sense, and at that time, Chi Wu wasn't very tall. Cheng Ying felt like she was dealing with a child when facing him, but later she learned the boy was quite shrewd.

Cheng Ying’s feelings for Chi Wu evolved: from playfully teasing him, to finding him acceptable, to seeing him as genuinely promising, and finally to viewing him as her brother—she grew increasingly fond of him, at least more than the brother from her previous life. She increasingly treated Chi Wu as her own kin, yet never considered making him truly her kin.

Because in Cheng Ying’s heart, Chi Wu was destined to belong to another woman someday.

Toward Chi Wu, Cheng Ying was completely unselfish, wanting to tell him everything she knew. Cheng Ying couldn't figure out when her usual pettiness stopped applying to Chi Wu.

This perplexed Cheng Ying greatly.