While the dramatic rescue scene unfolded noisily by the riverside, the "hero" He Manshu had long since returned to the village with a basket of vegetables. She was hungry—food came first. There was bound to be trouble later. Knowing Li Yufang's vicious nature, He Manshu was sure she'd find a scapegoat. She needed to be well-fed before the fight.
In the scorching summer sun around eleven o'clock, the heat was intense. This was precisely why, when He Manshu called for help, the commune members rushed over—it was lunchtime, time to eat and rest.
Technically, 1960 was still the era of communal kitchens, but due to natural disasters and severe food shortages, some communes had already started rationing the dwindling supplies by headcount. The communal meals had become a mere formality. This was why every household in Wangjia Village was now cooking individually.
As for the official abolition of the communal kitchens, He Manshu recalled that would happen in 1961.
That is, a few months from now.
The end of communal kitchens would be a good thing—after that, cooking well would depend on one's own skill. Thinking of all the delicious modern dishes she used to enjoy, He Manshu felt cheerful as she walked home. Her house was in the middle of the village, so she had to pass by many homes, making it inevitable that she'd encounter other villagers.
Based on the original host's memories, she politely greeted the villagers along the way.
This was something the original host used to do regularly.
Walking through the village, one had to admit the scenery was lovely. In modern times, it would undoubtedly be a popular tourist destination. The white-walled, black-tiled village with stone slab roads basked beautifully in the sunlight.
The scenery was charming, but most of the houses were old and somewhat dilapidated due to the years and poor conditions.
It was July, when the rice was heading and flowering. The faint scent of rice blossoms filled the air. He Manshu pushed open the wooden gate to find a typical Jiangnan-style wooden courtyard house. A woman of about thirty-five or thirty-six, with delicate features, was sitting in the courtyard's shade, weaving cloth on a loom. This woman was the original host's "fake mother"—the culprit behind the baby-switching scandal.
The He family she was now living with had the surname Wang. Her "fake mother," Wang Xiu, was a daughter of the Wang family.
Since her husband had died saving the entire village, the village allowed Wang Xiu to live in Wangjia Village with He Manshu. They were also given ten work points daily, as if they were strong laborers. Essentially, the whole village supported them. This was why the original host could attend school.
The reason the original host, a high school student, was currently home was because it was summer vacation.
Hearing the door creak open, Wang Xiu glanced up happily. But the moment she saw He Manshu, fresh and neat with no signs of distress, her pupils shrank sharply, unable to hide her shock and confusion.
Seeing Wang Xiu frozen in place, He Manshu's eyes glinted with mockery: Surprised? Didn't expect this, huh?
Just wait—there's more to come.
He Manshu hated Wang Xiu not just because she was the mastermind behind the baby swap, but also because she was utterly despicable.
Wang Xiu had known all along that Li Yufang was framing the original host. In the original plot, not only did she know, but she even helped push the original host into marrying the old creep Wang Fugui after the framing.
Based on the original host's personality, she'd never agree to marry someone like Wang Fugui. Gossip meant nothing—death was preferable to marrying that ugly man.
But fate was cruel.
Due to layers of malicious schemes, the original host eventually fell into Wang Fugui's hands. The heartless Wang Xiu, having swapped daughters, never treated the original well. To secure her real daughter's wealth, she even forced the original host to drink a bowl of strong liquor and had Wang Fugui carry her over the threshold, which ultimately led to the original host's tragic death.
Knowing the whole story, the transmigrated He Manshu saw through Wang Xiu completely.
Heh, some people are worse than beasts.
After raising He Manshu for eighteen years, why only act now? The root cause was that just half a month ago, Wang Xiu had reunited with her biological daughter. With that, today's schemes were set in motion. But the plan was so vile, even the heavens couldn't stand it. And thus, instead of dying, He Manshu was sent into this novel.
Turns out, evil must be dealt with by someone just as wicked.
He Manshu, a master-level manipulator, never claimed to be a good person. Since she'd taken over the original host's life, she would seek revenge.
Actions have consequences. She owed nothing.
Wang Xiu deserved to die—but not yet. Some things required planning. Step by step. But rest assured, none of them would escape. "Mom, I've washed the vegetables. I'll go help Auntie in the kitchen now."
When it came to acting, He Manshu had zero psychological burden. After all, the original host had called Wang Xiu "mom" for eighteen years. A few more times wouldn't hurt.
By her calculations, Li Yufang wouldn't be unconscious for more than half an hour. She'd wake up, figure out how to twist the story, and frame her. So He Manshu needed to eat quickly—before chaos erupted and food became impossible to get.
While He Manshu studied Wang Xiu, the latter snapped back to her senses at the sound of her voice. She stammered, "C-cooking. Yes, go help your aunt with the cooking, Shu."
"Okay."
Basket in hand, He Manshu breezed off toward the western kitchen wing under the eaves. The scent of food already wafted out.
Watching her disappear, Wang Xiu frowned deeply.
Something was wrong. Wasn't that educated youth Li supposed to have already set the trap for He Manshu today?
Why was He Manshu completely fine? Had Li Yufang backed out?
That made Wang Xiu even more uneasy. If she hadn't been worried about gossip, she and her daughter wouldn't have relied on Li Yufang to act in the first place.
So today's setup was wasted?
But she had clearly heard villagers shouting, "Someone fell into the water! Help!" That's why everyone had rushed to the river, leaving their homes and meals behind. So someone did fall in—but it wasn't He Manshu.
Something had gone wrong with the plan!
Wang Xiu's mood soured. Even though she was frustrated, she could only sit and keep weaving. For years, she'd faked a heart condition to avoid hard labor. A person who normally wheezed just walking couldn't very well go snooping around now.
Just then, noisy voices echoed from outside.
Wang Xiu immediately stood and looked toward the door, hoping things might still go according to plan. As she strained to see outside, He Manshu emerged from the kitchen with her cousin Caizhi, carrying dishes.
The kitchen was tiny and hot—not a place to eat. The main hall wasn't much better. So in summer, families usually set a table outside in the courtyard for meals.
"Mom, lunch is ready. Please move your loom so we can set up the table."
Looking at Wang Xiu's hopeful expression, He Manshu cruelly reminded her of reality—she was fine, not drowned or trapped.
For those who scheme against others, failure is the hardest blow to swallow.
Wang Xiu's eyes dimmed instantly: Tch! Damn brat is standing there perfectly fine. Even if someone fell in, it wasn't her. What a waste of effort.
"Lunch is ready? Let me help!"
A tall, lanky young man ran in, smiling widely at He Manshu. His shifty eyes made it clear he wasn't simple.
He Manshu frowned slightly—she recognized him.
This was Wang Dahai, her second uncle's son. Her sixth cousin, and the only male heir of that branch.
He was 25 and unmarried, thanks to the tough times. He'd had his eye on the original host since childhood. She had studied hard precisely because she didn't want to marry any of her cousins. Education was her only way out of the Wang family—to escape village life.
Just as He Manshu was preparing to put on a show, another tall, sturdy man entered and said gruffly, "Sixth Brother, Grandpa and Grandma are hungry. Help me set the table in the hall."
He dragged Wang Dahai away like pulling a stubborn ox.
Fuming, Wang Dahai thought: Using the grandparents against me again!
He'd finally had a chance to cozy up to cousin Shu, only to be interrupted. He cast a sidelong glance at his simple-looking older cousin and sneered internally: You, a widower, think you have a chance? Don't make me laugh.
Feeling superior, Wang Dahai ignored his cousin and grabbed the table himself, setting it under the tree.
While clearing space, Wang Xiu moved the loom and feigned curiosity, "Dahai, weren't you rescuing someone? Who fell in?"
"It was Educated Youth Li."
Wanting to impress his future mother-in-law, Wang Dahai eagerly knelt beside Wang Xiu and relayed all he knew. He had arrived early and overheard gossip from the chatty aunties. Everything, from the truth to the wild rumors, was passed on.
As the story unfolded, Wang Xiu's eyes widened in disbelief.
She never expected the plot to backfire—Li Yufang, the schemer, ended up being the victim. What kind of twist was this? Was it karma?
The thought made Wang Xiu shiver.
Feeling guilty, she turned to look for He Manshu.
But He Manshu had already pulled Caizhi back into the kitchen. Caizhi was only sixteen and had never wronged the original host. He Manshu didn't want her ears sullied by talk of Wang Fugui and Li Yufang. As a green tea schemer, she still had a sense of justice.
While the Wang family gathered for lunch, Li Yufang, who had been brought back to the educated youth's dorm, finally opened her eyes.
They were bloodshot with rage.
No way. She couldn't swallow this. She had to find Wang Fugui and figure out what went wrong. If worst came to worst, she'd force him to pin everything on He Manshu and drag her down no matter what.
Seething with resentment, Li Yufang waited until the others were busy cooking and eating before she slipped out of the dormitory.