Liu Shi's laughter gradually faded as she shifted the conversation towards something more serious. Sitting in the courtyard, the warm summer breeze seemed to carry the weight of her words as she began to speak.
"I heard something interesting from my sister-in-law over in Zhengjian Village," Liu Shi said, her voice taking on a more conspiratorial tone. "You remember the Wei family, right? Their daughter, the sickly one? Well, it turns out she's still alive."
Yu Shi looked a bit surprised but remained quiet, since she didn't know much about the families in Zhengjian. She had never been to the neighboring village, and most of her news about other places came from people like Liu Shi.
Yu Shi's surprise didn't escape Liu Shi's sharp eyes, so she continued, "I know, right? Everyone thought she was on her deathbed! But here's the strange thing—after she recovered, it's like she became a completely different person! They say she's fierce now, not at all the timid girl she used to be."
Qin Hongchuan, sitting nearby, casually listened to the conversation as he busied himself with folding a cloth. But his ears perked up slightly at the mention of a sudden change in personality. Something about it stirred an odd feeling in him, but he kept quiet, letting Liu Shi continue.
"Before, that poor child was so sickly and weak," Liu Shi said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I saw her a few times before when they were still living with the first branch of the Wei family. She was shy, never said a word, and was always looking down. But now… well, apparently, she's been standing up to her cousins and even her aunts. Tch, the girl's not afraid of anyone anymore."
Yu Shi finally spoke up, curiosity getting the better of her. "Really? That sounds like quite a change. But how did that happen?"
Liu Shi shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe it was the illness, maybe something else. My sister-in-law says it's like she's a different person. Fierce, just like her mother, Wu Shi."
At this, Qin Hongchuan paused for a moment, the cloth in his hands forgotten. He glanced at Liu Shi but didn't say anything yet. He needed to hear more.
"And Wu Shi's no pushover," Liu Shi continued. "She's always been a tough woman. They say she named her daughter 'Zhuxin'—and there's a story behind that. Apparently, Wu Shi had an older brother who was quite gifted in his studies, and almost became a scholar. But what a pity, he was killed by bandits before he could achieve anythin! It was that brother who gave Zhuxin her name, something to remind the family of beauty and hope, despite the hardships they've faced.
Liu Shi sighed, shaking her head in sympathy. "It's a pity, really. The girl's been through so much, but now, maybe things will turn around for her. If it were me, I would never let anyone bully my family."
Qin Hongchuan was still processing the information. The change in personality, the fierceness, and now the name—Zhuxin. The name lingered in his mind, ringing with familiarity
Could it be…? Could this Zhuxin be his Zhuxin?
Did his wish come true? Could it be the same person, reborn just as he was? Did his wife also end up here, just as what he had hoped for?
Oh how he wished the person was truly her, his beloved wife!.
Liu Shi was still speaking, unaware of the inner turmoil her eldest nephew was experiencing. "I wonder what'll happen to that girl. Maybe she'll find a good match soon now that she's not as timid as she was before. But who knows, with her personality now, she might be hard to marry off!" She laughed lightly.
It was then that Qin Hongchuan, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, spoke up, trying to keep his tone casual. He wanted to confirm it. "What was her name again, Aunt?"
Liu Shi raised an eyebrow, teasing him with a grin. "Now, why are you asking, A'Chuan? Don't tell me you're interested in her! A fierce girl like that might give you a hard time."
He coughed awkwardly, feeling his face warm slightly. "No, nothing like that. It's just… the story sounds familiar. I think I might've heard something similar before. Just curious if it's the same person. When did her personality start to change?"
Liu Shi gave him a sly look, clearly enjoying his sudden interest. "A'Chuan, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you've got your eye on her!" She chuckled, shaking her head. "She is called 'Zhuxin', and as for her sudden change of personality? Hmm, let me think… It must've been at least 2 weeks ago, right after she recovered from her illness. I remember my sister-in-law saying that one day she just woke up and it was like she was a whole new person."
Qin Hongchuan's mind raced. Two weeks ago. He was reborn a week ago, but wife did leave him first at least several days before his death. Could it really be her? The idea that his wife had also been reincarnated—was it possible? His thoughts were interrupted by Liu Shi's voice.
"She wasn't like that before. When I saw her, she was so weak and timid, always looking down and hardly saying a word. Poor thing never had it easy, especially when they lived with the first branch of the family. But now…" Liu Shi paused, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "She's fierce as a tiger! Stood up to her cousins, even gave her aunts a piece of her mind. No one's going to push her around anymore, that's for sure."
Yu Shi listened quietly, seemingly uninterested in the specifics, but Qin Hongchuan could hardly contain his thoughts. It was all too similar. The sudden shift in personality, the fierceness, the strength… It was just like his Zhuxin.
Liu Shi stood up, brushing off her clothes. "Well, I should get going. I've talked enough for one day. Yu Shi, I'll see you tomorrow at the market, won't I?"
Yu Shi nodded politely, "Of course. Thank you for the visit, Sister-in-law."
Liu Shi waved goodbye and headed out of the courtyard, leaving A'Chuan and Yu Shi alone. As soon as Liu Shi disappeared, Yu Shi turned her attention to her son.
"Why are you suddenly interested in that girl from Zhengjian Village, A'Chuan?" she asked, giving him a curious look. She knew her son quite well. He was not the type to pay attention to gossip, especially about a young girl.
Qin Hongchuan hesitated for a moment, then gave her a half-smile. "I'm not, really. It's just… an interesting story, that's all."
Yu Shi raised an eyebrow but didn't press him further. "Well, don't get your hopes up. Even if she's changed, a girl like that might not be the easiest match."
Qin Hongchuan chuckled awkwardly, standing up and dusting off his pants. "Don't worry, Mother. I'm not thinking about marriage."
But deep down, the possibility of reuniting with his wife in this life stirred something in him. If it was really her, what would she be like now? Would she remember anything from their past life together?
As he helped his mother tidy up, his thoughts were no longer on the chores or the conversation they'd had. Instead, his mind was consumed with the idea of seeing this Wei Zhuxin for himself.
That night, as Qin Hongchuan lay on his bed, he stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The story Liu Shi had shared replayed in his mind over and over. He felt an undeniable pull towards Zhengjian Village. If this girl was indeed his wife, he had to find out.
There was no denying it—he needed to meet her. And soon.