Li Qingyun sat at the wooden table, her hands trembling as she held a bowl of steaming rice porridge. The warmth seeped into her fingers, grounding her in reality. She wasn't dreaming. She was truly back in her twelve-year-old body.
Her mother, Madam Zhou, bustled around the kitchen, scooping stir-fried vegetables onto a shared plate. Across the table, her younger brothers, Li Zhihao and Li Ming, were already devouring their food, their cheerful chatter filling the small home.
Qingyun's eyes welled up as she gazed at them. In her past life, these two boys had suffered terribly after their family's downfall. Zhihao, once a lively child, had been sold as a laborer and died of illness before reaching adulthood. Ming, her youngest brother, had been taken away by creditors. His fate had remained unknown.
But now, they were here—alive, happy, and safe.
"Jiejie, why are you staring at us like that?" Li Ming asked, tilting his head curiously.
Qingyun quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. "Nothing, I'm just happy to see you two eating well."
Madam Zhou laughed. "This silly girl. It's just porridge and vegetables. When we have more money, I'll make you something even better."
More money. That had always been the problem.
Her father, Li Shengtian, worked tirelessly in the fields, yet they barely earned enough to survive. In her past life, they had been honest and hardworking, but they were too trusting—allowing greedy relatives and corrupt village officials to take advantage of them.
But this time… this time would be different.
She clenched her fists beneath the table. I will not let history repeat itself. I will protect my family and change our fate.
Memories of the Past and the Future
As she ate, memories of her previous life flooded her mind in sharp clarity. It was as if she had lived two lifetimes at once—one filled with suffering, and now, this new chance to make things right.
Her rebirth had brought back knowledge her past self never had. She now understood the true value of money, how to run a business, and most importantly, the hidden potential of the pearl bracelet on her wrist.
In her past life, she had never unlocked its secrets. But this time, she had seen it glow when she awoke.
She needed to test its power as soon as possible.
After breakfast, Qingyun quickly helped her mother clean up before stepping outside. The morning sun cast a golden glow over their small courtyard. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of damp soil and growing crops.
She glanced around, making sure no one was watching, then slipped behind the house where a small, abandoned shed stood. This place had been used for storage, but it would serve as the perfect hiding spot.
Taking a deep breath, she rolled up her sleeve and examined the pearl bracelet. It was made of smooth, milky-white pearls, each one perfectly round. It looked delicate, but she knew it held a great secret.
In her past life, she had found it near the riverbank, thinking it was just a beautiful trinket. But it had responded to her blood when she was dying.
Does that mean… it needs my blood to activate?
Her heart pounded as she took a small, sharp stone and pricked her fingertip. A tiny drop of blood welled up.
The moment it touched the pearls, the bracelet flashed with a soft light.
A strange force pulled at her, and before she could react, her vision blurred.
A Space Beyond Reality
When her sight cleared, Qingyun gasped.
She was no longer in the shed. Instead, she stood in an expansive field filled with rich, fertile soil stretching endlessly before her. A crystal-clear spring bubbled nearby, its waters shimmering with an unnatural glow. In the distance, a small wooden hut stood, simple but sturdy.
"This… this is…"
She had heard stories of mystical farming spaces in old legends, but she had never imagined possessing one herself!
Stepping forward, she knelt and ran her fingers through the soil. It was soft, warm, and bursting with energy—completely different from the dry, rocky land her family struggled to farm in the real world.
She approached the spring and dipped her hand into the water. It was cool and refreshing, and as soon as she touched it, she felt a surge of vitality through her body.
A sudden thought struck her.
If I grow crops here… will they be different from the ones outside?
Excitement bubbled within her. She had a farming space—one that could change her family's entire future!
But before she could experiment, her surroundings blurred again.
The next moment, she was back in the shed, her heart racing.
I can enter and leave freely… as long as I have the bracelet.
A slow, determined smile spread across her lips.
In her past life, she had struggled to survive. But now?
She had a powerful tool that would help her rise above those who had wronged her.
This time, I will not be weak. I will use this farming space to change my fate.
With renewed determination, Li Qingyun stood up.
Her journey had just begun.
Would you like me to continue with Chapter 3: Protecting Her Family This Time?