Chapter 67: Embarking on a Treasure Hunt Deep in the Mountains

The affair between Zhang Lian and Three Scabs became the talk of the village, stirring up a storm of gossip. By the next day, everyone knew. The villagers were all astonished, unable to fathom why Zhang Lian would become involved with someone like Three Scabs.

Chu Ling was in the middle of breakfast when the news reached her. Shocked, she dropped her chopsticks. This hadn’t happened in her previous life. Zhang Lian had always been ambitious; her sights were set on Chen Guang, that scoundrel. In her past life, the two had even conspired to cheat Chu Ling out of her property, leading to her tragic death.

Someone as selfish as Zhang Lian couldn’t possibly be interested in Three Scabs, let alone sneak out in the middle of the night to meet him. There had to be something else at play—unless Zhang Lian had been up to no good and someone caught her in the act, turning the tables on her.

Chu Ling thought carefully. The incident had happened by the river behind the mountain, near where Lin Xiaodou’s cabin stood. Could it be Lin Xiaodou who retaliated?

This possibility left Chu Ling with mixed feelings. Lin Xiaodou was truly a mysterious figure. She had a delicate, sweet face, yet her actions were cold and ruthless. For reasons she couldn’t explain, Chu Ling had never had a good impression of Lin Xiaodou. After all, she was the one who had been reborn, destined by fate. Someone like Lin Xiaodou shouldn’t exist in her world—yet not only did she exist, she seemed to have stolen her aura of destiny.

Deep down, Chu Ling felt a trace of resentment. But since she and Lin Xiaodou had barely interacted, she hadn’t dwelled on it. Now, however…

The wretched Zhang Lian, whom she had wanted to take revenge on herself, had been dealt with by Lin Xiaodou instead. It should have been satisfying, and by rights she ought to be grateful. Yet Chu Ling felt no joy at all. Instead, a vague sense of dissatisfaction welled up within her. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be! Zhang Lian should have been punished by her own hand!

“Wife, what are you thinking about? Hurry and eat before your food gets cold,” a deep voice called from her side. It was her husband, Han Guoqiang.

Suppressing her impatience, Chu Ling smiled at him. “Alright, Guoqiang, I’ll eat now.”

Han Guoqiang said, “I’ll head out to work after breakfast. You don’t need to go—the sun’s too hot outside, I don’t want you getting heatstroke.”

“Okay, you go ahead,” she replied.

“Alright then.” Han Guoqiang set down his bowl and chopsticks and reminded her, “Remember to turn Mom over every hour. Her back’s bad, she can’t lie on one side for too long. And keep an eye on my sister—she’s not in her right mind and tends to run off. Also, make sure to wash the pile of clothes in the room before they start to smell.”

Chu Ling pressed her lips together and nodded. “I know.”

Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Since she’d chosen Guoqiang, she had to accept his family as well. Enduring a little hardship was no big deal; a few years of this would pass soon enough.

Han Guoqiang patted her head. “Thank you, dear. Once you finish these chores, take a break and don’t tire yourself out.”

His gentle words filled Chu Ling’s heart with sweetness. “Don’t worry. With me at home, you don’t need to be concerned.”

After he left, Chu Ling set to work. She washed the dishes and scrubbed the kitchen. Once the kitchen was spotless, she swept the courtyard, which was covered in chicken droppings. As soon as she set the broom down, her mother-in-law called out, complaining of back pain. Chu Ling hurried in to help her turn over.

She barely had a moment to catch her breath before her sister-in-law appeared out of nowhere, clutching a dead rat and about to put it in her mouth. Startled, Chu Ling shouted for her to drop it. The girl wouldn’t listen, bolting outside instead. Fearing she might get lost, Chu Ling chased after her, running until she was drenched in sweat before finally catching her and locking her in the house.

The entire morning vanished in a flash. Seeing that it was nearly noon, Chu Ling hurried to the kitchen to prepare lunch. When Han Guoqiang returned from work, he found steaming hot dishes already set on the table.

“Wife, come eat. You’ve worked hard,” Han Guoqiang said.

Chu Ling smiled. “It’s nothing. I’d do anything for you.”

Han Guoqiang ate with a satisfied smile at the corner of his lips.

…

While the reborn heroine was lost in her romantic thoughts, Lin Xiaodou, who had crossed over from another world, was counting her secret stash of treasures. At noon, she’d made a pot of spicy pickled fish, and it turned out delicious. When the little golden monkey returned the basket, she found a pearl the size of a fist inside.

Lin Xiaodou was stunned. This luminous pearl was a treasure from the ancient palaces, worth a king’s ransom. That Zhou Qinglang would be so generous! Clearly, he was extremely pleased with today’s dish.

Lin Xiaodou was overjoyed, cradling the luminous pearl and admiring it. It was flawless, smooth, and radiant—a true marvel.

She rolled the pearl across her face. Ah—cool and silky, incredibly pleasant!

The little golden monkey stood nearby, blinking its round eyes as it watched her. Later, when it went back, it described Lin Xiaodou’s excitement in detail. Zhou Qinglang, lounging on a stone bench, tapped his long fingers on the table. “If she likes luminous pearls so much, send her one every day.”

After all, the cellar was packed with dozens of crates, each full of luminous pearls—perhaps over a thousand in total. At one a day, he could keep sending them for years.

“Wah wah wah!” The little golden monkey suddenly protested. It had once wanted to play with a pearl, but its master hadn’t allowed it. Now, the master was sending one to Xiaodou every day. Unfair! Hmph!

It pouted, pretending to be angry. Zhou Qinglang, who had raised it from infancy, knew exactly what it was thinking. “Luminous pearls are heavy. Be careful when you play with them—don’t drop one on your face.”

Last time, the monkey had dropped a pearl on its own face and cried, which was why he’d stopped it from playing with them.

“Okay!” The little golden monkey grasped the pearl with its furry paws, swinging back and forth in delight. Suddenly, it had an idea. It leapt into Zhou Qinglang’s arms and pressed the pearl against his face.

Though he couldn’t see, Zhou Qinglang felt the sudden coolness on his cheek and smiled helplessly. “You little rascal…”

The monkey lay in his arms, baring its white teeth in a wide, happy grin.

…

So the days passed, and another week went by. The September corn harvest was finally finished. The brigade leader gave everyone two days off to rest.

There were many treasures hidden deep in the mountains. Though Lin Xiaodou had been in the countryside for some time, she’d been busy with chores and hadn’t yet explored. She decided to take the little jumping spider and venture into the mountains.

Zhou Qinglang expressed his wish to go as well. After ten days of recuperation, his injuries were nearly healed, and he wanted to stretch his legs. He was skilled, carried a dagger, and wouldn’t be a burden, so Lin Xiaodou agreed.

If both of them were going, the little golden monkey certainly wouldn’t be left behind.

And so, the two of them, with their two animal companions, set off on an adventure to seek treasures in the depths of the mountains…