The sun blazed fiercely in the sky, relentlessly baking the earth. Heat waves rolled across the land.

The grasses along the roadside all seemed to be asleep, each bending over with drooping heads, looking dejected. The incessant chirping of cicadas only added to the feeling of restlessness.

Chu Qingzhi was sweating profusely, feeling like she was being sunbaked into nothingness. She listlessly sat on the donkey cart, being pulled by a young man wearing a straw hat, heading towards Chujiacun village.

"Father, please stop for a moment. I want to drink some water."

Chu Qingzhi's voice was hoarse from shouting, she really couldn't take it anymore. Seeing a well over there, she hurriedly shouted to stop.

Chu Rong drove the donkey cart under the shade of a tree, "Qingzhi, you wait here for a while, I'll go get some water."

After finishing his words, he picked up a bucket and a basin and hurried towards the well.

Chu Qingzhi was too hot to resist, so she obediently agreed.

Chu Rong quickly brought back the water. He didn't drink a single drop himself, and he carried the bucket with the basin in hand as he returned.

The bucket was placed in front of the donkey, and a basin was offered to Chu Qingzhi. "Drink,"

Chu Qingzhi felt like a fish stranded on shore. After drinking some water, she finally felt alive again.

I gave the basin to Chu Rong and added, "Thank you."

Chu Rong wasn't disgusted. He held the basin and drank all the remaining water. After the donkey finished drinking, he continued on his journey.

A faint, slow rolling sound echoed along the road. After a while, an incense stick's worth of time had passed, and they finally arrived at Chu Family Village.

The donkey cart stopped in front of the courtyard gate of a house with blue brick and tile roof. Chu Rong helped Chu Qingzhi down, then took down the bucket and basin and gave them to Chu Qingzhi to carry, and then shouted loudly, "Third Uncle, I'm here to return the donkey cart."

Uncle Three, in his fifties, was tall and handsome. Hearing the sound, he hurried out, took the reins, and looked at Chu Qingzhi. "Welcome home?"

Chu Rong hurriedly said to Chu Qingzhi, "Quickly call Third Grandpa."

Chu Qingzhi is now considered a tiger fallen to the plain, a dragon stranded on the shore. She can only obediently call out, "Third Grandfather."

Uncle San nodded. "Chu Rong, it's hot weather today. You should quickly take your daughter home. We can talk about anything later."

Chu Rong respectfully said, "Yes, Third Uncle."

Chu Rong took the bucket and basin from Chu Qingzhi's hands, then hurried home with her.

These are a few simple thatched huts with a small courtyard outside. It's kept very clean, showing that the owner is very capable.

When he reached the entrance to the courtyard, Chu Rong preemptively said, "Qingzhi, our family isn't as good as yours. Don't mind us."

Chu Qingzhi nodded and said nothing.

Hearing Chu Rong's voice, a string of people came out of the house.

They are Chu Rong's wife, Li Shi, her parents, and eight children.

Yes, you counted right, there are eight of them. Including Chu Qingzhi, that makes nine children altogether.

Chu Qingzhi, “...”

Chu Rong introduced everyone to Chu Qingzhi, who politely greeted each person one by one. Then, they all went into the house together.

Li shi pulled Chu Qingzhi to sit beside her, her eyes red. "Qingzhi, you've suffered so much. No matter what happens from now on, your parents will never send you away again."

Chu Qingzhi was the fifth child in the Chu family. She was fifteen years old this year. The year she was born, an old master from the county town came to the village to collect grain. Seeing that the Chu family had many children and his own son hadn't had a child for many years, he asked them if they were willing to give him one of their children.

At that time, the family was truly too poor, so Chu Rong and Li agreed.

They didn't want to abandon their children, but they thought that the children would have a better life living with a wealthy family than staying with them. This way, it would also alleviate some of the burden on their household. After weighing all these factors, they agreed.

Fifteen years passed, and the old master's wife suddenly became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She no longer wanted Chu Qingzhi.

Actually, that daughter-in-law didn't like Chu Qingzhi at all.

Every time I saw Chu Qingzhi, I felt like my father was deliberately reminding me of the fact that I couldn't have children. Over time, I developed extreme disgust for Chu Qingzhi.

As soon as she had a child of her own, she immediately wanted to give the child away. Naturally, her in-laws listened to their daughter-in-law, so they informed Chu Rong to go and pick up the child.

Chu Rong went to pick up the person the next day.

Thus came the scene we just witnessed.

Chu Qingzhi was particularly unaccustomed to this. She silently practiced it twice in her heart before saying, "Mother, I'm fine."

Chu Rong's eldest son, Chu Yi suddenly said, "Fifth sister, I have cooled some sugar water for you. Would you like to drink it?"

Sugar is a precious thing, one penny silver one jin, many people can't afford to buy it. The sugar at home was bought during last year's Chinese New Year, and everyone is reluctant to eat it.

Chu Qingzhi wanted to refuse, but this was a gesture of goodwill from the new home. If she refused, it would mean she didn't like it here.

Then she nodded and said, "Thank you, brother."

Chu Yi happily said, "I'll go get it for you right away." This younger sister is so polite.

Wumei has always been separated from them, and now that she's finally back, we must treat her well and make her feel a sense of belonging as soon as possible.

Chu Qingzhi drank all the sugar water in one gulp, then asked, "Is there a room? I want to sleep for a while?"

Li hurriedly said, “Yes, yes, yes, come with Mother, it’s already prepared for you.”

Chu Er was a child, and hurriedly said, "Fifth Sister, you sleep with Second Sister. There aren't many rooms in the house. If you're not used to it, Second Sister can sleep on the floor."

Chu Qingzhi looked at the large, though not wealthy, family and thought, "Well, we don't have to sleep on the floor. We can share a bed."

Chu Er nodded happily, "Second sister sleeps very well, she won't bother you."

Chu Qingzhi nodded, "Hmm."

Coming into the room, Chu Qingzhi was taken aback. The bed was only a little wider than a single bed. Two people could barely fit on it, and they would have to sleep sideways...This is really bad.