Chapter 3

Before Yuan Lingling took over the body, it was indeed the case.

Xie Guanglian would come to see her predecessor almost every day, not because he truly loved her, but because her predecessor was easy to deceive.

Initially, her predecessor was interested in Shen Caisheng not only because he had no parents but also for a very important reason—he was wealthy.

Not just her predecessor, but many eligible girls in the vicinity wanted to marry him once they knew of his existence.

Everyone said that Shen Caisheng’s name was well-chosen, as he lived up to it. His greatest advantage was just like his name—making money. Shen Caisheng had been lucky with money since he was a child. While others might trip and fall, he’d find cash on the ground.

Over the years, his family had thrived the most.

It was said that the Shen family used to be a poor household, known for being dirt poor in the area. But ever since Shen Caisheng was born, the family gradually began to thrive.

However, if making money were really that simple, Yuan Lingling would have changed her name to Yuan Youcai (meaning ‘Yuan Has Wealth’).

Yuan Lingling couldn’t speak for the past, but according to the book’s description, before the reform and opening up, many people made their fortunes through black market dealings. As the villain of the story, how could Shen Caisheng not be involved in such activities?

In fact, Yuan Lingling suspected that his current claim of being in the transportation business might actually be a cover for black market trading.

He was wealthy and not stingy, so he naturally gave a lot to her predecessor.

However, most of the money in her predecessor’s hands was either taken by her family or given to Xie Guanglian. Now, Yuan Lingling only had just a few bucks left, otherwise, she wouldn’t be stuck in the kitchen eating roasted sweet potatoes.

Her thoughts raced, but Yuan Lingling’s reaction only took a few seconds.

“No, he comes occasionally, always talking about money. I thought he was well-dressed, so I didn’t expect him to be so strapped for cash.” Yuan Lingling wasn’t sure how much Shen Caisheng knew, but it was true that her predecessor had given away money, so she had to provide an explanation.

“I lent him some money a few times before, so as not to appear stingy. But he keeps coming back, and now he even asks me for travel money when he goes on trips. If his family is wealthy, why is he like this?”

As she spoke, Yuan Lingling even puffed her cheeks in frustration. By the time she realized it, Shen Caisheng’s gaze was already fixed on her.

She quickly straightened her face. Shen Caisheng’s eyes were too intense, as if they could see right through a person. But this was her old habit, and no matter how many times she tried to correct it, it didn’t change. She decided to let it be, as she couldn’t pretend to be her predecessor in every situation.

She wasn’t sure if Shen Caisheng had noticed something, but he kept staring at her.

“Is… there something on my face?” Yuan Lingling’s heart pounded as she reached up to touch her face.

Shen Caisheng’s gaze shifted downward to the side of her nose and said, “There’s a bit of dust.”

Yuan Lingling reacted after a moment and quickly wiped her face with her hand. After two months of care, her hands were much fairer than before, though she was still just skin and bones.

“Instead of lending money to others, you should keep it for yourself and eat more.”

After saying this, Shen Caisheng felt it was unnecessary and changed the subject. “Keep the hen for eggs. We’ll make a stew for dinner.”

He wanted to say more, but the gossip from the neighbours flashed through his mind, and he ultimately didn’t speak further.

Yuan Lingling saw it as a warning. She didn’t dare to retort, nor was it necessary. She silently nodded and then casually picked up the hen that was still clucking nearby. Yuan Lingling was surprised—it was quite heavy.

She had grown up in the city and had never kept such animals. Did Shen Caisheng mean for her to keep chickens? In this freezing weather, they couldn’t keep them in the yard, could they? What if the chickens froze to death?

Just as she was about to ask, Shen Caisheng walked past her wordlessly and expressionless and went straight outside.

Yuan Lingling pouted. She didn’t want to go out and feel the pressure he brought, so she continued to huddle on the stool, basking in the stove’s faint warmth.

But not long after, a series of clattering sounds came from outside. Yuan Lingling stepped to the door and saw Shen Caisheng working with a stack of wooden planks he had found somewhere.

His slender fingers pinched the ink line and gave it a light flick, leaving a thin black line on the wooden board. Following the line, he sawed the board apart, then nails and hammers came into play. In no time, small pieces of wood were pieced together by him.

"Do you need my help?" After admiring for a while, Yuan Lingling finally stepped forward. Standing around doing nothing wasn't helpful, even though she had no idea what he was doing.

To her surprise, Shen Caisheng didn't even lift his eyelids. "No, you take care of your own things."

Take care of her own things? What did she have to do?

In the few days since she arrived in this world, the most she had done was sleep and eat. Thinking of this, Yuan Lingling couldn't help but yawn again.

Pregnant women tend to be sleepy, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Seeing that Shen Caisheng had no intention of speaking further, Yuan Lingling simply went back to her room to catch up on sleep.

Having just eaten her fill, as soon as she lay down on the heated bed, she felt drowsiness take over and knew nothing more, with the clattering sounds outside becoming a lullaby.

When she woke up two hours later, she half-opened her eyes and listened carefully, hearing no movement. Only then did Yuan Lingling slowly get out from under the quilt. She didn't see Shen Caisheng in either the inner room or the living room, and she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Opening the door to the living room, a chilly breeze swept in, and Yuan Lingling nearly stepped back inside. But out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of half a head outside the courtyard, and a wave of irritation washed over her—it was Xie Guanglian, as persistent as ever.

Climbing over the courtyard wall, how bold!

Xie Guanglian obviously saw Yuan Lingling too, waving frantically at her. His silly look made Yuan Lingling want to smack him with a shovel.

Yuan Lingling didn't want to deal with him, but she felt that dragging it on wasn't the solution. It was better to just cut ties outright.

Still groggy from just waking up, she pulled her hands into her sleeves, opened the door to the living room, and quickly walked toward the edge of the courtyard.

As she moved, she caught a glimpse of the locked gate to the courtyard out of the corner of her eye. Yuan Lingling's steps halted. She turned her head and looked around—had Shen Caisheng not gone out?

Wasn't this cramping her style?

But since she had already walked into the courtyard, it would seem odd not to respond to Xie Guanglian now.

"Lingling, what's going on? I've been waiting here for you for so long."

Outside the courtyard, someone had planted an osmanthus tree. This tree wasn't particularly cold-resistant, and it was rare in the north. But this one was growing quite well, already taller than the courtyard wall, making it a perfect aid for thieves.

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