Chapter 1: Kindred Spirits in Misfortune

"Da Bao, come here, let me give you a bath!"

In Peach Blossom Village, July’s sun scorched the vegetation to the brink of collapse, and the air simmered like a steamer. Xia Xiaoxue had just finished her shower when she ran into Chen Dabao, who was covered from head to toe in grime.

Chen Dabao clutched a small stick, poking here and there like a child.

At the sight of Chen Dabao, Xia Xiaoxue’s expression softened. She took his hand and led him into the bathroom.

"Da Bao, sit!"

"Let me wash you up!"

Chen Dabao obediently stripped off his clothes and sat quietly on the small stool, letting Xia Xiaoxue bathe him.

Chen Dabao was handsome and sturdy, the first student from Peach Blossom Village to be admitted to a prestigious university, with a bright future ahead of him.

But a year ago, tragedy struck his family. His parents died, and he was left all alone. Even his house was taken from him, reducing him to a pitiable state.

Even the children in the village bullied him.

"Xiaoxue, you’re so pretty, heh heh!"

Chen Dabao suddenly broke into a silly grin, staring straight at Xia Xiaoxue.

"You big fool, you’ve got nothing left but that mouth of yours!"

Xia Xiaoxue’s eyes crinkled in a gentle smile. The misfortune of Chen Dabao’s life mirrored her own lack of happiness.

Her parents, desperate for a bride price, married her off to Peach Blossom Village against her will.

Who would have thought her husband, Liu Qiang, would turn out to be an incorrigible gambler, doing nothing but gambling day and night. Sometimes, she wouldn’t see him for an entire day.

Married to a hopeless gambler, she was as much a pitiable soul as Chen Dabao.

After a brief wash, Xia Xiaoxue stood up and beckoned Chen Dabao toward her.

"Da Bao, come here, let me dry your hair!"

Just as Xia Xiaoxue was leading Chen Dabao into the house, the courtyard’s main gate was suddenly kicked open with impatient force.

Bang!

The heavy iron gate clanged against the wall as a swaggering man entered, his face dark with anger.

"Damn it, what rotten luck! I didn’t win a single hand!"

Cursing as he walked, the man made his way toward the small house.

"Oh no, Liu Qiang is back!"

Xia Xiaoxue’s heart leapt in panic. She had just bathed, and so had Chen Dabao, and they were both still in the same room. If Liu Qiang saw this, she’d never be able to explain it.

"Da Bao, hide under the bed and don’t make a sound!"

In a fluster, Xia Xiaoxue shoved Chen Dabao under the bed, hastily straightened her clothes, and sat at the head of the bed, pretending to dry her hair.

"Liu Qiang, why are you back so early?" she asked nervously as the man entered the room.

"What, is my coming home a problem for you?" Liu Qiang grabbed a teacup and gulped the tea down, eyeing Xia Xiaoxue with suspicion when he noticed the flush on her cheeks and her uneasy demeanor. "Bathing in broad daylight—what, feeling randy?"

"Don’t talk nonsense! It’s just too hot, so I rinsed off a bit!" Xia Xiaoxue replied hurriedly, her voice betraying her anxiety.

"Hmph, it better be just that. If you ever dare cheat on me, I’ll break your legs!" Liu Qiang spat out angrily and planted himself on the bed.

Xia Xiaoxue fell silent. Liu Qiang had a foul temper and would even beat her when drunk. She couldn’t fathom what misfortune had led her to marry such a man.

"Damn it, it’s all your fault, you bring nothing but bad luck! I spent over a hundred thousand on your bride price and now I can’t even enjoy a game of cards!" Liu Qiang cursed bitterly.

When he first married Xia Xiaoxue, he thought her beauty was worth the money. But once the money was gone and he had nothing left to gamble with, he changed his tune, wishing he’d kept the money for himself.

Cursing and grumbling, Liu Qiang’s gaze swept the room, calculating that perhaps he could sell this house of Chen Dabao’s for a tidy sum. The house was well built—it could fetch a hundred or two hundred thousand at least.

Suddenly, Liu Qiang’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a large T-shirt tossed in the corner of the room.

"Whose shirt is this?"

He strode over and snatched up the T-shirt. It wasn’t his. Instantly, his rage exploded.

"You whore, you dare cheat on me?"

"Where’s your lover hiding?"

Liu Qiang searched the room, and abruptly discovered Chen Dabao cowering under the bed.

Chen Dabao was naked, wearing a silly grin.

"Brother Qiang, Sister Xiaoxue is really pretty!"

"Pretty, my ass! You bastard, you dare sleep with my wife? I’ll kill you!" Liu Qiang roared, storming into the courtyard, grabbing a shovel, and charging back.

"Da Bao, run!" Xia Xiaoxue cried out in alarm, trying to intervene, but Liu Qiang shoved her aside and, raising the shovel high, brought it crashing down on Chen Dabao’s head.

"Ah!"

Chen Dabao let out a miserable scream and collapsed, limp.

Blood slowly pooled beneath him.

"Da Bao! Da Bao! Liu Qiang, you’ve killed him!" Xia Xiaoxue screamed, rushing to cradle Chen Dabao’s head in her arms, her eyes blazing with fury at Liu Qiang.

"Serves him right! Anyone who touches my wife deserves to die!" Liu Qiang spat, though his bravado faltered. After all, he’d just killed a man. These days, cheating on your husband wasn’t a crime, but murder could send you to the firing squad. "Xia Xiaoxue, listen up: Chen Dabao hit his head and died by accident, it’s nothing to do with me. If you dare say otherwise, you’ll regret it!"

Liu Qiang hastily washed the blood off the shovel, then rushed out the door in a panic to find his father.

No one noticed the flicker of a strange light in Chen Dabao’s eyes.