Chapter 4: Action Changes Fate

The night was quiet.

Only the cold wind howled outside the window…

The wind felt like sharp knives, scraping painfully against her face.

Li Yaqin suddenly opened her eyes; a glint of light flashed in the darkness.

Li Yaqin got up to go to the outhouse.

Just then, Li Yuehua's voice came from outside: "Fifth Sister, are you in there? Why are you taking so long?"

Li Yaqin took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, and said, "Eldest Sister, my stomach hurts a little. You go back first, I'll be fine in a bit."

She lingered in the outhouse for a while longer before opening the door and going out.

Li Yuehua stood at the door, watching her with a hint of doubt in her eyes, but ultimately said nothing, simply turning and going back inside.

Li Yaqin followed Li Yuehua, making an excuse to check on her younger brother, Li Xiaoyong, and also went inside.

Watching her retreating figure, Li Yuehua felt a strange unease well up inside her, but she shook her head, telling herself she was overthinking it.

Li Yuehua, the most beautiful girl in the village, had almond-shaped eyes that seemed to speak volumes, a delicate nose, cherry lips, snow-white skin, and a tall, curvaceous figure.

She was the apple of her family's eye, pampered by her parents and indulged by her brother. From childhood, she had been cherished and pampered.

Li Yaqin returned to the kang (heated brick bed), her mind already plotting her next move.

Tomorrow, she would retrieve the letter Li Dayong had sent to Li Yuehua and burn it at the village entrance.

Li Yaqin wanted to ensure that Li Yuehua and Li Dayong were locked in a deadlock.

At the very least, she would destroy their relationship; this was the first step of her plan.

As for herself, she would leave Li Family Village.

Before that, she had something even more important to do: find a trustworthy person to write a letter of denunciation.

Li Yaqin thought to herself: Li Dayong, that blockhead, only married her in his past life because he saved a woman from drowning and was then falsely accused.

In this life, she couldn't let her eldest sister find out and prepare to take the blame.

Li Yuehua received the letter; she had no choice but to either get married, have an abortion, or have Li Yaqin take the blame.

Li Yaqin plotted to leave Li Family Village as soon as possible.

She thought of her second brother, far away in the First Military Region of the Northwest.

In her previous life, her second brother married the cousin of a comrade-in-arms from the military region. When his wife gave birth, no one in the family went to help.

His sister-in-law's younger sister, Li Pandi, went to help, and later even saved a military officer and married him.

She heard that the officer's family was wealthy; even though Li Pandi couldn't have a child, they gave her a house and 100,000 yuan as a settlement allowance.

So much money in the 1970s! It was truly enviable!

In this life, she would serve her second sister-in-law during her postpartum period, stealing Li Pandi's chance to marry a soldier.

She didn't need to be like Li Pandi, forced to marry an officer.

She only needed to serve her second sister-in-law during her postpartum period, seize the opportunity, find a reliable soldier in the military region to marry, and her life wouldn't be too bad.

As long as she could choose a good father for her child, acquire resources, and arm herself,

Li Yaqin could live a relatively stable life, free from worries about food and drink, completely changing her destiny!

A glint of ambition flashed in her eyes; she wanted a life of abundance. This arduous rural life was unbearable!

Even in this era, Li Yaqin could live a good life, well-fed and well-clothed.

The night grew deeper.

The cold wind still howled outside the window, as if playing the prelude to her plans.

Li Yaqin closed her eyes, a cold smile playing on her lips. She couldn't wait to see.

How would her fate change when the sun rose tomorrow?

Li Yaqin lay on the kang (heated brick bed), eyes closed, but images flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

She thought of the original Li Yaqin, the timid and submissive woman, bullied by everyone.

The one who was ultimately driven to despair and died tragically—she couldn't afford to suffer the same fate.

Her fists clenched unconsciously, her nails digging deep into her palms, causing sharp pain.

No, she wouldn't repeat the same mistakes. She would change her destiny.

She would make those who had hurt her pay the price!

The image of Li Yuehua's pure and beautiful face flashed through her mind again.

Li Yuehua, her dear sister, the instigator of her tragic end—she had to either completely suppress her,

or distance herself entirely. The protagonist was difficult to kill, so she could only avoid direct confrontation and deal with her slowly.

The protagonist's immortality was no joke; as cannon fodder, she had no ability to defeat the protagonist.

The only one with a chance to defeat the protagonist was the main antagonist, and she believed that if the main antagonist won, they would become the protagonist.

Only those who lost became the main antagonist.

A ruthless glint flashed in Li Yaqin's eyes.

In this life, she would not let Li Yuehua succeed again!

She thought of Li Dayong, the man Li Yuehua longed for.

The man who was infatuated with Li Yuehua in the book—Li Yaqin sneered!

She then thought of Li Zhaodi, that lucky one.

A smug smile played on Li Yaqin's lips.

She wasn't some saint; if she had a chance to change her fate, she'd seize it.

As for other people's opportunities, they could only blame their own incompetence.

As for stealing, please, everyone looks out for themselves!

Why sacrifice a friend to save yourself? If it would make her life better, why give up?

She opened her eyes, her gaze filled with determination.

Li Yaqin was going to put her plan into action, step by step.

She rolled over, buried her head in the blankets, and took a deep breath.

Tomorrow would be a new day, the beginning of a new life for her!

As long as she worked hard enough, and was ruthless enough, she would definitely achieve her goal and become a person of high status!

The night was as dark as ink, and the wind was biting.

Li Family Village was shrouded in silence, broken only by the occasional bark of a dog.

Inside Li Yaqin's room, a turbulent undercurrent was stirring.

Her heart was filled with calculation and aspirations for the future.

She was Li Yaqin, possessing a golden touch, ambition, and a thirst for revenge!

She was determined to change her tragic fate; she was certain she would succeed!

She would show everyone that she, Li Yaqin, would live a better life than anyone else!

Within Li Yaqin's heart burned a flame, growing ever stronger, never to be extinguished!

The wind was biting cold, the night as dark as ink.

Li Yaqin tightened her thin clothes and carefully scaled the low wall at the village entrance.

Her heart pounded, her rapid breathing echoing in her ears.

"I have to hurry, I can't be seen," she silently encouraged herself.

Li Yaqin tiptoed towards the village entrance, each step cautious.

The cold night wind made her shiver, but she ignored it.

Her eyes were fixed on the road ahead, waiting for that familiar figure to appear.

"The postman, come quickly!" she whispered anxiously, rubbing her hands together to try and ward off the chill.

Suddenly, a muffled thud came from the darkness, followed by a cry of pain.

Li Yaqin jolted, holding her breath.

"Did the postman fall?" she wondered, her heart racing.

Li Yaqin crouched behind a bush by the roadside, holding her breath.

After a moment, all was silent except for the howling of the cold wind.

“The opportunity has arrived!” she thought with secret delight, moving silently like a nimble cat towards the direction of the sound.

By the faint starlight, she saw the postman lying on the ground and letters scattered everywhere.

Li Yaqin quickly crouched down, hiding in a corner about 10 meters away from the postman, and used her spatial abilities to collect all the mail.

With her gloved hands, she began rummaging through the cloth bag. Of course, one had to be prepared for wrongdoing; otherwise, what would she do without leaving evidence?

“These are them!” she grabbed several envelopes.

Li Yaqin stepped aside and took out matches from her pocket.

Her hands trembled slightly with excitement, and it took her several attempts to light the match.

Just as the sparks were about to ignite the letters, the moon suddenly peeked out from behind the clouds.

Silver moonlight spilled onto the ground, illuminating the envelopes in Li Yaqin's hands.

“Wait!” She abruptly withdrew her hand, carefully examining the handwriting on the envelopes by the moonlight.

“Li Yuehua…Li Yuehua…” she murmured, finally finding that familiar name.

Li Yaqin quickly tore open the envelope and skimmed through the contents.

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Li Yuehua’s boyfriend, Li Dayong, had been forced to marry her after saving someone he happened to be passing by. The letter was a breakup letter.

Heh, scumbag and bitch.

“Li Yuehua, your good days are over,” she whispered, setting the letter ablaze.

The flames consumed the paper, illuminating the complex expression on Li Yaqin’s face.

She watched silently as the letter turned to ashes, then stuffed the remaining envelope back into her cloth bag and placed the bag back beside the postman.

She buried the ashes on the ground.

She put the leaf gloves she was wearing back into her spatial storage, to burn them when she cooked breakfast in the morning.

“Time to go back,” Li Yaqin took a deep breath and turned to head towards the village.