Chapter 1: You Old Wretch

“Damn it, it hurts like hell!”
Sheng Wanqiu rubbed the aching back of her head, grimacing in pain. Her fingers came away sticky, smeared with blood.
It felt worse than being stabbed to death—this swollen bump was agony!
She remembered that the original owner had been pushed, hitting her head on a stone, and that’s how she’d died and Wanqiu had been reborn in her body. Such a favor had to be repaid, and the culprit who pushed her would never escape retribution.
Now, the throbbing pain in her head was maddening—damn it all!
Back in the apocalypse, she’d been starving, unable to find supplies, so she’d joined a raiding party to search for food.
Then, black snow fell from the sky. Everyone poisoned by it died—including her.
But miraculously, she came back to life, evolved into an extraordinary being, gifted with a photographic memory and rapid learning. Whenever she rubbed her hands together, she could summon lightning; snapping her fingers produced a tiny flame on her right index finger—more convenient than any lighter.
After the poisonous black snow, many evolved powers appeared. She was a fire wielder; others had water, wood, or earth abilities.
These people were soon controlled by a mysterious department. Because of her quick learning and remarkable abilities, she gradually revealed her leadership potential.
Ironically, her own roommate—a wood wielder—betrayed her. In her final moments, Wanqiu reacted swiftly, grabbing the traitor’s jade necklace and dragging her into the trap. Both were blown to pieces—dying once again.
Now, Wanqiu looked at the jade necklace in her hand. When she awoke in this girl’s body last night, she’d been clutching it.
She’d never eaten pork, but she’d seen pigs run; besides, her traitorous roommate had once bragged before her about the necklace’s magical properties—Wanqiu remembered everything.
Determined not to waste it, Wanqiu pressed the jade pendant to her wounded head, rubbing it gently. The rough bandage was still seeping blood—a practical use, if nothing else.
Suddenly, the jade pendant vanished from her hand, and a tiny red mark appeared on her left index finger. As she rubbed the mark, an entire space unfolded in her mind. Her consciousness could enter it directly. It wasn’t large, about three hundred square meters, with a vast green meadow and a floating stone basin resembling a washstand.
That heavy thing hovered in midair? Newton would rise from his grave to curse for three days and nights.
The basin brimmed with clear water, fragrant with the scent of grass. Wanqiu scooped the spring water and drank greedily.
Soon, the pain in her head disappeared—the swollen lump vanished entirely. She was healed. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, she left the crude bandage untouched.

Wanqiu snapped her left fingers, and a small stream of clear water spouted from her left index finger, showering the grass beside the basin. Instantly, a dandelion on the lawn sprouted, bloomed, and bore fruit—growing faster than a rocket launch.
The spring water could heal wounds, neutralize poison, and accelerate plant growth—truly wonderful! It meant she now possessed two abilities, plus a storage space. It was like swallowing a reassurance pill; nothing could faze her now.
Though the pain in her head was gone, she was still annoyed by the noise at the door.
Damn it—she was already starving, and now someone dared disturb her rest?
Very well, nobody would have an easy time today!
In the courtyard, a small, skinny boy of about six clung desperately to a frail woman’s hand, refusing to let go.
“Mother, please don’t leave! Don’t abandon Mu’er!”
“Mother, I beg you, don’t go. When I grow up, I’ll work hard and take care of you.” The boy cried so hard his face was covered in tears and snot, drawing sympathetic murmurs from the onlookers.
Old Sheng Second had just died, and Jiang Cui was already remarrying—couldn’t even wait a moment. What a sin!
Rumor had it that yesterday afternoon, Jiang Cui’s family came to discuss matters, and Qiu had gotten into a fight with her uncle, who pushed her to the ground, causing her head injury. She still hadn’t woken up.
“You little brat, let go! Your mother is no longer part of the Sheng family. Release her hand and stop delaying her chance at happiness!”
Jiang Dazhu stepped forward, trying to pry the boy’s hand away, but the boy bit him fiercely on the arm, making him howl in pain.
“You little beast, let go! You’re as worthless as your sister. Watch me beat you to death!”
Jiang Dazhu raised his fist to strike the boy, and some timid onlookers shut their eyes, unable to watch.
“Ouch! That hurts!”
Jiang Dazhu’s arm was suddenly pierced by a bamboo skewer, blood gushing out.
“Brother, brother, what’s wrong? Oh heavens, you’re bleeding!” Jiang Cui rushed over to check, seeing the blood streaming from her brother’s arm.
A bamboo skewer as thick as a chopstick had gone straight through his wrist, making Jiang Cui tremble with fear.

“Little brat, come here!”
“Oh, wait, Huai Mu, come to your sister!”
Sheng Wanqiu called to the boy, delighted after absorbing the original owner’s memories.
The original girl was a fiery, sharp-tongued soul, never willing to suffer a loss. In Green Mountain Village, she was famed for stirring up trouble to get food—climbing mountains, trees, even diving into rivers, always ready for a fight.
Whenever others came to complain, it was always Granny Sheng who defended her. Granny Sheng was even more fierce, often saying that girls must be bold not to be bullied. Sometimes she’d pat the girl’s head and say her granddaughter was most like her—more so than her own eldest daughter, Sheng Chunhua.
“Qiu, this is your uncle. How dare you injure him? Have you forgotten everything your mother taught you?” Jiang Cui scolded her, anger written on her face.
“Are you really our mother? Yesterday, he pushed me down and gave me this huge bump. Didn’t you see?”
“He just tried to hit Huai Mu—didn’t you see that, either? Are you blind?”
“I’ve never seen a mother who won’t defend her own children. You’re simply unfit to be a mother!”
Little Huai Mu hid behind Wanqiu, tears streaming down his face as he listened to her words.
“You useless girl, your mother is off to enjoy life. Stop spouting nonsense and fetch the bundle your mother prepared!”
An old woman with a long, mean face came over, berating Wanqiu.
“If I’m worthless, you’re the queen of worthlessness—always squeezing your daughter dry to support your two useless sons. How dare you show your face in public?”
“You old wretch, you’re the biggest tumor here! You should’ve died long ago!”
“Well said! Truly the best granddaughter!”
“Jiang Granny, you're shameless. My son just died, and you’re already rushing your daughter into remarriage!”
“You old wretch, you deserve to die!”