"It's alright, we're all family now. Next time your brother comes to visit, just have him come straight to the house. There's no need to be such a stranger."
As a mother-in-law, Sun Yufeng wasn't a harsh person. She could understand Shen Nian's desire to be close to her family.
"Mom, you're taking her side!"
When Lu Xinyue saw her own mother speaking so kindly to Shen Nian, she was immediately indignant. 'Has Mom already forgotten how this wicked sister-in-law treated our family on the wedding day?!'
"Quiet, just eat your food!"
Sun Yufeng looked at Lu Xinyue with a headache. Of course, she didn't want to scold her daughter, but she also didn't want the atmosphere at home to become awkward.
One was her daughter-in-law, the other her daughter. It wouldn't be right to favor either one!
"Mom, you yelled at me! You yelled at me for her! Hmph, I'm not eating anymore!"
After huffing this out, Lu Xinyue threw down her chopsticks, stood up, and left the dining room. She ran toward her room, the hint of a sob in her voice.
"This girl..."
Sun Yufeng watched Lu Xinyue's retreating back as she left in a huff, feeling completely helpless.
"Xiao Nian, don't mind her. Xinyue has always been like this. She'll be fine once she's had some time to think. You must be tired today, too. You should go back to your room and rest early."
"Thank you, Mom. I'll head back to my room, then."
As Shen Nian left, she glanced worriedly toward Lu Xinyue's room. However, she also knew that Lu Xinyue was different from Father Lu and Mrs. Lu; a few simple words wouldn't be enough to make her let go of her resentment.
She would just have to take things one step at a time.
Back in her room, Shen Nian took a bath first. Compared to the convenient plumbing systems of later generations, many things in the early 1990s were a real hassle.
Neither the Shen family nor the Lu Family lived in a big city. Even though the Lu Family's situation in town was a bit better than the Shen family's, from Shen Nian's perspective, bathing was inconvenient, using the toilet was inconvenient—everything was inconvenient!
'It seems that besides repaying my debt of gratitude, and for the sake of my own comfort, I'll have to do my best to improve the family's situation!'
But how could she change their current situation?
Shen Nian had heard people around her talk about all sorts of rebirth novels. In those stories, the protagonists would always have some kind of "golden finger" after being reborn. She had been reborn too, so where was her golden finger?
Or was it something she just hadn't discovered yet?
With this thought, Shen Nian focused her attention on herself. Her attire was simple—just a set of cotton clothes she had worn from the Shen family's home. It was certainly passable for the era, but to Shen Nian's eyes, accustomed to the styles of a later generation, it was hopelessly out of fashion.
However, now was clearly not the time to be concerned about that. Shen Nian's gaze was drawn to the small Jade Pendant around her neck.
She seemed to have worn this little Jade Pendant since she was very young, for many years straight.
In her last life, however, Qin Xueling had tricked her out of it. It wasn't until just before she died that Shen Nian managed to snatch it back from her.
But now, it was clear that the little Jade Pendant was still on her, not yet tricked away by Qin Xueling.
Shen Nian reached up and touched the small Jade Pendant on her neck, making a silent vow.
"This time, I absolutely will not let you be taken from me!"
The moment Shen Nian finished speaking, she felt the small Jade Pendant on her neck begin to radiate heat. It grew so hot that her hand, still holding it, could no longer bear the temperature, and she quickly let go.
The small Jade Pendant began to emit a dazzling light. Shen Nian reflexively squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, everything before her had changed.
Staring at the completely unfamiliar scene before her, Shen Nian's heart pounded wildly.
'Whoa, I was just thinking about a golden finger, and I really got one!'