Chapter 1: The Transmigration and the Push
The last thing Lin Yuer remembered was the feeling of suffocating darkness. The betrayal of her husband, Zhang Hui, had cut deep, the divorce agreement sealing the pain she couldn't escape. Li Xian, the stepsister who had wormed her way into Zhang Hui's life, had been the final blow. She had nothing left to hold onto, no reason to keep fighting. The cold river was her end—her escape from a life that had torn her apart. But death was not an escape, and instead of finding peace, Lin Yuer found herself pulled into a void.
The world as she knew it dissolved into nothingness. Memories flickered like lightning in the dark: her childhood, her work in engineering, the coldness of her marriage, and finally, the moment of death—the push that sent her tumbling into the river. She felt her body being tugged away from the broken pieces of her former life, and then… nothing.
When Lin Yuer opened her eyes again, she was no longer in the world she had known. The world around her was unfamiliar—simple, quiet, and impossibly far from the buzzing streets of her old life. Wooden walls, faint sunlight filtering through a thatched roof, the scent of herbs and earthy clay mixed in the air—it was a world that felt ancient. The warmth of a modest room surrounded her, and for a moment, she thought she might still be dreaming. But as her senses returned to her, so did the shocking reality.
She was not in her own body. She was in someone else's. A strange, unfamiliar feeling surged through her, as if her mind and body were at war, trying to reconcile who she was with who she had become. The memories of Li Yue began flooding her—pieces of her new life.
Li Yue had been adopted by Aunt Liu, an elderly woman in this small village called Lushui, nestled in the middle of mountains. Lin Yuer's new identity was that of a young woman whose life was shaped by the kindness of Aunt Liu, but also by secrets hidden in the shadows of the village.
The memories were incomplete, fragmented. Lin Yuer could feel the confusion and helplessness of Li Yue in her final moments—the days leading up to her tragic death. But there was something more pressing. The most vivid memory that tugged at her mind was the moment before her death—Li Xian, her adopted cousin, pushing her into the swift river.
The Betrayal: Li Xian's Greed
Li Xian, with her beauty and manipulative nature, had always been a shadow in Li Yue's life. Aunt Liu had always favored Li Yue over her, treating her like a daughter, while Li Xian, the blood relative, remained a jealous, bitter presence. Over the years, Lin Yuer's memories revealed that Li Xian had harbored a deep resentment, one born from years of comparison and neglect.
Li Yue had been raised as a daughter, while Li Xian was always the outsider, the one who felt overlooked. But when Aunt Liu grew ill and the estate began to be divided, Li Xian's jealousy reached its peak. Lin Yuer realized that Li Xian had pushed her into the river during a stormy night, knowing full well that the raging waters would be the end of her. It wasn't a mere accident—it was a deliberate act of selfishness and greed. Li Xian had seen Li Yue as a threat to her inheritance and had decided to remove that threat in the most final way possible.
Lin Yuer's heart burned with rage at the injustice, but there was no time to dwell on the past. This was her second chance, and she was not going to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The New Life
As Lin Yuer absorbed the memories of Li Yue's short, tragic life, she began to piece together her new surroundings. The room she woke up in was small but cozy, furnished simply with a low wooden bed and a table cluttered with herbs and old scrolls. A gentle breeze slipped through the open window, bringing with it the scent of freshly tilled soil and the faint call of birds. It was peaceful, but it was also primitive, a stark contrast to the fast-paced, concrete world she had once known.
She pushed herself up from the bed, her limbs feeling stiff and unfamiliar. As she stood, she saw a small mirror in the corner of the room. She approached it slowly and looked at her reflection. The face staring back at her was young, soft, and delicate—a face that didn't belong to the hardened woman she once was. The face of Li Yue, whose body she now inhabited. But Lin Yuer knew that beneath this innocent appearance was the mind of a modern woman, a woman who had lived through betrayal, heartache, and ambition. And now, she had been given a new chance at life.
The memories of Li Yue's life in the village were hazy, but Lin Yuer knew she needed to blend in quickly if she was to survive. She needed to understand the customs of the village, the people, and how to protect herself. The last thing she wanted was to be vulnerable again.
The Village of Lushui and Its People
Lushui was a small, isolated village, surrounded by lush, forested mountains. The villagers lived simple lives, relying on farming, fishing, and barter for their survival. There was no concept of coins or bills like in Lin Yuer's old world. Here, silver and barter were the ways people exchanged goods, and Aunt Liu had a modest reputation in the village for being a skilled herbalist and healer.
As Lin Yuer began to make sense of her new life, the villagers' kindness began to reveal itself. An old woman named Grandma Wu brought her a bowl of rice porridge the next morning, her wrinkled face warm and filled with curiosity. Lin Yuer could feel the genuine concern in the way the villagers looked at her, as if they knew something about her past that she didn't. Grandma Wu was one of the first to speak of Li Yue's sudden disappearance, her eyes full of unspoken words.
"Li Yue, dear, you've been ill," Grandma Wu said softly, her voice lined with worry. "But don't fret, we'll take care of you."
The village head, a man named Zhou Wei, was another key figure. He had a quiet authority and watched Lin Yuer with a mixture of suspicion and interest. He was the one who would oversee most of the village's transactions and disputes. From what Lin Yuer gathered, Zhou Wei was an important ally, one who could help her navigate the politics of the village, especially when it came to dealing with people like Li Xian.
As the days passed, Lin Yuer started to piece together her new life—learning about the village's customs, their food, and how things worked. Food was mostly grown by the villagers themselves—rice, vegetables, and some livestock. It was simple, but enough to sustain them. Lin Yuer's new life was humble, but it gave her the opportunity to adapt and find ways to improve her circumstances.
She had no money, no possessions, but she had something more valuable—her modern knowledge. Lin Yuer knew that she could make a difference here. Whether it was farming, crafts, or trade, she could introduce new ideas that would change everything for her and the village.
As she walked out of the modest hut that had become her home, she looked toward the river, the same river where Li Yue had met her tragic end. It flowed peacefully now, but Lin Yuer knew that beneath its surface lay dark secrets, and one of them was Li Xian's treachery.
Lin Yuer was reborn, and this time, she would not let the river swallow her again.
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Chapter 2: The Seeds of Change
Lin Yuer sat cross-legged on the floor of her modest room, the cool breeze from the open window mingling with the scent of herbs and fresh earth. Her mind raced as she absorbed the strange and unfamiliar surroundings she now found herself in. The memory of her life before, the world of steel and technology, seemed almost like a distant dream. But she knew one thing for certain—she was not going to let history repeat itself. Not this time.
She would rebuild herself, her life, and this village if she had to.
The first step was survival, and for that, Lin Yuer had to understand the lay of the land. She had no money, no resources, and no family support. But she had something far more valuable—knowledge.
As she pondered her situation, a light knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Li Yue, are you awake?" a soft voice called from the other side.
It was Grandma Wu, the elderly woman who had brought her food the previous day. Lin Yuer had noticed how the villagers looked at her with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. It was clear that they were aware something had happened to Li Yue, but no one dared ask the direct questions.
"Come in," Lin Yuer called, straightening her posture.
The door creaked open, and Grandma Wu stepped inside, holding a woven basket filled with fresh vegetables. Her wrinkled face was soft with concern, her eyes reflecting years of wisdom.
"I brought you some vegetables, Li Yue. You should eat more to regain your strength," Grandma Wu said kindly, placing the basket on the table.
Lin Yuer nodded, trying her best to smile. "Thank you, Grandma Wu. I'm feeling much better."
Grandma Wu didn't seem convinced but nodded nonetheless. "Good, good. The village is still talking about your disappearance. People were worried about you, child."
Lin Yuer's chest tightened at the mention of her disappearance. The villagers didn't know the truth—they didn't know that Li Xian had pushed her into the river to drown. They didn't know that her life had been stolen by the very people she had trusted.
"I know," Lin Yuer said, her voice steady but tinged with sadness. "I'm sorry to have worried everyone. I just... needed some time alone to think."
Grandma Wu gave her a knowing look. "You're not the only one with problems, child. This village has its own share of troubles, and the land is not as kind as it once was."
Lin Yuer raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
The old woman lowered her voice, as if afraid someone might overhear. "The crops are failing. The river used to be a source of life, but it's changing. It's not as reliable anymore. And the village head, Zhou Wei, he's been struggling to keep the peace. There's talk of other villages taking advantage of our troubles."
Lin Yuer frowned. The village might be small and isolated, but it was clear that it faced its own challenges. The land was tough, and the villagers didn't have the luxury of modern technology. Their survival depended on the river, their crops, and their livestock—and if any of those things faltered, their entire way of life would be at risk.
"I see," Lin Yuer said thoughtfully. "Then we must find a way to make things better, not just for me, but for everyone."
Grandma Wu looked at her, surprised by the firmness in her voice. "You're not the same as you were before, are you, Li Yue?"
Lin Yuer smiled faintly. "No, I'm not."
Grandma Wu didn't press her further, but there was something in her gaze that made Lin Yuer feel as though the old woman understood more than she let on.
"Take these vegetables," Grandma Wu continued, "and remember, it's not just about what you know, but how you use it. People in this village aren't quick to trust outsiders. You'll need to earn their respect."
The Village of Lushui: A Hidden Gem
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Lin Yuer took the basket of vegetables and wandered outside. The village of Lushui was peaceful, nestled in the valley between towering mountain ranges. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of wildflowers and the constant hum of nature. Birds sang from the trees, and the ground was covered in a blanket of green, with patches of crops growing in neat rows.
The village itself was small but had a certain charm. The houses were made from wood and stone, with thatched roofs, and small gardens where villagers grew everything from rice to herbs to vegetables. The people were simple, their lives shaped by the land they worked and the traditions they followed. There was a communal feeling in the air, but also a quiet undercurrent of tension. Lin Yuer could feel it—the way people looked at her with interest, their minds undoubtedly trying to piece together what had happened to the girl who had vanished so suddenly.
Lin Yuer walked toward the edge of the village, where the river ran peacefully. The water was crystal clear, but she knew it wasn't as dependable as it once was. Grandma Wu's words echoed in her mind—the land is changing. Lin Yuer wasn't sure what that meant yet, but she knew she had to find a way to adapt. In her old life, she had relied on science, technology, and systems. Now, in this new world, she would have to rely on her wits, creativity, and a deeper understanding of nature.
As she walked along the riverbank, she passed a group of children playing. They stopped and stared at her, whispering amongst themselves. One of the boys, a little younger than the rest, hesitated before approaching her.
"Are you Li Yue?" he asked timidly.
Lin Yuer nodded, smiling warmly. "I am. Are you well?"
The boy looked up at her with wide eyes. "We heard you were gone... that you drowned. But you're back now?"
"I am," Lin Yuer said, her voice soft but steady. "But I need your help. Can you show me the best places to gather herbs or find wild plants around here?"
The boy hesitated but then nodded eagerly. "I can! Follow me."
As they walked together, the boy led her to a small meadow where wild herbs grew in abundance. Lin Yuer bent down and carefully picked a few leaves, recognizing them from her previous life—herbal remedies, things she had learned in passing. She could use these to make simple remedies for the villagers, and in time, perhaps she could gain their trust.
It was a small start, but it was something.
First Steps Toward Change
Later that day, Lin Yuer went to the village market, a small square where people traded goods. The market was modest—mostly local produce, herbs, and handmade crafts. Lin Yuer observed the barter system closely, noticing how the villagers exchanged goods based on their needs. There was no money here—no silver or coins. It was all about bartering goods, services, and sometimes favors.
Lin Yuer knew this would be the perfect place to start. If she could offer something the villagers needed, she could earn their respect and trust.
But what could she offer?
If she has chance she will repay