RRP: (3)

The sky gradually illuminated, and the Furong Water Town near the Imperial Capital remained silent. The white-washed boats clusted together under the stone arch bridge, gently rolling with the water as they awaited the boatmen to awaken from their slumber as usual.

However, those adept at making steamed rice cakes and similar delicacies had to rise earlier than others.

As expected, the Cui family, who sold osmanthus cake, wontons, and breakfast on the streets, had already lit the stove early, started kneading the dough and steaming the pots.

Soon, the old wooden door, charred by the smoke, creaked open. A young girl stepped out, looking only about fourteen or fifteen, with half-loose, lustrous ebony tresses, while carrying a wooden bucket that almost reached her waist.

Even though it was still faintly dim, it was enough to illuminate the young girl's creamy pale complexion. The gentle rain and warm peach blossoms of the Furong Water Town were quite nourishing, but such a young girl with an indescribable air of nobility and elegance was rare.

Just look at those exquisite, dark brows, a pair of eyes like two pools of clear spring water shrouded in a hint of cool mist, and pursed plump lips under the straight nose, like a freshly steamed osmanthus cake, glistening with an enticing sheen, making one unable to look away.

Liu Jiang Qing was not in a haste to fetch water; rather, she stood on the stone bridge before her house and gazed down at the lake's surface. The slightly greenish lake reflected her profile. Then, she put down the wooden bucket, took out a chipped peach wood comb from the coarse cloth tied around her midriff, and leisurely combed her long ebony tresses that hung by her shoulders, making use of the lake as the mirror as it reflected her. She next pulled out a blue fabric from her sleeve and awkwardly bundled up her hair, which she had managed to gather.

Looking at her somewhat styled hair, although a few strands hung down at her temples, it was at best presentable.

Thinking about it, Liu Jiang Qing had already lived two lifetimes, but she had seldom had the chance to comb her hair herself, thus it was no wonder she was so awkward just now.

Liu Jiang Qing? A vague smile appeared on her reflection on the lake. No, she should now be addressed as Cui Jiang Qing.

When she sank into the freezing well water, all the love and hatred vanished. She deemed herself as beyond saving, yet as her soul ascended, it was as if she had awaken from a bad dream. Very soon, she found herself back at the age of fifteen.

Only her appearance stayed the same; the circumstances around her had drastically transformed and she could no longer see a trace of her previous life.

In that dreamlike life, her existence could be considered smooth and enviable one by any ordinary women. With such a splendid previous life, being reborn into a merchant's humble family was like falling from the clouds into a deep mire. If it were someone else, they would probably be vexed and lament about fate. They might even hang themselves out of despair to escape the misery of living a humble and wretched life.

But as she became Cui Jiang Qing, she saw the cobwebs on the beam and the old Cui couple frowning at her through her hazy sleep. At first, she was stunned, but she soon regained her composure.

The warmth and coldness of the world are known to oneself. Beneath those glamorous robes of her previous life, there was such torment and sorrow, and only she could know.

Becoming Cui Jiang Qing is just returning everything to its original state. However... the secret of her identity, which was only discovered when she was sixteen in her previous life, has been disclosed a whole year earlier at present. Could it be that her rebirth has brought some changes in this life?

She remember when she first woke up, she felt a burning pain in her elbow. When she rolled up her sleeve, a "卍" character took shape before her eyes. This resembled the Buddhist swastika, its shining scarlet color was an imprint that had never existed in her previous life, and this symbolized both light and the endless cycle of reincarnation. Cui Jiang Qing wondered if it was the merit she accumulated from the good deeds of her previous life.

T/N: The Chinese word for swastika is represented by the character "卍" (pronounced "wàn" in Mandarin). This symbol has a long history and significance in various cultures, particularly in East Asia. InBuddhism, the swastika is commonly used in Buddhist contexts, where it symbolizes the Buddha's footprints, the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara), and the interconnectedness of all life.

In the first few days after being reborn, she was always in a trance, somewhat doubting whether she was dreaming. At last, she composed her mind and accepted the situation, she then had a thought that she had been muddled by her illness and discreetly inquired about the past.

According to her father, Cui Zhong, the reason for discovering that the two families had exchange their children had to do with Cui Ping'er coming up with the idea, hoping to expand her family's pastry business in the Imperial Capital.

After hearing her words, Cui Ping'er followed Cui Zhong to the Imperial Capital to do business, and while delivering the cakes ordered by the maidservants of the Liu residence, she happened to be seen by Madam Yao. Cui Ping'er looked strikingly similar to her, leading to Madam Yao and the old Lady next to her to be surprised.

While Cui Jiang Qing did not resemble the Liu family at all. Moreover, Ping'er’s joke, "With how much I look like the Madam, I would have really thought our parents had exchange us back then," and this made the Yaos' suspicions resurface.

After some casual conversation, upon learning that Cui Ping'er was the daughter of the Cui family merchant whom they had encountered at the temple back then, and recalling the scheme she had instructed the nannies to carry out, Madam Yao immediately felt anxious. Following a thorough investigation, they interrogated the two nannies from back then, and it was only from a nanny with the surname Yin that they learned the truth, exposing the mix-up of the two families' daughters.

The Liu family felt that there was still time to rectify the situation!

After meeting with Cui Ping'er, Madam Yao discussed with the old Lady out of love for her real daughter and decided to have Liu Meng Tang step in to secretly exchange the two daughters back with the Cuis'.

After all, young ladies change a lot by the time they reach eighteen. Even if someone from outside the family had seen Cui Jiang Qing, they could just say she had grown up and changed her countenance, and no one would find it suspicious.

Yet, when Cui Jiang Qing was informed about it, she bawled bitterly and firmly stated that she did not want to leave the Liu residence.

But if she were to remain, then Cui Ping'er would have no actual reason to stay in the Liu residence. Above all, Madam Yao gave birth to this pair of twins only after turning forty, so it would not be appropriate to say that she had another daughter, or to declare that Cui Ping'er was the child of a concubine.

Although Madam Yao felt a bit reluctant in her heart about returning Cui Jiang Qing, whom she had reared for fifteen years, the moment she saw Ping'er, who was so docile and resembled her, dressed in a garment full of patches, she felt sorry for having owed her biological daughter too much. In the end, she gritted her teeth and ordered two maidservants from the Liu residence to forcibly push Cui Jiang Qing onto the carriage and return her to the Cui family.

After Cui Jiang Qing arrived at the Cui family, she wept and made a fuss, grumbled about the broken bowl when drinking water, and could not tolerate the coarse food. In the end, she had a high fever and fell into a coma for three days and three nights.

That is why, when she finally opened her eyes, Mother Cui was both delighted and troubled. Mother Cui was delighted that her daughter had finally woken up, but troubled about what to do if she carry on with crying and making a fuss.

However, Cui Jiang Qing, perhaps due to the high fever having affected her brain, asked some nonsensical questions, seemingly unaware of why she had unexpectedly returned to the Cui family.

Mother Cui's heart tensed again, anxious that her daughter had developed some kind of ailment from the high fever. She rummaged through the bottom of the chest and found a pair of silver bracelets she had brought as a dowry back then, planning to have Cui Zhong pawn them for some coppers to hire a physician to treat Cui Jiang Qing.

But Cui Jiang Qing stopped her, gently calling her "Mother," and conveyed that she was feeling a lot better and there was no need to waste money on a physician.

It makes no difference if it was a peculiar dream, it was marvelous to be able to live another life.

After figuring out her situation, Cui Jiang Qing, apart from initially seeming depressed and taking two days to adapt, swiftly began to eagerly and vigorously adjust to the condition she once dreaded.

It was just that the couple still cannot let go, looking at their delicate and soft biological daughter, still consistently viewed her as a noble Young Lady and they were always overly cautious when speaking to her.

Cui Jiang Qing did not want to be so estranged, so this sunrise, while the Cui couple were busy steaming cakes, she took the initiative to carry a wooden bucket out to fetch water. But with her being petite, and although the wooden bucket was empty, it still made her wrists ache when she lugged it to the well.

Perhaps due the memory of her falling into the well in previous life was too unbearable, she paused when looking at the deep well.

Just then, someone approached: "Cannot the little lady of the Cui family carry that? Do you need Brother Wang to help you out?"

Turning around, she spotted a scruffy-looking young man. She roughly remembered Mother Cui saying that this person was Zhang Wang, the only son of the butcher shop owner on the front street. He relied on his family's wealth, idling around all day, and take great pleasure in flirting with the widows and young missus in the community.

It seemed he had just come back from a night of drinking, not yet home by morning, with his cloth hat askew, robes loose, and reeking of alcohol.

Zhang Wang also knew Cui Jiang Qing, after all, the story of the Cui family, who sold pastries, and a prestigious family who exchange children had spread all over the streets.

The new Cui family girl, who had been replaced, was so remarkably attractive, perhaps because she had been pampered and well-fed since childhood. She had inherited the best features of the Cui couple, becoming a dazzling young girl. Such a fine grace and allure, which could usually only catch sight of under a luxurious canopy, had now fallen into this streets, bringing luck to all the wandering men in the area who could now get a glimpse of her looks.

Zhang Wang came out from the brothel in the morning and strolled near the Cui family's place. Suddenly, he recalled the new girl at the Cui family and decided to dawdle for a while. To his surprise, he actually ran into her. He closed in on her, planning to flirt with her.

The previous Cui Ping'er was also a charmer, but her eyes were a bit flat. He would occasionally bring her some hair powder to win her over, if it were not for the strict care of the fierce Mother Cui, he could have easily lured her into an alley and fondled her.

However, in the past six months, that little siren has started to act distant, not even willing to jest and get close to him. He was somewhat annoyed at first, but he did not expect something even better to come! The pretentious Cui Ping'er left, only to be replaced by the more captivating Young Lady, Cui Jiang Qing. Ever since Zhang Wang propped his feet on a stone and spotted her through the courtyard wall, his bones felt weak, and he thought it was like a celestial being descending to the world. He was just waiting for the her to come of age and asked his Mother to invite a matchmaker to offer marriage.

Goodness, this is a flower raised in the waters of Jinshui! Watching Cui Jiang Qing stood there with her willow like brows in a frown, her delicate and slender waist, Zhang Wang felt the wicked fire he had released on the prostitute yesterday suddenly flare up even more and it almost felt like burning his trousers!

Noticing Zhang Wang approach with a covetous look, Cui Jiang Qing instinctively back away, even forgetting the wooden bucket, and spun to leave. But Zhang Wang blocked her path completely, and she could not get out.

In her previous life, although she had learned some martial arts, she was only a bit stronger than an average woman. Now, she was still young and lacked strength, making her no match for this rogue in front of her.

Seeing him about to make a move, Cui Jiang Qing lightly lifted her leg, preparing to strike him in the crotch while he was not on guard. Unexpectedly, a booming voice came from behind Zhang Wang: "Stay away from my sister! Or else I will smash your legs!"

Zhang Wang turned around to see a young man in a short blue coat, carrying a wooden bucket and a shoulder pole, standing behind him.

The one who showed up was none other than Cui Jiang Qing's biological brother, Cui Chuan Bao. He and Cui Jiang Qing were twins, both fifteen years old, but he had inherited their Father's towering and sturdy build, making him as robust as a calf. He was looking daggers at Zhang Wang with his almond-shaped eyes, ready to charge at him and swing his shoulder pole.

Zhang Wang understand that he was not getting anywhere at the moment, so he moved to the side and muttered, "It was just a neighborhood favor, trying to help your sister carry some water. Why are you shouting at me like that? A good deed is treated like a donkey's liver and lungs..." While saying this, he indignantly flicked his sleeves and made himself scarce.

T/N: "A good heart is treated as a donkey's liver and lung."; Someone's kindness is regarded as the cheapest and most useless thing by others.

Cui Chuan Bao could not be bothered to listen to his mumbling. He just stride over to the well, picked up the wooden bucket that Cui Jiang Qing had forgotten behind, tied the rope securely, and lowered it into the well. Then he filled his own wooden bucket with water, secured it with a yoke, and carried the two wooden buckets of water back home, striding forward without glancing back.

Cui Jiang Qing followed closely behind him, taking small, hurried steps. They walked home, one in front and one behind.

In the days since she returned, Cui Chuan Bao has not been very responsive to her. Cui Jiang Qing guessed that it was probably because of the previous her. Before being reborn, she had returned to the Cui family, had cried and made a fuss, saying many disparaging things about the Cui family. This not only upset her parent's feelings but also made her twin Brother harbor resentment.

In her previous life, Cui Jiang Qing, grateful to her adoptive parents of the Liu family for keeping her, deliberately distanced herself from the Cui family and never took the advantage to communicate with them.

It was only later, after getting wed and becoming a Mother, that she gradually understood the deeper layers of human relationships. She regretted being too harsh on her biological family and sent someone to discreetly inquire about the Cui family's situation, hoping to privately aid them. However, the news she received was deeply concerning. Cui Chuan Bao had gone astray, and because Cui Zhong later fell seriously ill and critically needed money, he resorted to unscrupulous means to quickly make money. He became a bouncer at a casino and even wedded the sister of a comrade from his wild days.

That woman came from a background of being a secret courtesan. After getting wedded, she did not change her ways and relied on the money she earned from selling her body to show off in her in-laws, let alone show any filial piety.

As for why Cui Chuan Bao later killed his Brother-in-law and got into legal trouble, it should have something to do with that courtesan.

Pondering of this, Cui Jiang Qing looked sullen. In her previous life, she was obsessed with the matter of her identity, foolishly imagining everything that did not belong to her, and ended up with a spouse and children who grew estranged from her.

Heaven has been benevolent to her, granting her a second chance at life. This time, she will not be excessively ambitious, chasing after the reputation of a virtuous wife, leaving her children to the nannies and maidservants, only to end up abandoned and isolated in the end. In this bustling streets filled with the flavors of everyday life, she must earnestly become a merchant's wife, honor her parents, marry a spouse of impeccable character, and personally nurture her children...

Thinking of this, she focused at the firm young man's back, could not help but quicken her pace, and called out, "Brother, wait for me!"

Cui Jiang Qing's naturally clear and melodious voice, combined with her youthful age, made her call "Brother" sound like a golden oriole. Even though Cui Chuan Bao harbored some dissatisfaction towards her, he could not help but paused in his tracks.

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