How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Li Tao's story is the experience of her mother-in-law. And it's no exaggeration to say that fate played tricks on her throughout her life.

When Granny Ning was young, her family was relatively well-off. Her father owned a rice shop, and because he was honest and generous, his business flourished. On a whim, he even bought her a maid to serve her. She never left the house, sewing and never leaving. With her brother and father looking after the shop and her mother managing the household, she was doted on by the whole family. Her biggest worry was whether her embroidered peonies or her white peonies were more beautiful.

Like all young women, when she reached a certain age, her family began choosing a husband for her. Granny Ning, too, was looking for a future husband, one who was gentle and refined. She didn't dare dream of a juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examination), but a xiucai (a scholar) would be fine. Unfortunately, scholars despised merchants, often swindled by money, so her parents often chose men of equal status, sons of merchants.

By chance, her brother, while out collecting grain, met a scholar. Knowing his sister's fondness for scholars, he inquired about her. Learning of her reputation and her harmonious family, he returned home to inform his parents. The two families discussed the matter and finally agreed to the marriage.

When Granny Ning learned that her future husband was a scholar, she became even more delighted and began to embroider her wedding dress.

Unfortunately, perhaps God saw that her life was too smooth. On the day of her wedding, the originally sunny sky suddenly turned into a heavy rain.

The group had no choice but to seek shelter from the rain at a house, but they were afraid of missing the auspicious time. Granny Ning's brother bought a straw raincoat in the village, and everyone else wore it and continued on their journey. But misfortune was yet to come. As the wedding procession passed through a forest, a thunderbolt struck the groom, who was leading the group.

On the wedding day, the groom died, turning a happy occasion into a funeral. Granny Ning was horrified. Her brother, fearing that his sister would be criticized, had the wedding procession send her back while he went to the groom's house. The other party couldn't accept this and beat Ning's brother half to death.

Granny Ning earned a reputation as a "husband-killer." Though the marriage hadn't been consummated, the couple had exchanged name cards, effectively declaring her a bride. The Ning family couldn't bear to part with their daughter, and one can only imagine the hardships she endured in such a situation. The groom's family came to demand their daughter, but the Ning family gritted their teeth and refused. Ning's father paid a large sum of gold and silver to buy back his daughter's freedom. The thought of remarrying was practically a pipe dream.

After discussing it, the family decided to sell the shop and move to a new place. Granny Ning was overwhelmed with emotion, yet also felt guilty about the burden her own actions had placed on the entire family. However, she was still happy to be able to leave this sad place. Even if she didn't marry, it would be nice to be able to serve her parents for the rest of her life.

Unexpectedly, they encountered bandits along the way. Her father and brother were hacked to death by the bandits to protect her and her mother. Her mother cried and pulled her away, but the bandits quickly caught up. She turned and grabbed the bandit's legs, urging her to run. But how fast could she run? She didn't want to live anymore, but she was also afraid of being humiliated if caught, so she jumped into the river.

But she didn't die. She was saved by a hunter. The hunter had no land, and even in his thirties, he couldn't find a wife, so he lived alone in the back of the village. After rescuing her, he asked her about her life. Granny Ning, devastated by the loss of her family, felt like a curse. First, she had killed her new husband, then her family. She wouldn't answer any questions, and didn't even care that she was alone with the hunter.

The hunter took good care of her and comforted her, and two years passed like this.

As human nature often leads to compassion, Granny Ning gradually came around. She felt grateful to the hunter and married him. They lived a peaceful and happy life for several years, and Granny Ning gave birth to a son. But when her son turned one, the hunter ventured into the mountains. He wanted to give his son a longevity lock as a birthday gift. He also wanted to make a silver hairpin for his hardworking wife.

After this, he never returned. Granny Ning nearly went mad. The whole village helped to search, but they only found a few bloody fragments.

When she said this, Li Tao's tears had already fallen and her voice began to choke.

Xia Chu and Cuihua were equally distressed. It felt like fate was playing a trick on this woman. Everyone around her had died, leaving her alone, facing her babbling child, who was holding her back, preventing her from finally letting go.

Granny Ning was half-crazy. When she was normal, she was very kind to her son, gently telling him stories and teaching him to read. But when she was sick, she started to try to commit suicide, jumping into the river, hanging herself, banging her head against the wall, and even stabbing herself with a knife...

If the neighbors hadn't been keeping an eye on this widow and orphan, I'm afraid Grandma Ning would have died long ago.

Grandma Ning's son, Yang Lang, grew up in this environment. He learned to cook from a young age and was able to take care of all household chores. He has a warm and humble personality and a very good temper.

Yang Lang grew up, and Granny Ning seemed to have recovered under her son's care. She was more lucid and busy looking for a wife for her son.

This daughter-in-law is Li Tao.

When Li Tao first got married, although life was hard, her husband was considerate and her mother-in-law was gentle and docile, so she lived a happy and peaceful life.

When Li Tao talked about her husband, her eyes were filled with love and sorrow.

Xia Chu had already guessed the outcome; Yang Lang must have met with misfortune. This story seemed like a random fabrication, as if it were just to make Granny Ning's life miserable.

But judging from Li Tao's expression, it didn't seem fake.

Yang Lang didn't die, but he was disabled. He went to the town to work, and while replacing tiles for someone, he fell off the roof. As luck would have it, the beam hit his legs, crippling both of them.

Grandma Ning is really crazy this time. She can't recognize people and thinks about how to die all day long.

Li Tao didn't know how she got through that period. The family she worked for was quite conscientious. They helped Yang Lang heal his injuries and also compensated him with a sum of money.

But Yang Lang could never stand up again, and Grandma Ning would never see her day again.

"If it weren't for Brother Lang's tenacity and support, I don't know how I would have gone on." The story ended here. Li Tao wiped her tears and forced a smile. "I wonder if this story will work? Can it be exchanged for some money?"

Xia Chu, still repressed, nodded expressionlessly. She touched her wallet and handed it over without even looking. "Okay."

Li Tao took it and touched it, feeling something was wrong. Seeing that it was full of small change, she was so frightened that her hand shook and she dropped it again. She wanted to take all the money back, but she couldn't. She almost used all her strength to push the money back, "It's too much. One story is not worth so much money."

"Take it." Xia Chu let out a long sigh, "But let me tell you in advance, the story is sold to me. I will compile it into a storybook and let the storyteller tell it to everyone. Of course, I will change the name and will not disclose the information to you."

Li Tao wanted to refuse, but under the pressure of life, dignity and integrity became irrelevant, less important than a grain of rice to fill her stomach. She stood up and bowed deeply, "Thank you, Miss Wang."

Xia Chu waved her hand and sent her out, only to realize it was already dusk. Thinking of Li Tao's muddy feet, she thought she must not live nearby. "Where is your home? I'll have someone take you back."

"No, no, I can walk back by myself." Li Tao clutched the purse on her chest. She knew that the other party was giving her so much money out of sympathy, but she didn't have the courage to refuse. "I'm already very grateful for today."

"You are a woman and you have a lot of money with you. Let me ask someone to take you there." Xia Chu sent her to the door and happened to see Zhao Huazhang's carriage.

Zhao Huazhang glanced at Li Tao, asked Qingsong to get out of the car, and Shiwu drove Li Tao back.