I was reborn after my cousin stole my life.

That night, Yuan Xiu didn't go to sleep until very late, her mind filled with the words she had heard from Jiang Zhou during the day.

I think too much, and even when I'm asleep, I dream about things from my past lives.

She dreamt that because the old lady wanted to eat fresh mushrooms, she climbed up a high hillside to pick them, and then rolled down the hill.

She felt as if she had fallen into an endless abyss, plummeting downwards into a frigid river. She tried to swim upwards, but the ice above her was impenetrable no matter how hard she tried. The suffocating pain made her flail her limbs and paddle desperately...

"Yuan Xiu..."

"Yuan Xiu, wake up..."

"Yuan Xiu..."

Yuan Xiu opened her eyes and saw Jiang Zhou's worried face with deeply furrowed brows. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Yuan Xiu sat up halfway and realized that it was already getting light outside. "Yes, I had a terrible nightmare."

Jiang Zhou reached out and touched her sweaty hair. "Dreams are always the opposite of reality."

Yuan Xiu smiled and said, "Yes, my dream is definitely the opposite of reality."

This life will definitely be the opposite; she will never do anything stupid again.

He was so stupid that he ruined his entire life.

……

That morning, Yuan Xiu met Wu Yufen on the road. "On Sunday, while everyone is on holiday, let's have a meeting of our parents' committee to summarize the progress of our work during this period and discuss the New Year's Day program. When you go back, please also tell your neighbors so that you don't forget to notify them. We'll have the meeting at the activity center at 3 pm. Don't be late."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Yufen left in a hurry.

"Another meeting?" The first person Yuan Xiu told upon returning was her sister-in-law Guiying. "Yes, they said they were discussing the New Year's Day program."

"What nonsense about discussion! The show was already decided by Wu Yufen. She just wants us to go there to select people and, while we're at it, praise how well she's done her job lately. Just you wait, this whole thing will take two hours."

Yuan Xiu: "Does the parents' committee often organize meetings?"

"Anyway, it's open quite often throughout the year. Don't go empty-handed. You love reading, right? Bring your books so you won't get bored. Oh, and bring a chair too, otherwise there won't be a place to sit."

Yuan Xiu nodded.

Sunday arrived in the blink of an eye. After lunch, Yuan Xiu read some medical books for a while, and at 2:40, she went out with her sister-in-law Guiying.

Sister-in-law Guiying carried a stool in one hand and a basket in the other, containing yarn and knitting needles.

The military dependents I encountered on the road were all carrying stools and walking in the same direction, and almost everyone was carrying something else in their hands.

Yuan Xiu also saw an old woman carrying a basket of dried corn cobs, who was going to the meeting place to shred the corn cobs.

When they arrived at their destination, Yuan Xiu and her companion, along with Chunmei and her sister-in-law, found a corner, put down their stools, and sat down.

The small square was bustling with chatter; some people whispered to each other, while others shouted loudly. It was incredibly lively.

Aside from the bathhouse, this was the first time Yuan Xiu had seen so many military dependents gathered together.

"What did Xiao Yuan bring?" Chunmei asked.

Yuan Xiu pulled the textbook out of her pocket, "to pass the time."

Sister Chunmei was holding a shoe insole in her hand; the flower on the sole was only half-embroidered.

Sister-in-law Xiulan also brought something—a sweater. She took the sweater apart, rolled it into a ball, and started knitting it again.

"My son is growing up so fast. I knitted this sweater for him the year before last. It was big when he first wore it, but now it's too small. The sleeves are so short that his elbows are showing."

"Boys grow faster, that's normal..."

The sweater that Sister Guiying was knitting was for her daughter. It was brightly colored, and she had just started. As she knitted, she said, "I've learned a new pattern. It looks really nice when I knit it. Wait until I knit it for you."

The bustling place suddenly fell silent. Yuan Xiu looked up and saw that the leaders of the Parents' Committee had arrived. Wu Yufen was standing next to a woman who looked to be in her forties, and they were whispering something to each other.

Chunmei whispered to Yuan Xiu, "That's Chairwoman Gu from our family committee. She's Commander Ye's wife and also the director of the army's propaganda department. She rarely comes here, but I didn't expect her to come today."

Yuan Xiu nodded. It was clear that this Chairman Gu was a female cadre, and a very dignified one at that.

Listening to her speak, one senses both gentleness and strength, and when she mentions the logistical work done by the military families at home, her voice is filled with quiet warmth.

Yuan Xiu originally thought that everyone would do their own thing while Chairman Gu was speaking, but that didn't happen. Even Sister-in-law Guiying put down the yarn in her hand and stared at the person standing in front of her, listening carefully.

After Chairman Gu finished speaking, it was Wu Yufen's turn.

As soon as she started talking, Sister-in-law Guiying picked up her yarn and continued knitting.

Yuan Xiu then looked at others...

Okay, the difference is huge.

Although it wasn't noisy at the scene, no one was really listening; everyone was multitasking.

Wu Yufen spoke for even longer than Chairman Gu, taking up more than half an hour. Rather than speaking to everyone, she seemed to be reporting to Chairman Gu on the work and efforts she had made for the Parents' Committee during this period.

"...Next, we'll discuss the New Year's Day performance. Last year, our performance wasn't outstanding enough, so this year, our parent committee must put in even more effort to present our best performance! Is everyone confident?!"

"have……"

A few scattered sounds.

"Yes! I have confidence!"

Suddenly, an unusually loud sound emerged from the sparse noises!

It was accompanied by crisp applause.

Yuan Xiu looked over.

It is Yuan Juan.

She sat in the crowd, but her mother-in-law, Aunt Zhou, was nowhere to be seen.

"Comrade Yuan Juan has a very good spirit! We should all learn from her! Let's applaud Comrade Yuan Juan!" Wu Yufen led the applause.

President Gu glanced at Yuan Juan curiously, then raised his hand and clapped three times.

Led by Chairman Gu, another round of fairly lively applause rang out at the scene.

The applause seemed more like a perfunctory gesture.

Some people weren't photographed, such as Yuan Xiu and several of her sisters-in-law with whom she had a good relationship.

"This year, we need to produce at least two programs. Let's finalize the program list today, and I'll report it to the logistics department tomorrow."

Wu Yufen continued, "There are two programs, one a dance and the other a song. For the dance, I've already invited a colleague from the performing arts troupe to teach us..."

Before she could finish speaking, someone raised their hand, "So, when should we schedule a rehearsal?"

"Rehearsals definitely have to be scheduled for evenings and holidays."

The military wife replied directly, "Then don't arrange it for me. I don't have time. I have to stay home to take care of my husband and children."

"Don't schedule me for anything, I'm too busy. My child is only a little over a year old, I can't leave him."

"I can't do it either. I work a day and a half during the day, and then I have to rehearse after work in the evening. I can't take it."