Pain—

An Wan'er felt something was off, but she couldn't pinpoint the source of her discomfort. Frowning, she opened her eyes and realized she was in a strange room.

Through the window, she glimpsed farmland and a small pool bubbling with water.

Where am I?

Curious, An Wan'er opened the door and stepped outside. The farmland stretched out in a small, two-acre plot, but it was barren and uncultivated. The pool, however, emitted an indescribable fragrance, suggesting it was no ordinary water.

Is this a space with a spiritual spring?

In her surprise, An Wan'er instinctively chanted, "Go out."

Suddenly, the scene shifted, and she found herself lying on an exquisitely carved bed, adorned with intricate craftsmanship that seemed long lost.

Shocked, she sat up, and a wave of memories hit her. As the memories of the original An Wan'er surged through her mind, she realized she had entered a fictional world—one she had just abandoned before going to sleep.

So, is this really a space with spiritual power?

An Wan'er was stunned.

She didn’t have time to explore the space with the spiritual spring. All she could think about was that this fictional ancient Chinese story was still ongoing, and the plot hadn’t truly begun yet.

She had abandoned the story because the original character—also named An Wan'er—faced a particularly frustrating fate as cannon fodder. In her anger, she had written a long review attacking the author and then decided to stop reading.

Oh my God, why hasn’t anyone warned her about the risks of abandoning a story?

Without the glamorous life of the original An Wan'er, she found herself feeling small and despondent. As she sat there, she heard a sharp, harsh voice questioning her: “Sulan, I’m still here to marry Wan'er for my Rongyi.”

Rongyi from my family had already passed the Tongsheng exam at a young age. Even the Master often praised his talent and bright future. So why do you dislike him? Why do you always refuse to agree to this marriage when I keep asking? If there's something you find unsatisfactory about Rongyi, can't I help him change it?

"It's Liu Jinhua."

As soon as she heard that name, An Wan'er immediately recognized the visitor, thanks to the memories of the original owner. She recalled the plot of the original story: An Wan'er had once saved someone on the mountain but had become disoriented in the process. When she finally descended in a daze, it was already dark. At that time, her father, worried about her safety, had taken the villagers up the mountain to search for her.

As a result, the villagers saw her disheveled state, leading to speculation that she had encountered someone dangerous on the mountain. Fueled by Su Fucai, a jealous villager, rumors of her lost chastity spread throughout the countryside.

At this time, Liu Jinhua, who had been repeatedly rejected, returned, still hoping for An Wan'er to marry her son, Le Rongyi.

Eventually, Liu Jinhua witnessed An Wan'er experiencing morning sickness two months later. With her reputation ruined and now pregnant, An Wan'er's family finally agreed to Liu Jinhua's marriage proposal.

Who could have known that this false marriage proposal would push the original An Wan'er’s family to the brink of destruction?

Three years later, Liu Jinhua, Le Rongyi, and Su Fucai finally seized the opportunity to eliminate An Wan'er’s parents. Afterward, Liu Jinhua and Le Rongyi conspired to poison An Wan'er.

Had An Wan'er’s son not perished alongside her, it would have undoubtedly raised suspicion. It was likely that even An Wan'er’s son, barely three years old, would have been killed as well.

As these memories flooded back, a fire ignited in An Wan'er's chest.

In the yard, she confronted Liu Jinhua.

"Jinhua, I’ve told you countless times. I have no grievances against your Rongyi; it’s just that he isn’t suitable for my Wan'er."

Despite her repeated rejections, Liu Jinhua remained unyielding.

Liu Jinhua continued to come to the house, insisting that her son, Le Rongyi, marry An Wan'er. Xin Sulan felt a surge of anger. She refused to invite Liu Jinhua inside, choosing instead to stand in the yard and avoid eye contact.

If it weren't for the fact that Liu Jinhua had once been a playmate, Xin Sulan would have eagerly expelled her from the premises rather than endure this frustrating conversation.

"But if you think he’s not suitable, you need to tell me why. I've said it before—just explain what's wrong, and I’ll ask Rongyi to change!" Liu Jinhua persisted, her irritation rising.

In her heart, Liu Jinhua couldn’t understand why the An family wouldn’t see the value in her son. To her, Le Rongyi was a catch, worthy even of a princess. It baffled her that they wouldn’t recognize the opportunity before them. She found it infuriating that An Wan'er, having lost her reputation, was seen as unworthy of her son.

Despite the escalating tension, Xin Sulan remained stubborn and refused to back down.

Liu Jinhua, growing increasingly frustrated, spoke with a sharper tone: "Sulan, you may not realize it, but the news about your Wan'er and her affair has spread throughout the village."

"You have a wild man; your entire family has a wild man! Can't you see what people are saying? Why do I keep rejecting your proposals? Are you so oblivious? Don't underestimate our family's dignity or your snobbish son!"

Before Liu Jinhua could finish, Xin Sulan, shocked and enraged by her words, reacted. An Wan'er burst out of the room, brandishing a large broom and swinging it at Liu Jinhua, forcing her to dodge and retreat to the gate.

"You're insane! Do you even know what hospitality means?"

As Liu Jinhua stepped back, she looked at An Wan'er, who was still brandishing a broom and refusing to back down. Liu Jinhua questioned her, "Get out! What kind of guest are you? You keep coming here in shame, being a nuisance. If it were someone else, you would have let the dog bite you."

At the mention of dogs, An Wan'er, recalling that she actually had a dog, called out, "Heihu, go and bite her!"

"Woom wool!"

Without hesitation, a large dog with sleek fur suddenly charged toward Liu Jinhua.

"Oh my god!"

Liu Jinhua was taken by surprise; she never expected An Wan'er would unleash her dog on her. In her shock, she fled, leaving behind her embroidered shoes without a second thought.

An Wan'er couldn't help but laugh at Liu Jinhua's embarrassing retreat. "Heihu, why hasn't he come back yet?" she joked.

Hearing An Wan'er’s laughter, Liu Jinhua didn’t dare to linger and ran away even faster, while Xin Sulan looked on, recalling the Black Tiger, the family dog that had just been commanded to chase Liu Jinhua away.

"You, when did you become so mischievous? Thankfully, our family is far from the villagers. Otherwise, if they saw you like this, wouldn’t they start gossiping again?"

As Heihu returned, Xin Sulan looked around, relieved, and pulled An Wan'er inside, closing the yard door behind them.

"Well, who doesn't talk? There’s always chatter, whether in front of others or behind their backs," An Wan'er replied indifferently. She set the broom aside, linked her arm with Xin Sulan's, and pouted playfully. "Mom, I can't stand Liu; you mustn't pay her any attention from now on."

"You already chased her away today. If I pay her any mind in the future, it’s likely she won’t want to pay attention to me either," Xin Sulan chuckled, recalling Liu Jinhua's embarrassing retreat. She playfully tapped An Wan'er's forehead. "You think you can rely on me to spoil you? Believe it or not, when your father comes back, I’ll tell him to discipline you."

"Hmph, don’t scare me! I’m not afraid. Dad wouldn’t dare punish me; he’ll just praise me for doing well. And Heihu is such a good boy! Mom, let’s treat him to some meat, shall we?"

At the mention of meat, Heihu’s eyes lit up, and he trotted over to An Wan'er, wagging his tail eagerly.

Xin Sulan tried to maintain a stern expression but quickly failed. An Wan'er, undeterred, continued to cling to her mother. "Mom, come on, just promise me! Otherwise, I’ll be a villain who breaks his trust with Heihu!"

"What are you pleading for? The meat isn’t locked up, you know! You can instruct me without using your hands or feet?"

(End of this chapter)

He couldn’t resist An Wan'er’s spoiled antics. Xin Sulan shot her an angry glare before turning and heading into the house, choosing to ignore her daughter’s playful gaze.

Was this what it meant to agree?

An Wan'er secretly smiled. While reading, she had noticed how much the original parents adored their child, but it seemed their affection was even greater than she had anticipated.

In a cheerful mood, An Wan'er greeted Heihu and headed into the kitchen with both the dog and her thoughts.

Without much effort, she found a piece of fresh, fatty meat as large as an adult's palm tucked away in the cabinet. Being sensible, she decided not to give all of it to Heihu. Instead, she cut the meat in half.

Even that half was enough to excite Heihu, who immediately turned to run off with the piece in his mouth.

"Come back! Why are you running away? I said you could have it! Are you afraid I’ll take it back?" An Wan'er hadn’t anticipated Heihu’s eagerness. In a rush, she grabbed its tail to pull it back.

"Woom!" Heihu quickly swallowed the meat whole and then let out a soft protest, its big eyes filled with grievances.

"Okay, okay! I’m sorry! Next time, I promise not to pull your tail!" An Wan'er quickly apologized, smiling sweetly at the dog.

"Wang!" Heihu seemed satisfied and licked her palm with its tongue.

"Haha, good boy! Now, let me go ask my mother if you can accompany me to the mountain later!"

An Wan'er remembered her situation well; she had even dressed as a supporting female character in a story where her entire family played the role of cannon fodder. Although Liu Jinhua had been driven away, An Wan'er knew that her thick-skinned nature would make her cling to her advantages.

Sighing, An Wan'er decided not to waste any more time and hurried to find her mother, Xin Sulan.

"Go to the mountain? Absolutely not! Have you forgotten how you got lost there yesterday?"

Xin Sulan shook her head vigorously as soon as she heard An Wan'er’s plan. "No amount of coaxing will work. You nearly scared your father and me to death! We can't take that risk again."

"Mom, I have a compelling reason to go back! This time, I promise I won’t get lost again. There’s over 300 years of ginseng and 500 taels of silver notes waiting for me!"

An Wan'er pleaded earnestly, hoping to convince her mother of the importance of the trip.

If Su Fucai, who holds a grudge against their family, gains an advantage, not only would the original owner be upset, but An Wan'er would be disgusted as well.

"What's your reason for needing to go? Tell me, and I'll decide whether you can go or not." Xin Sulan was determined to be firm with An Wan'er, refusing to give in this time.

"Mom, I really can't explain it right now. If you don't want me to take Heihu, then I'll go secretly."

It's said that the favors are fearless. Even though An Wan'er was reluctant to threaten someone she genuinely loved, she was confident she could scare Xin Sulan in this situation.

Seeing Xin Sulan's expression change, An Wan'er felt a pang of guilt.

But, reminding herself that securing those two items as quickly as possible was crucial for avoiding future troubles and clearing her name, she steeled her resolve, maintaining a persistent gaze at Xin Sulan without wavering.

"Mom, can we still survive if something happens?" Xin Sulan's eyes filled with tears.

"Mom, I promise I’ll be careful. If I’m careful, there won't be any more accidents." Getting lost had been the original owner's excuse for returning home late last night. But An Wan'er, having read the book, understood that neither Xin Sulan nor her father, An Shengchang, knew the truth about her lost virginity. She was hesitant to reveal it, fearing it might push them to despair.

It truly tugged at the heartstrings, reflecting the plight of parents everywhere.

In this moment as An Wan'er, she realized she couldn’t change the fact that she was carrying an unknown burden. A sigh escaped her as she pleaded with Xin Sulan, "Mom, just trust me for a little while. I promise I’ll tell you and Dad everything that happened yesterday when I return."

"Just make sure to be home before dark."

Looking into An Wan'er's eyes, Xin Sulan saw the determination shining through. Considering her daughter's usual stubbornness, she knew once a decision was made, nothing could sway her. Thus, Xin Sulan reluctantly accepted the situation.

"I knew my mom was the best for me!" An Wan'er exclaimed, hugging Xin Sulan before quickly leaving the house.

"Don’t forget to bring back pancakes—"

An Wan'er rushed out before Xin Sulan could finish her thought, prompting her to call after her.

"I know!" An Wan'er shouted back, her excitement propelling her forward.

An Wan'er, heading toward the black tiger waiting at the gate, quickly adjusted her direction and dashed into the kitchen. She grabbed some pancakes, unsure how many she had taken, and wrapped them haphazardly in oil paper. With the black tiger in tow, she hurried off toward the mountain.

On the Mountain

An Wan'er’s memories as the original owner were still vivid. It didn’t take long for her to follow the path she had taken yesterday and successfully locate the silver notes she had lost.

Covered in dust but still vaguely recognizable, the blue-gray purse was embroidered with a rich, peaceful design. When she opened it and saw the rolled-up silver notes of various sizes, a long sigh of relief escaped her lips. "Luckily, it’s still here."

Though the book mentioned that the purse would be found by someone three days later, as long as An Wan'er had retrieved it herself, she felt a sense of unease lifted.

She was indeed a person driven by desire.

In a world where just seven to ten taels of silver could buy an acre of fertile land, many ordinary people never encountered silver in their lives and relied solely on copper coins.

Faced with the impressive sum of 500 taels, she struggled to maintain her composure.

After all, she had her parents to think of, and soon, a little one would arrive in nine months. They were not immortals who could survive solely on dew.

With the silver notes secured, the next task was to find the ginseng.

An Wan'er smiled proudly. The silver belonged to her, and the ginseng would be hers too—she wouldn't let anything slip away.

---

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*(End of this chapter)*

An Wan'er recalled the book's description and pinpointed the location of the ginseng. It was hidden beneath a small hill not far from the cave where she had saved someone but also lost her virginity.

The area was easy to recognize, marked by two twisted apple trees entwined on the slope. The apples were meager, sour, and unpalatable—so unappealing that even the birds avoided them.

She remembered that Su Fu had visited the mansion when he was younger. He had some knowledge, which explained how he could identify the silver notes she lost. His excitement upon recognizing them led him to bump into the apple tree, causing him to tumble down the slope.

Fortuitously, while he was injured, he also stumbled upon ginseng after his fall.

An Wan'er couldn’t help but curl her lips in amusement.

The book didn’t delve into An Shengchang’s family background much. He was a native of the capital, a concubine's son who couldn't tolerate his mother being cast out by the family. He followed his mother, Xin Sulan, back to their hometown, a small village not far from the capital.

Su Fu had long harbored feelings for Xin Sulan, desiring to marry her since she was beautiful. However, due to her grandfather's serious illness, she was sold into marriage during her teens and later returned with a child.

Even after marrying and having children, Su Fu held a grudge against her family, often seeking ways to make their lives uncomfortable.

The author of this book seemed to have a particular grudge against An Wan'er's family. While the original owner’s fate was tragic, her enemy was depicted as exceedingly fortunate.

In the end, An Wan'er’s family perished, leaving behind a child no older than three, who fell victim to the abuses of the Le family.

However, Su Fucai, like Liu Jinhua and Le Rongyi, not only faced no punishment, but his family had already moved to the city after acquiring the silver bill and ginseng. His son had even passed the scholar exam.

"No, no, no," An Wan'er muttered, feeling a surge of anger as she recalled the plot. She reminded herself: Why should she let her enemies benefit, knowing the story?

Carefully guiding the black tiger down the small slope, An Wan'er soon discovered the legendary ginseng.

Digging up ginseng requires precision and care. You must use your hands and be cautious not to break the roots; otherwise, its value could significantly diminish. Despite already having the silver notes, An Wan'er was determined to handle the ginseng with extra caution, aware of its potential life-saving properties.

Unfortunately, lacking experience, she accidentally broke two of the ginseng roots despite her heightened focus. After wiping her brow in frustration, she recalled her spiritual space containing spring water and decided to send the ginseng there without hesitation.

The dry black soil appeared fertile, and fearing the ginseng might dry out, An Wan'er covered it with a layer of soil. Unsure if the broken roots would regrow if planted, she resolved to give it a try, burying them again. Before doing so, she soaked the roots in the spiritual spring water.

The Lingquan water was alive and seemed endless. An Wan'er felt no pressure as she soaked the ginseng roots. After some thought, she unearthed the ginseng she had just covered with soil, shook off the dirt, soaked it in the spring water, and then replanted it.

To her delight, An Wan'er discovered that she could mentally control the spiritual spring water from outside the space, allowing her to water the soil without needing to enter. With enthusiasm, she poured a generous amount of spiritual spring water onto the ginseng.

An Wan'er wasn't frugal with the spiritual spring water when burying the broken ginseng roots, continuing to pour it until small puddles formed in both spots.

Satisfied with her efforts, An Wan'er glanced at the sun, noting it was only one or two in the afternoon. She couldn't help but smile, feeling like singing.

A good mood can indeed bring good luck.

On the way back, An Wan'er spotted black fungus growing abundantly on a fallen, dead tree. Ensuring no one was around, and with Heihu facing away, she took the entire dead tree into her space.

Heihu, hearing the movement, turned around. In the tree's place, there was only an empty space left. Confusion flickered in its dark eyes. Subconsciously, it arched its back, displaying alertness, and barked at the open space.

Amused, An Wan'er quickly patted her dog's head gently, "Don't bark, it's okay."

Okay?

Heihu stopped barking and looked at An Wan'er, puzzled. She smiled and patted it again, "Don't worry, let's go."

After walking a few steps with Heihu, An Wan'er noticed two pheasants foraging in the distance.

Ginseng stewed chicken?

In an instant, An Wan'er envisioned her dinner. She quickly signaled Heihu to be quiet, then gestured left and right. Carefully, each of them moved to flank the two pheasants.

Refusing to miss the opportunity for a good meal, the two pheasants were startled and attempted to fly away. Unfortunately, after a brief struggle, they couldn't escape the combined efforts of the ruthless Black Tiger and An Wan'er.

"Black Tiger, you're a good boy. I'll give you some good supplements after simmering the chicken this evening."

As long as she doesn’t add salt, dogs should be able to eat ginseng chicken and drink ginseng chicken soup, right?

An Wan'er felt elated after catching the two pheasants. She thought her streak of good luck was about to end, but little did she know it was only the beginning.

As she and Heihu drew closer to home, they stumbled upon a large wild boar struggling on the ground, its front legs injured for reasons unknown. The beast was massive, weighing in at several hundred pounds.

*Tsk.* This was definitely a prize.

Even though An Wan'er never lacked for meat, the sight of such a hefty, free meal made her mouth water. She imagined the tender, rich flavor of wild boar meat—salted trotters, plum vegetable stir-fries, and juicy meatballs—almost drooling at the thought.

Heihu was equally captivated, his eyes gleaming as he watched the wild boar, swallowing hard.

The boar, sensing the danger, struggled even more fiercely to rise, letting out a desperate "huff" while baring its sharp teeth and widening its eyes like copper bells. It attempted to intimidate the two food enthusiasts who were clearly eyeing it.

Unfortunately for the boar, its efforts were in vain. An Wan'er, cunning and unwilling to back down, picked up a large stone, while Heihu wagged his tail excitedly, his eyes full of determination. The boar's expression shifted from fierce to one of despair.

*(End of this chapter)*