Rebirth in Famine: She Thrives by Lucky Space

Gan Shuling saw him for the first time at home, and back then Dad also favored him.

Not being in the best of health, she liked tall and strong men. Kong Demin was particularly good-looking, so she fell for him at first sight.

Her father asked for her thoughts, and a month later, they got engaged—married three months after that.

However, she had only seen him three or four times. In her heart, there was some bitterness; this was a man who didn’t value her. Yet, her mother said it didn’t matter if he didn’t appreciate her, as long as he obeyed.

So she happily married him, thinking she’d lead a blessed life with someone she loved.

But life turned out to be quite different. She had spoken to her mother, who urged her to endure, saying no man wouldn’t want such a life.

Listening to the long, drawn-out breathing beside her, he was already asleep.

After hesitating for a long time, feeling entirely numb from the cold, she struggled to move, pulling up the quilt. She estimated she’d catch a cold again tomorrow.

The next day, Gan Shuling felt her head heavy and muddled, unaware of when her husband left. She tried several times but couldn’t get up.

At home, it was just the couple; her mother-in-law took the children back to their hometown, wanting to earn more work points.

Unable to open her eyes, she drifted back into sleep, drowsy and fuzzy.

After having breakfast in the canteen in the morning, Gan Jiancheng called over his son-in-law, inviting him to a city meeting.

He wanted to nurture his son-in-law, given the poor health of his daughter; he wanted everything arranged well for her.

”Demin, Yu Jing has been with your mother for almost a month now. Bring her back this weekend, let your mother-in-law take care of her. I miss the child.”

”Dad, my mother is busy with work and has no time to watch the child. I’ll pick up Yu Jing this weekend and then send her back; I’ll do this weekly.”

”Alright, but it’s tiring for your parents.” Gan Jiancheng said with a sigh.

”Why would it be? She’s their granddaughter.”

”It’s all because Shuling’s health isn’t good, otherwise she could watch the child at home just fine.”

”Dad, Shuling’s health needs to be nurtured slowly. I saw her sleeping soundly this morning and didn’t wake her.”

”You’re suffering.”

”It’s alright. Shuling is my wife, and I will certainly treat her well.”

Gan Jiancheng listened to his son-in-law’s words, feeling content but not entirely convinced.

The two spent a day in the city and returned by evening.

”Dad, I’m not going home; I haven’t seen Shuling all day, I’m going back to check on her.”

”Okay, drive me home and bring back some food. You two don’t need to be thrifty; our family has plenty.”

”Alright. I know.”

After dropping off Gan Jiancheng, he brought back several pounds of eggs and some noodles before heading home.

Back at home, he entered the courtyard, noticing no lights were on, causing annoyance. Was she avoiding him? He didn’t want to touch her, but naturally had needs, and now couldn’t seek out other women.

Upon entering, he realized there was no fire despite the spring season, and it was still quite cold at night.

Was she throwing a tantrum? Angrily, he stormed through the doorway; inside, it was pitch dark, and he stumbled to light a candle.

The person on the bed remained motionless; his anger reached a tipping point, ”Gan Shuling, you’re living a good life, not moving all day?”

When he was angry, she’d usually placate him cautiously, but today there was no response. He was surprised—was she dissatisfied with him?

”Gan Shuling? Gan Shuling?”

Still no response, and he grew anxious. Bringing the candle closer, he was startled at her open mouth.

Kong Demin carefully placed his hand under her nose—no breath. He quickly felt for her pulse; the body was already stiff.

For a moment, Kong Demin was stunned, then pulled back the quilt, noting her pants were below the knees. Placing the candle aside, he exerted himself to pull up her pants. Then he tossed the candle aside and ran out.

With urgent knocking, Gan Jiancheng answered the door, ”Demin?”

”Dad, Mom, hurry back with me; something’s happened to Shuling, hurry,” Kong Demin spoke through tears.

Gan Jiancheng was startled, and with his wife, got into the car.

Inside the house, Gan Jiancheng turned on a flashlight, and Kong Demin picked up and lit the candle from the floor.

The elderly couple had already realized their daughter’s body had become stiff; she had been dead for quite a while.

Kong Demin was sitting on the ground, sobbing, and Mrs. Gan was holding her daughter, wailing loudly as well.

”Dad, Mom, let’s take Shuling to the hospital, to the hospital.”

The elderly couple was solely focused on crying, paying no attention to him.

”Dad, let’s go to the hospital; I can’t believe it. I asked her about breakfast this morning before leaving, I offered to make it, and she said no. How could this have happened upon our return? Yu Jing is still so young; how can this be?”

Gan Jiancheng, seeing how Kong Demin was crying, said, ”It’s useless; the body’s stiff already. My poor daughter, I shouldn’t have taken you to the meeting, not for the entire day at least.”

But no matter how hard the cries, she was already gone.

Gan Jiancheng lifted his wife, ”Okay Xiu Fen, stop crying. Let our child depart dignified. You and Demin dress her up.”

Despite having mentally prepared themselves for their ill daughter, they never expected her to pass after marriage and childbirth.

Kong Demin fetched the attire from their wedding. ”Mom, Shuling liked this outfit best; let’s let her wear this when she goes.”

Mrs. Gan took the clothes and wept anew; even though she was over forty, she appeared quite young, like someone in their early thirties. Her crying made her seem even more beautiful.

”Fine, let’s dress our daughter in this. You two change her; I’ll find someone and later we’ll bring Yu Jing back,” Gan Jiancheng said, turning to leave.

”Mom, please stop crying. Let’s follow Dad’s advice and let Shuling depart elegantly.” But Meng Xiu Fen was too grief-stricken; she had only this one daughter.

Kong Demin took the clothes, lifted the blanket, and struggled to dress her.

The body, stiffened after a long time, made changing clothes notably difficult.

They took an hour to dress her properly. Kong Demin then found socks, shoes, and dressed her fully.

Seeing her son-in-law do this erased any resentment in Meng Xiu Fen’s heart; he had been good to her daughter after all.

Within moments, over ten people arrived to arrange funeral rites.

Gan Jiancheng sent someone to fetch the Kong family. Around midnight, the four from the Kong family, including the weak-looking child, arrived together.