That year, I froze to death in the woodshed on New Year's Eve. Before I died, none of my eight children came to see me for the last time. When I opened my eyes again, I went back to the time when I married my third son - this time, I decided to get back everything I owed myself in my previous life.
On the kang is the sewing machine - I used all my savings to buy it when the eldest son got married. Later, the third daughter-in-law borrowed it and never returned it.
Outside the window, the third child was leading his partner—the city girl who later forced me to kneel down before I would come in—around the yard. In my previous life, in order to support my third son, I borrowed 3,000 yuan to host a banquet and paid it back for a whole year.
At the door, the fourth child was squatting on the ground smoking, waiting for me to find him a date. In my previous life, I took out all the coffins for his betrothal gift.
In the kitchen, the three daughters were chattering and laughing, discussing what new clothes to buy for the New Year. In my previous life, I bought a new set of clothes for each of them, and I wore an old cotton-padded jacket that I had patched over and over again.
I slowly sat up, trembling all over - not from coldness, but from anger, hatred, and regret.
