Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 14

Once the first month of the year passed, spring crept in quietly. Green began to show along the roadsides, and the Yue (moon) River thawed. The Yue River was a small stream that ran past Guanjia Village, named for its crescent-moon shape.

The children who had been cooped up at home by their parents were finally set free, scattering like birds released from their cages, their mischievous figures popping up everywhere.

That day, Guan Yuan was sitting on the edge of a field, staring blankly at Zhao Shenggu, when someone patted him on the shoulder.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 13

Guan Manku saw that they all disagreed with him, and every word they said cut straight to his heart. He couldn't help but let out a loud laugh. "Fine, fine. You see that I'm useless now, so you just watch me suffer and treat money like it's more important than life itself. You'll regret this sooner or later!" By the time he got to the last sentence, he was grinding his teeth in anger.

Everyone assumed he was just lashing out because he didn't get the money. But Guan Yuan could tell from the look on Guan Manku's face that he was genuinely plotting something.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 12

Guan Mancang and Guan Manku didn't return until dusk. The moment they got back, Guan Manku started fuming angrily: "That wretched girl Manyue—not only did she refuse to help, she even said I deserved it! And Eldest Sister kept making excuses to dodge me too. I've finally seen it clear—when it really comes down to it, you can only count on yourself. Nobody else is worth counting on!"

Li Yuezhi was equally indignant: "Honestly! All these years, our family has given Eldest Sister's family so many good things, and now when we're in trouble, she's completely useless. Even if we fed those things to a dog, at least the dog would bark at us affectionately."

Yang Xiucui couldn't stand hearing that and immediately started arguing with Li Yuezhi. Yang Feifang, never one to miss a chance to stir things up, added fuel to the fire with her snide comments, making Yang Xiucui even angrier.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 11

After that incident, Zhao Shenggu became even more vigilant around the Guan family, keeping Guan Yuan tightly under his protection.

On the third day after her wedding, Guan Manyue came back to her parents' house for the customary visit—but she showed up by herself. Wang Guohui was nowhere to be seen. As soon as she walked in, she hugged Yang Xiucui and burst into tears, "What kind of man is that? He's been out of his mind ever since we got back. His family had to tie him to the bed, or he'd start hitting people. Mom, I'm not going back…"

Yang Xiucui's eyes were also full of tears. She genuinely felt heartbroken for Guan Manyue. Although Yang Xiucui had always been a sharp-tongued and quarrelsome woman, even she didn't dare to talk back when Guan He flew into a rage.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 10

"Haha! That was hilarious!" Guan Yuan laughed heartily at Yang Feifang's reaction.

Zhao Shenggu looked at Guan Yuan helplessly. "Xiao Yuan, you shouldn't have provoked her. When your father gets back, he's going to scold you."

Guan Yuan looked completely unfazed. "Let him scold me if he wants. Brother, are you going to just stand there and watch him yell at me? Do you think I'm a bad kid?"

Zhao Shenggu sighed and picked Guan Yuan up. "My Xiao Yuan is so good—how could you possibly be a bad kid? I'm just worried that you'll be hurt when your father scolds you." He had no parents himself, and even though Guan Yuan had a father, that father might as well not have existed. Every time Zhao Shenggu saw Guan Yuan looking at Guan Mancang with those longing eyes, his heart ached. He could protect Guan Yuan from bullies, but he couldn't make Guan Mancang love him.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 9

Yang Xiucui slapped her thigh. "I knew that little brat wasn't being honest with us. Watching our whole family run around worried sick, and he didn't say a single word—he was probably standing there laughing at us. I don't care what it takes, I have to get that money out of him! Old man, you agree with me, don't you?"

Guan He paused for a moment, then spoke with feigned righteousness: "If a child his age really has that kind of money on him, it's bound to bring trouble. Better for us to keep it safe for him—that way, we won't be letting down his grandfather's trust either." 

Yang Feifang snickered inwardly, but kept a straight face and said, "Dad's right. A little kid like him can't be trusted to hold onto that much money. It would only end up hurting him."

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 8

Zhao Shenggu noticed that Guan Yuan was staring at the sled, and assumed he wanted to try it too. So he took Guan Yuan over to a group of children. The village chief's son, named Guan Erzhuang, came from a well-off family and was stockier than the other kids.

"Erzhuang, lend me your sled," Zhao Shenggu said with a serious face.

Guan Erzhuang sniffed hard, his nose running. He was a bit afraid of Zhao Shenggu. Mustering his courage, he cautiously said, "What if I say no?" 

Zhao Shenggu gestured for him to come over alone. Guan Erzhuang didn't want to go, but he was afraid Zhao Shenggu might hit him, so he told his sidekick to watch the sled, shuffled his feet reluctantly, and came over to Zhao Shenggu.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 7

This year, the Guan family placed unusual importance on the New Year. Yang Xiucui not only had her daughters-in-law hand out white flour, but she also gave out more pork than usual. 

Guan Taixing and the other kids were overjoyed at the sight of meat and hung around the kitchen door all day, hoping that when Yang Xiucui wasn't around, Yang Feifang and the others might sneak a piece out to stuff into their mouths. Of course, everyone looked out for their own. Even Zhao Xiulian, who was usually so honest, followed her sisters-in-law to steal meat for her own children.

Naturally, no one bothered with Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu.

Guan Yuan didn't care about their little scraps of meat anyway. Lately, thanks to his space, he'd been finding chances to feed Zhao Shenggu well. In just a few days, both of them had filled out a bit.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 6

Wang Er Mazi was a well-known scoundrel in the village, named for his pockmarked face. His family had been poor peasants for generations. He loafed around all day doing nothing, loved to drink, and after a few cups, would harass the married women in the village. He'd been beaten up more times than anyone could count.

He was always boasting about his "poor peasant" status, claiming he came from the purest revolutionary stock. Whenever anything happened in any household, he'd show up uninvited to eat and drink for free. 

[During China's revolutionary era (1950s–70s), "poor peasant" was considered the most politically reliable class status. People from this background were seen as inherently loyal to the revolution, while those from landlord or rich peasant families were viewed with suspicion — not just because they were wealthy, but because the regime labeled them as "class enemies" who had exploited poor peasants through rent and high interest. During land reform, their property was confiscated and redistributed, and families were stigmatized for decades, barred from Party membership, military service, and higher education.]

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 5

By the time Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan got back to the Guan family home, it was almost lunchtime. To save firewood, Yang Xiucui had lit a brazier in the main room, and the whole family was gathered there. At first glance, it almost looked like a warm, harmonious scene.

Yang Xiucui had been put in her place by Zhao Shenggu the day before, so when she saw the two of them come in from outside, she didn't dare say much—just a half-hearted complaint: "Out roaming around first thing in the morning, not lifting a finger to help with the housework, and now you're bringing all that cold air in here!" She didn't dare repeat the "eating for free" remarks, though. 

Zhao Shenggu couldn't be bothered to argue with her. He acted as if he hadn't heard and took Guan Yuan straight back to their room.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 4

At the time, Zhao Shenggu's household registration had not been moved into the Guan family. He could leave whenever he wanted. But Guan Yuan couldn't. Before he turned eighteen, he couldn't set up his own household unless the Guan family officially let him go.

There was no way Zhao Shenggu would leave Guan Yuan alone with the Guan family!

Back in their room, Guan Yuan said, full of self-blame, "Brother, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you could have left on your own!" 

Zhao Shenggu sighed helplessly. "What do you know? If I walked out of the Guan family empty-handed right now, I'd have no place to live and nothing to eat. How would I survive? How could it be because of you?"

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 3

Yang Xiucui and Guan Manyue watched helplessly as Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan headed to the kitchen.

Guan Manyue grumbled in frustration: "Mom, why didn't you stand up for me? You just let an outsider bully your own daughter!"

Yang Xiucui smacked Guan Manyue in anger: "You useless girl! Are you trying to drive me to my grave? A grown young lady like you, letting a big boy into your room—do you have any idea what people will say about your reputation? And you had him bring you hot water too—if anyone finds out, they'll call you a lazy girl. Do you even want to get married anymore?!"

Guan Manyue muttered under her breath: "What does it matter? I'm not going to marry any of these country bumpkins anyway. Didn't Sister say she'd find someone for me in the city?"

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 2

Guan Yuan felt heartbroken just looking at Zhao Shenggu. His face scrunched up as he prepared to comfort him, but when Zhao Shenggu noticed, he actually laughed instead. "What kind of silly face is that? You could hang an oil jar from that pout."

Guan Yuan let out a humph and turned his back, ignoring Zhao Shenggu. Seeing Guan Yuan's little tantrum, Zhao Shenggu quickly tried to make it up to him. Guan Yuan's "old face" flushed red—counting the years he'd already spent dead, he was over a hundred years old, practically an old monster, and here he was throwing a fit like an eleven-year-old. But he just couldn't stop the joy bubbling up inside him. During those hundred years of drifting as a wandering spirit, his mindset had long since warped, and being pampered like this by the one he loved felt absolutely wonderful.

Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 1

November 5, 1993. Changyuan University, Hacheng.

Guan Yuan stood at the library entrance, pulling his cotton coat tighter around himself. He tucked his chin in and breathed out a puff of air, which quickly condensed into white mist. Thinking about the university's job assignment list, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Over the past few years at school, he had worked hard, kept up good relations with the leadership, and finally secured a spot for a government position in the city.

He was lost in thought when someone slapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? I just saw your brother at the school gate — you should go check it out!" It was the eldest guy in their dorm. Guan Yuan thanked him and hurried off toward the entrance.