Chapter 1: Back to My Youthful Years in One Dream

  Seeing off her son who was going back to school, looking at the vast and cold house, Zhang Yue felt empty inside. All these years, for her parents, for her son, for her family, she had paid too much hard work.

  Time flies, when everyone is envying her comfortable life, successful husband, excellent son, and worry-free parents who can enjoy their old age, only she knows that behind all this, a woman's happiness for half of her life has been paid. If everything could be relived, Zhang Yue's greatest hope was to live once for herself. When she woke up, Zhang Yue was a bit confused. Obviously, she had just leaned on the sofa and taken a nap, but why was it dark outside, and she was still lying on the bed? Was her husband who hadn't returned for many days back? Thinking about it, she couldn't help but laugh at herself, how could that be possible? Zhang Yue touched the mattress under her body, hard and not her usual latex mattress, obviously a small bed, where was this place?

  Suddenly heard a voice outside: "Teacher Chen, what are the chances of Zhang Yue getting into No. 1 Middle School?"

  "This voice sounds so familiar! It's mom!"

  Wait, this scene, these words, this room... it's all so familiar. This is 1990, when Zhang Yue was in sixth grade and had just started school! Could it be that I've been reborn?! Just one sleep and I've returned to the past, back to when I was 11 years old!

  Lying in bed, Zhang Yue's face was filled with tears. Thanking heaven for its kindness, giving herself a chance to start again.

  The conversation between the mother outside and Teacher Chen during the home visit, Zhang Yue didn't listen carefully. This conversation was a turning point for the former Zhang Yue, every word had never been forgotten after all these years.

  Zhang Yue clearly remembered that the power was out at home that day, and she and her sister went to bed early. Just as she was dozing off, she heard a knock on the door - it was their class teacher Chen coming for a home visit.

  Listening to Mr. Chen's words outside the house, Zhang Yue still seemed like in a dream.

  "Zhang Yue, this kid is smart but also quite anxious. You ask me how much hope she has, I don't know either. Based on her current performance, it's just between passing and not passing the exam. If she performs well, she'll pass, but just barely make the cut-off line. If she doesn't perform well, she won't pass, but also won't be far off in terms of score. So you'd best prepare for both possibilities, on one hand urging her to study hard, and on the other hand, if necessary, directly find someone to help."

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue wiped away her tears and couldn't help but laugh. It was precisely because she had heard Mr. Chen's words back then that she felt indignant in her heart and harbored a strong desire to prove herself. She studied diligently and eventually got into the top three in the province with excellent grades, which truly gave her parents and teachers a surprise, and also marked the beginning of her miserable junior high school life.

  Since starting anew, Zhang Yue made a firm decision in her heart to live for herself this time, taking charge of her own affairs and no longer being indecisive.

  "Listening, Mom continued to ask: "Teacher Chen, you say, a child as big as Zhang Yue watching Qiong Yao's works, will there be any problem? Will it be too early?"

  Hehe, Zhang Yue has already memorized Teacher Chen's words, and it was precisely because of Teacher Chen's words that Zhang Yue felt like she had received a sacred decree, allowing her to read whatever books she wanted without any scruples.

  "Anyway, Teacher Chen said outside the house: 'Your daughter Zhang Yue is a sensible child in this regard, so you don't need to worry about her. At their age, they know a bit about those things, but they can't fully understand them either. But Qiong Yao still has her good points. Look at your daughter's composition, how many children of the same age can compare with her in terms of character appearance and inner description? So she knows what I can use. Just ignore her, don't encourage or interfere."

  Moved to tears again, Zhang Yue thought that in that era, being able to meet such a teacher was truly a lifetime of good fortune. She fell asleep dazedly and woke up again when the sky was already bright.

  Dad is busy with work and often goes on business trips, while mom has a habit of sleeping in for many years. In the past when she lived with her parents, she would get dizzy and headache if she got up early, and it was hard to get through the day. Now that they've moved out, the task of making breakfast has fallen on Zhang Yue's shoulders. Her little sister, a lazy worm, is still sleeping soundly, so there's no hope for her either. Zhang Yue gets out of bed and walks into the kitchen, where she sees pickled vegetables, salted duck eggs, and half a leftover steamed fish on the chopping board. Actually, making breakfast just means reheating the leftover rice to make porridge and warming up the dishes mom has prepared.

  Looking at this overly simple breakfast, Zhang Yue thought that in two years, she would be severely anemic and her junior high school grades would be affected, causing her life to plummet into a low valley, with her dreams shattered.

  Although there is no way to control oneself from getting sick now, one should also start paying attention to diet, starting from small things and building a good foundation for the body.

  She thought for a moment, cooked the porridge, heated up the fish, and took out preserved eggs, vegetables, and some stir-fried meat from the cabinet. She peeled, washed, and chopped them up, then took out scallions, ginger, and garlic to chop into fine strips. When the porridge was boiling, she added them in along with salt, pepper powder, and a few drops of sesame oil, simmering over low heat while she went to wash up on the side. After finishing washing up and tying her hair back, breakfast was also ready. She dished it out, put it down, and walked into the room to call her sister to get up.

  After calling three times, before Zhang Yue was thoroughly annoyed, Zhang Qing finally opened her sleepy eyes and stumbled to wash up. Looking at the back of her sister, Zhang Yue sighed with a mixture of helplessness and affection. Looking at her 9-year-old sister, she felt as if she saw her own son when he was little.

  Thinking of this, Zhang Yue's heart ached and her eyes were suddenly filled with tears. Fortunately, her son had grown up and had his own world. As for the future of her son, the role of that father was far greater than hers as a mother.

  "Sister, what smells so good?" The younger sister shouted from the bathroom. Without going in, Zhang Yue knew that this little girl must have been brushing her teeth and washing her face with her eyes closed again, and it seemed that she had finally woken up from her dream.