Drake Voss

Grandma cannot understand human language. 
The day before the provincial exam, she hid cheat sheets in my clothes, causing me to be judged as cheating, banned from examinations for five years, and recorded in the integrity file. 
I went home to settle accounts with her, but Zhang Jianguo and my younger sister asked me to understand the elderly's good intentions. 
As a result, I developed depression, and the doctor said I needed rest. 
However, Grandma brought an old bachelor from the village to our home, suggesting I marry him early. 
My mom tried to protect me and stopped them but was beaten into the hospital by my dad. 
I was still taken back to the village by that old man, tied up at home, and abused daily. 
In the end, unable to bear the humiliation, I chose to commit suicide. 
When I opened my eyes again, I must let Grandma suffer the same fate as everyone else!

No More Being a Good Girl

I was startled awake by the sound of a gentle knock at the door.


Opening my eyes, I found myself lying in a familiar bed.


The room's arrangement was as always, with the calendar on the wall stuck on July 5, 2013.


"Sisi, Grandma's here to help you iron the clothes for the exam tomorrow." Grandma's kind voice came from outside the door.


The scene was too familiar, as if time had reversed.


I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.


"Okay, Grandma, I'll be right there." I replied, feigning composure.


Opening the door, Grandma stood at the entrance holding my white shirt and a dress skirt.


"Sisi, Grandma ironed the clothes for you, look neat for tomorrow's exam," Grandma said with a smile.


I took the clothes, forcing out a faint smile.


"Thank you, Grandma, you've worked hard."


Closing the door, I leaned against it as memories flooded back like a tide.


In the past life, it was this night when Grandma secretly slipped a cheat sheet into my clothes.


The next day at the exam room, the invigilator discovered that piece of paper.


I was expelled from the exam room, found guilty of cheating.


I went home to question Grandma why she did it, but she innocently said she was worried I wouldn't pass and wanted to help me.


Because of her, I was banned from taking exams for five years, and cheating marked my honesty record, forever barring me from a career in public service.


Yet when I questioned her, Zhang Jianguo and my sister chimed in, saying I wouldn't have passed anyway, this wasn't so bad, and I should appreciate Grandma's good intentions.


I fell into depression in despair, and Grandma secretly agreed to a match with a middle-aged bachelor from the village, intending to marry me off.


Though my mom tried to stop them from taking me, she was beaten into the hospital by Zhang Jianguo and Grandma.


I was taken back to the village by that man, and suffered immeasurably, eventually choosing to end my own life.


I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.


This time, I will not repeat the same mistakes!


"Sisi, is the clothes ironed well?" Grandma's voice rang again.


"No problem, Grandma, thank you for your hard work." I replied, suppressing my anger.


"That's good, rest early and good luck on the exam tomorrow." Grandma's voice gradually faded away.


As soon as she left, I immediately checked every corner of the clothes, sure enough finding a small piece of paper in the shirt pocket.


I carefully took out the paper, densely packed with various exam points.


I let out a cold laugh, ripping the paper into pieces, and flushed it down the toilet.


In the past life, it was this piece of paper that got me thrown out of the exam room!


I lay back on the bed, clenched my fists.


If not for my biological father's early death, and my mom having to marry into this family to take care of me and endure that old thing's antics!


Tomorrow, I will surely pass the civil service exam with my own ability and take mom away from this family!
