Chapter 1

Lying in the VVIP ward, Erick Morrison had undergone two surgeries, but he still couldn't escape death as the cancer cells had spread.

As he closed his eyes for the last time, regretful tears rose in his aging, murky eyes. The greatest remorse of his life was toward his wife and children.

His beautiful wife, Tara Oneill, would never have married a poor man like him at 18 if not for his scheming.

He devised a plan to make her fall into a reservoir and save her from it. Everyone saw her disheveled state as he rescued her. She had been forced to marry him for the sake of her reputation.

Since entering his family, Tara had never experienced a single day of happiness.

Four months after giving birth to April Morrison, she could no longer endure being beaten and kicked by him while he was drunk, and the lack of milk to feed their child only made the baby cry nonstop from hunger.

In despair, she took April in her arms and chose to drown herself in the reservoir.

After Tara's death, Samuel Morrison, Harvey Morrison, and Nellie Morrison severed all ties with him. The villagers avoided him like a plague.

After burying Tara and April, he left the small mountain village where he had lived since childhood.

He moved to the city, slowly accumulating wealth, and as the economic reform took off, he built his fortune. By middle age, he was the president of a listed company and extremely wealthy. Despite all his wealth, he never remarried.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, but ever since Tara died, he had been unable to perform as a man. He tried many medicines and saw many doctors—scientific and unscientific methods—but nothing worked.

Finally, he succumbed to testicular cancer, and by his deathbed, only his assistant and private lawyer were by his side.

Erick felt that his death from testicular cancer and his inability to have children was his due punishment, a form of retribution.

As he lay dying, he tightly gripped Tara's pendant—the only memento she had left for him.

When he opened his eyes again, his head throbbed, and he groaned in pain. He stared blankly at the old, dilapidated ceiling above, taking a long time to process what he saw. Hadn't he died in the hospital? Why did this place resemble his old house?

Confused, he propped himself up, and to his astonishment, at the foot of the bed, he saw Tara curled up naked.

Her pale, beautiful face was dull, and her once flawless skin was bruised.

Erick's eyes turned red instantly, and he rubbed them, unsure if he was dreaming. He couldn't help but call out, "Tara."

His voice was hoarse.

As he reached out to embrace her, she suddenly screamed, thrashing violently.

"Get away! Don't touch me!" Her voice was full of despair.

Seeing her like this, he stopped, his mind racing, and soon, the memory hit him.

Tara had borrowed money from her family to buy oatmeal for their child, but when he lost at gambling and got drunk, he took the money to buy alcohol instead.

When he returned home drunk, he had brutally tortured her in bed, slapped her, and insulted her with all sorts of foul words.

Filled with self-loathing, he slapped his face several times, the impact causing his handsome face to turn red and swollen, blood dripping down his chin.

Tears staining her eyes, Tara silently watched his actions and couldn't help but sneer.

She had long since lost count of how many times this had happened.

Every time he sobered up, he would kneel, cry and beg to change, always promising that he would improve—but he never did.

She had endured his abuse, but she couldn't bear to see April hungry, crying every day for food.

But she had no milk.

The baby's cry echoed, bringing a glimmer of life into Tara's beautiful eyes.

Panicked, she hurriedly put on a simple garment to cover herself and rushed to pick up April from the dilapidated crib.

April cried even louder as there was no milk to drink.

Sitting on the bed, Erick's sharp eyes watched Tara and April, who were so full of life, yet he still found it hard to believe it was real.

Could it be the pendant?

Before his death, he had a vague sense that the pendant had glowed.

In his past life, he had been lonely. Now, with his eyes wide open, he stared at this scene, afraid it would disappear if he blinked.

April cried out again, and Erick, unable to sit and watch, immediately jumped out of bed.

He grabbed the clothes lying on the floor, hastily put them on, and whispered through his tears to Tara, "Tara, wait here. I'll go get some oatmeal for April."

He stepped out of the dilapidated bedroom. With long strides and quick steps, he made his way to the village's only small shop.

Having been reborn, Erick marveled at his youthful body and walked with a sense of vigor, feeling none of the discomfort he had become accustomed to after his two surgeries for bladder cancer and the painful rounds of chemotherapy.

It seemed like karma.

The shopkeeper, Tobias Wynn, smiled as he recognized Erick. "Are you here to buy alcohol again? What kind do you want this time?"

As a wealthy president, Erick's fortune had surpassed billions in his previous life, and he had long achieved financial freedom. He could buy not just oatmeal but a milk powder factory just by uttering a single sentence.

But now, his pockets were empty in this life, and he couldn't even afford oatmeal for his child. All he could do was shamefully ask for credit.

"Tobias, I need to buy some oatmeal for my child. Can I put it on credit? I'll pay you tomorrow."

Tobias' eyes widened when he saw Erick asking to run up another tab. He stared at the red, swollen slap mark on his face.

Standing over 6 feet tall, Erick was the kind of person from whom others generally kept their distance, but it was hard to tell if the bruise was from a drunken mishap at home.

He had a strong, well-built frame that no one in the village could match. But he was utterly useless—always getting into trouble.

If it weren't for Nellie's remarriage, could he have landed such an intelligent, educated wife just because of some life-saving favor?

His thoughts drifted to the pitiful mother and daughter at home.

Without saying a word, Tobias grabbed a bag of oatmeal from the shelf and handed it to Erick.

Erick gratefully thanked him, not daring to linger momentarily, and rushed back home.

Before even reaching the dirt-covered yard, he could hear April's weak, cat-like cry from inside the house.

Hurrying inside, he found Tara, just as he had left her, lying naked.

He was a monster. He had beaten Tara when drunk, and it was no wonder she had drowned herself in despair in his past life.

She was only wearing a worn-out outer garment, and it seemed that the new clothes she had brought from the city had been traded for alcohol.

Erick's heart twisted in pain when he saw this. His voice was hoarse as he said, "I bought the oatmeal."

When Tara saw the bag of oatmeal in his hand, she immediately became alert, clutching April protectively. Her pale face was filled with fear.

"I warn you, Erick, don't sell our daughter. If you do, I'll end it with you, and I curse the Morrison family to have no descendants!" Her voice was filled with desperate hysteria.

Erick froze in place, vaguely recalling that in his past life, he had planned to sell April to a childless couple in town for money to buy more alcohol.

The thought made his heart bleed. What kind of scum had he been? He deserved to die.

No wonder he died of testicular cancer. He really deserved it.

Bending down, he placed the oatmeal on the old bed, which was missing a leg, and propped it up with a stone.

With red-rimmed eyes and a voice choking with emotion, he said, "I was wrong. I'm a jerk. Believe me. I won't sell April. I'll head to town tomorrow and look for a job."

He turned and parted the dark curtain to leave.

Once outside, he slapped himself hard across the face several times, blood dripping down his face.

Looking at the still-thatched roof kitchen, which was dark inside with no proper utensils, he recalled that in his past life, it was at the end of this month when Tara had taken April and drowned herself in the reservoir, with stones tied to her body to ensure there was no chance of survival.

His whole body went numb at the thought. He had no time to feel pity. It was already getting dark, and there was nothing left to eat in the house.

He rushed out again, heading toward the back of the mountain.

On his way, he grabbed a net bag and a pair of shorts, which caused the dogs to bark.

After a 20-minute walk, he reached the foot of the mountain, stripped off his clothes, and revealed his strong, bronzed body.

Chapter 2

Erick pulled out the elastic band from his underwear and picked up a twig to make a slingshot.

He shot a stone.

A dove flapped its wings and flew away.

It was a miss.

In his previous life, after becoming successful, he developed a passion for shooting and even dabbled in slingshots for a time. Back in his youth, he struggled to hit the dove at first, but after a while, he found his rhythm.

He crouched in the grass for a while before finally trapping a pheasant in his net and shooting a few doves with the slingshot.

The doves were small, only weighing a couple of pounds, but the pheasant was plump, weighing four or five pounds.

With his muscular body, Erick effortlessly tied them with vines and hung them from a tree branch, preparing to carry them home.

But suddenly, he felt something light on his back, and the catch was gone. Panic surged through him as he broke out in a cold sweat. Was this a ghost?

He looked down and saw Tara's pendant faintly glowing on his chest.

It was the same pendant she always carried with her. It was not made of emerald or plastic. She had taken it off and thrown it by the reservoir when she had jumped to her death.

When Erick looked closely, the pendant was gone. He instinctively reached out to feel for it.

He realized he had entered a small space—950 cubic feet, which was even smaller than his ward.

After several attempts, he understood that he could enter this space by holding the pendant, and by thinking of leaving, he could exit.

This discovery thrilled him. This must be the so-called space that could hold many things and even be upgraded.

Relying on the mountains for food and the water for fishing, he thought about how his life had become so miserable.

On his way back, he returned the net bag and even left a few mushrooms inside as a bonus.

Through the dilapidated window of his home, a tiny light shone.

Seeing that tiny light, he felt a sense of satisfaction he had never known before. In his past life, no amount of money had ever brought him this feeling of contentment.

Now he understood why eunuchs, who had lost everything, could never forget what they once had.

The lights of many households were visible, but only his own mattered.

On his way back, he noticed that many households had electricity.

He still used an oil lamp at home, and despite the years of hardship from natural disasters, they were still struggling to make ends meet.

With the game he had caught, he went straight to the kitchen. While there was still some daylight, he grabbed a knife, skillfully slaughtered the doves, and started a fire.

The smell of dove meat soon filled the kitchen.

As the sky darkened completely, Erick brought a large bowl of dove stew into the main room and said, "Tara, dinner's ready. The dove soup will help with your milk production."

The bowl, though large, had several cracks. He had tried to smooth them out earlier, worried that the cracks might hurt Tara's lips.

After a while, she finally emerged from the room.

Seeing the bowl of dove stew and the meat in it, she didn't immediately approach. Instead, she stood there, watching him with hatred and suspicion.

He looked at her, dressed in patched and ill-fitting clothes, and felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.

Even at this scarce time, she was charming. Her skin was so tender that it seemed to glow like a precious pearl.

She was naturally graceful, with a good figure, but he had been a fool.

He had plotted against her to get her, yet never treasured her. He only ever hit or scolded her.

In his past life, after years of self-restraint, just thinking about her figure brought a surge of heat to his abdomen.

Seeing her so wary, he knew she wouldn't eat if he sat down with her.

"Go ahead and eat. There's plenty more in the kitchen. I'll eat in there, and if you want more, I'll get you more," he said, then turned and left.

Tara stood there stiffly, staring at the steaming dove stew in the bowl. She felt a sense of confusion—was this a dream, or was this a final meal?

In the past, he always made sure to eat first, leaving her with only leftovers or dishwater.

Though she was starving now, she was afraid he might be scheming for something, so she hesitated.

She stepped out and saw him, shirtless and barefoot, with mud on his feet, sitting by the window, holding the bowl and slurping the soup. The soup was little and did not contain chunks of meat.

By the kitchen door, there hung a sizeable pheasant.

Had he gone hunting? But he wasn't known for being a hunter. He always messed around, yet now he could do this?

Puzzled, she returned to the main room, picked up the bowl, and ate.

It had been so long since she had eaten meat. She overate and let out a loud burp.

After finishing her meal, Erick, under Tara's watchful, wary, and puzzled eyes, took the initiative to clean the dishes.

He had always been lazy, never doing housework, but this might be the first time he did it properly.

Once that was done, he remembered what he had done earlier and fetched two buckets of water. He boiled a pot of hot water and filled a basin, which he then took to her.

"Tara, here's some water for you to wash up."

He set the basin down, then quickly left again.

Sitting at the door, he waited for a while, listening to the faint sounds of water from inside. Looking up at the stars in the sky, he thought about how he needed to find a way to make money tomorrow to improve their situation.

Winter was coming. In this place, temperatures could reach as low as minus four degrees Fahrenheit, and water froze instantly.

Tara and April needed warm clothes, and their bedding was too thin. He had taken half of their new quilt's cotton to trade for alcohol.

He could handle the cold, but they certainly couldn't.

When the sounds of water stopped, Erick got up and walked back inside.

Seeing him suddenly enter, Tara, unable to cover herself in time, instinctively shielded her chest with one hand and tried to retreat, her bruised body moving backward like a frightened animal.

"Don't... don't come any closer..."

Her actions made him curse himself silently, realizing that her emotional wounds wouldn't heal quickly. He swore he would never make the same mistakes again. Promises like that had been made before, but now, he would let his actions speak.

From now on, he would do everything he could to make up for the pain she had suffered.

He tried to reassure her in the gentlest tone he could muster. "Tara, I'm just going out to pour the water. I promise I won't do anything. Don't hide. Be careful, or you'll hurt yourself." He bent down, picked up the basin, and headed outside.

She ignored him. As soon as he left, she quickly got dressed.

Outside, Erick used the hot water from Tara's bath to quickly wash off the sweat from his body under the moonlight. He had been lying in the grass for a long time to catch those doves.

After washing up, he put on his torn clothes again but didn't return inside immediately. He sat by the door, thinking back to the events of his past life.

There had been a year when a few outsiders wanted to venture into the mountains. The dense forest made them fear getting lost, so they found him, someone who had nothing to do. He had been eager to help, knowing he would get paid just for guiding them.

Those people had often found valuable things in the mountains. At the time, Erick didn't know what was under the grass or what could be done with it. He thought that the people from the city were just bored.

Looking back now, he realized how clueless he had been.

Though he wasn't sure why those people hadn't shown up in this life, it seemed like a good opportunity for him to dig up things and sell them.

Having seen their methods, he knew how to dig for wild dendo herbs. Energized, he grabbed a torch and prepared simple tools—a small shovel and hoe.

Ignoring the dangers of the night in the mountains, he stood by the bedroom window and spoke loud enough for Tara to hear. "Tara, lock the door. I'll be back soon."

He left and didn't return until around 4:00 am.

It was fortunate that, while descending the mountain, he had slipped and rolled down, discovering a fox den. He quickly killed a few foxes, skinned them, and placed them in a basket, leaving one in the kitchen.

After finishing his tasks, he drank some cold water to quench his thirst and satisfy his hunger. Without pausing, he set out again under the cover of night.

By the time he reached town, carrying the basket of goods 60 miles over the mountain roads, the sun had already risen.

The market was bustling. He found a crowded spot and exchanged a few words with an older man selling nearby, then crouched down and began to sell his goods—fox meat and pelts.

"Young man, you have some good mountain goods!" the old man said.

Erick had expected no one to show interest and had already planned to take the unsold goods home, sharing them with Samuel, Harvey, and Nellie.

But within minutes, someone came asking about the price of the fox meat.

Seeing that he was a young man darkened by the sun and covered in mud from his pants, the old man and his wife immediately assumed he had come from the mountains. The price was reasonable, and the foxes were large and fat. Without bargaining, they bought two.

Meat was rationed then, and this wild game would have been a good treat for their grandson.

Before leaving, the old woman pulled at her husband's sleeve and asked him to buy all the fox pelts. She intended to use the pelts for gloves or earmuffs for their grandson.

Erick had sold all the fox meat and pelts in less than two hours.

As he packed up, he gave the old man a dime, making him grin.

With the 12 dollars Erick earned from selling the foxes, he went to the biggest pharmacy in town, carrying the valuable goods he had gathered the previous day.

The moment he presented his items, the elderly man behind the counter, wearing thick glasses, couldn't help but stare.

Carefully taking the valuable goods, the old man studied them in the sunlight, snapping off two roots before releasing his excitement. He flashed a crafty smile and extended his hand to offer a price.

"Young man, here's the offer."

Erick raised an eyebrow. The price was far below what he expected. The man clearly thought he was a naive country bumpkin to be taken advantage of.

Despite the fact that the old man only ran a pharmacy in this small town, Erick knew he was no ordinary person. In his past life, he had let go of his resistance to traditional medicine and learned that this man's ancestors had been imperial physicians, and he was a renowned physician.

Seeing the man's insincerity, Erick was about to keep his goods.

The old man, quick on his feet despite his age, grabbed his hand and stroked his beard, trying to calm him down.

"Young man, don't be hasty. If the price doesn't suit you, we can negotiate, can't we? Don't be so impatient!" he said, studying Erick's face.

Erick's sharp eyes revealed an unexpected wisdom, maturity, and cleverness that suggested he wasn't just some ignorant man from the mountains.

Knowing he couldn't afford to lose such a rare item, the old man gritted his teeth and raised the price to one that made him wince.

Such high-quality goods were rare, and he had never seen anything like them in his lifetime running the pharmacy.

Chapter 3

"Young man, 60 dollars is the highest I can offer. No more."

Erick knew the price was far too low, although he had collected the valuable goods. But with his urgent need for money, he had no choice but to sell it at this price. He had only found it on the nearest mountain to his home, so he had no time to search further.

The county town was 50 miles away. By the time he reached the town, the bus to the county had already left for the day. He couldn't afford to wait until tomorrow. What if Tara and April were left malnourished from hunger by then?

His space seemed to preserve things well, but who knew what might happen if he left it there too long?

With that in mind, Erick decided to sell it. This was a small fortune in an era where an average worker made only 30 dollars.

Once he had the money, he was careful not to attract attention, so he put it in his space, keeping only small changes on him. Instead of rushing home, he bought ration tickets for flour, oil, and meat.

These were hard to come by from speculators and were more valuable than cash.

Next, he bought meat, oil, and flour and even made several trips to the public supply stores to get some rare, expensive milk powder and clothes for April.

As he was about to head home, he remembered Tara's old, ill-fitting, patched-up clothes.

He walked into the town's only small Merchant's Square, where a middle-aged saleswoman sized him up with a glance. Without hesitation, he picked a trendy checkered coat and a pair of pants.

Tara had fair skin, a delicate and attractive figure, and a graceful air. These clothes would look absolutely stylish on her.

However, the middle-aged saleswoman didn't immediately take the clothes off the rack. With a somewhat dismissive attitude, she quoted the price. "Sir, this set costs 11.80 dollars."

Erick seemed unfazed by her condescending gaze and handed over the change from his purchases.

The cashier counted the money and wrapped the clothes in paper.

"Here you go, sir."

He placed the clothes in his basket along with various household items. Thinking of the worn-out quilt at home, he bought a new cotton quilt, five feet long and wide, weighing about seven pounds.

He had considered buying two, but remembering how cold and indifferent Tara was toward him, he feared that having two quilts would make her insist on sleeping separately.

If that happened, they wouldn't have much opportunity for closeness.

So, he postponed buying the second quilt, at least for now.

He also picked up some snacks. Once his baskets were full, he walked several miles home. When he reached a secluded spot, he waved his hand, and both baskets disappeared into his space.

On his way home, he detoured to find an elderly hunter in his 70s. He gave the old man a pile of food and exchanged it for his precious hunting rifle.

At this time, meat required ration tickets, and to have the freedom to eat meat, one had to rely on their own efforts to secure it.

As he neared home, he saw Tara carrying April on her back and helping in the fields for Samuel's family. Under the sunlight, her pale face was flushed from the heat.

She couldn't hide her graceful figure even in old, ill-fitting clothes.

Despite having just had a baby, her body had already returned to its pre-pregnancy shape, and it was hard to tell if she had ever given birth.

Meanwhile, Samuel was working hard in the fields. He put down his hoe and picked up his water jug to drink.

When he looked up and saw his lazy younger brother approaching, he immediately fumed and shouted, "Where the hell have you been? Where did you go messing around all this time? You let Tara do all the work in the fields by herself? You're a useless good-for-nothing!"

Erick's eyes welled up, and his nose tingled, almost unable to hold back the tears. He cleared his throat and said, "Samuel, I went to town to get some work done and bought some meat and flour. I'm heading home to cook. Tonight, bring Evelyn and the kids over for dinner."

Hearing that Erick had been working, Samuel sized him up suspiciously. He noticed the mud stains on his pants and glanced at the full basket he was carrying.

After confirming that Erick didn't go gambling, Samuel's face softened a little, knowing the situation at home. They were so poor they couldn't even afford a meal. Anything they could sell, Erick had sold, and the money would either go to drinking or gambling.

Erick had a good appearance but was lazy and useless—such a shame for his looks.

Samuel sighed, but instead of openly scolding Erick, he said gently, "Evelyn made some bread for lunch. Let Tara bring some home, and we won't go over for dinner. You should treat Tara better from now on. It's good that you turned over a new leaf."

If it weren't for his father-in-law, Hector Oneill, getting into trouble, he wouldn't have had to flee the city and come to the countryside, dragging his two children into disgrace.

And Erick, despite saving Hector's daughter, the fair and beautiful high school student Tara, had done so in such an improper way that the whole village had seen it.

She had to marry into their family to protect her reputation and honor.

However, the Oneill family was unwilling to swallow this insult and thus proposed that Nellie marry into the Oneill family, making the two families even closer.

But with the convict label on the family, the Oneill family had a hard time arranging marriages, and no one was willing to marry their son.

Samuel had been reluctant initially, but Erick had worn him down, so he eventually agreed.

Samuel had heard Erick bragging when drunk, saying that if he hadn't pushed Tara into the reservoir and saved her, how could she have possibly agreed to marry him?

He was a true scoundrel, and if this secret got out, he would be charged with assault, yet he acted so smug about it.

Sensing Samuel's scrutiny, Erick understood how his family viewed him as a disgrace, but he didn't argue. He simply nodded and carried his things home.

Once home, he put his purchases inside, then hurried into the kitchen to get busy.

To win Tara over, he had to start by winning over her stomach.

She was the only woman he had ever had in both lives, and he couldn't neglect her.

As evening approached, Tara returned home, carrying April on her back and a few pieces of bread in her hands.

When she entered the yard, she smelled the savory scent of meat from the kitchen.

Meat? There was meat again?

She stood at the kitchen doorway, watching Erick, who seemed as if he were possessed ever since sobering up yesterday.

This version of him unsettled her, sending a faint chill down her spine.

His tall, well-built figure stood at the small stove as he busied himself in the cramped kitchen.

The thatched-roof house was barely six feet high, and dried goods hung from the rafters. He occasionally bumped his head against them while working.

Seeing the meat and Erick in a surprisingly good mood, Tara couldn't help but wonder if he had won some money gambling.

If he won a little, he was always this cheerful, like he had just eaten something delicious.

If he lost, he would drink, and when drunk, he would take his frustrations out on her—hitting her, using her as his punching bag.

She had worked hard all day and was now exhausted and starving, her legs trembling from hunger.

She didn't want to guess why he was acting this way, so she turned around, put the bread down, and entered the bedroom to put April on the small bed.

Turning her head, she saw a tin of milk powder on the worn-out table.

Anger and confusion rushed through her, and she quickly ran to the kitchen.

Without a word, she slapped Erick across the face.

The slap stunned him. He was still holding the pan of stir-fried fox meat. Before he could ask what was wrong, he saw the tears welling up in her eyes.

Turning around, he hurriedly put the pan down on the stove and reached out to wipe her tears.

But as his hand rose halfway, he saw her step back, her disgusted gaze forcing him to retract his hand. He was at a loss for words.

"Tara, what's wrong? Tell me what I did wrong, and I'll change. You're still nursing, so don't make yourself sick... I've heard that anger is bad for your health."

Her red lips trembled. She was filled with sorrow and anger, as she tearfully asked, "Did you go to my family again, threatening my mother for money? How could you be so shameless?" Her voice cracked with sadness and fury.

Erick stood speechless for a long time, unable to recall the old matters from decades ago. It felt like he had crossed into his younger self, and some of the more disgraceful actions were hard to remember.

Only after Tara's words did he slowly recall the incident when he had threatened Marla for money.

Realizing why Tara was so upset, he quickly denied it. "I didn't do that."

She didn't believe him, glaring at him as she questioned him. "You didn't? How did you afford the milk powder? Do you think I don't know how rare it is?"

He quickly explained, "That's my own money." He even reached into his pants pocket as if to prove it.

Seeing his reaction, she grew angrier. Even now, he was still thinking about that matter. She stepped forward and slapped him again.

Erick smiled bitterly. Realizing Tara had misunderstood, he hurriedly said, "Tara, I wasn't doing that. I was just taking something out..."

He pulled out the 50 dollars he had tucked in his pocket.

Chapter 4

Seeing the stack of cash shoved into her hand, Tara felt dizzy, almost losing her balance. As she staggered, Erick reached out to steady her, but she pushed his hand away forcefully.

She couldn't believe it. He, a lazy good-for-nothing, had earned so much money in a single day. This amount was what an average working-class family would save over several years of frugality.

He hadn't returned home all night, and now, he was suddenly rich, claiming it was from hard work. She had no idea what kind of bad things he had done outside.

Before this, she had never hoped for him to be a provider. She just wanted him to uphold basic principles and not cross lines that could ruin their lives. Even when he asked for money only to drink or gamble, she never felt this powerless or desperate.

If he got caught stealing, April would carry the label of having a criminal as a parent. She didn't want April to suffer the way she had.

What should she do? She couldn't take this life anymore… She felt like giving up.

When Erick saw Tara's expression, he knew she didn't trust him. Her gaze had lost all light, and the hopelessness in her eyes almost made him want to kneel before her.

Although he stood at 6 feet tall, he felt smaller than ever before, standing before Tara with no idea how to explain.

"L-last night, I went up the mountain to dig for some wild dendo herbs. I just happened to find a fox den, and I went to town to sell them before sunrise. All this money is from selling the dendo herbs—60 dollars. I used one to buy ration tickets, and the rest is here."

He didn't dare mention that he nearly fell off a cliff when he found the fox den, but she likely wouldn't care even if he did.

As he spoke, he pulled out all the loose change from his pockets, pushing them into her hands.

When she heard about the wild dendo herbs, her focus slowly shifted.

Dendo herbs?

Root tonic and dendo herbs were valuable plants.

Dendo herbs had high medicinal value and could be sold for a good price. However, they grew deep in the mountains, with wild dendo herbs often found on sheer cliffs. Not only was it hard to locate, but most people didn't even know how to harvest them, especially in the pitch-black darkness of night.

The back of the village's mountain was known for wild animals. There was even a rumor that wild people were living there. Only experienced hunters went up, while others stayed at the foot of the mountain. The only ones willing to roam around recklessly were a few daredevils.

Thinking back, she did recall seeing some unclear bloodstains near the well this morning, and there was the fox meat now cooking in the pot.

Could Tara have misunderstood him?

But how did he know about dendo herbs?

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Erick raised his right hand and swore, "I swear I didn't do anything bad. If I did, may I die an untimely death, struck by lightning, and my bloodline ends forever."

This vow was harsh and resolute. Looking at the tall man in front of her, with his deep black eyes shining brightly and his gaze straightforward and sincere, Tara felt he didn't seem to be lying.

Seeing that her breathing had slowed and her anger seemed to have dissipated, Erick secretly relaxed. Despite the slap marks on his face, he said, "Tara, hurry up and stash the money away. Hide it in separate spots. I'll take some of the meat in the pot to Samuel's house so they can have a little treat."

Although hiding money in a more secure place was safer, giving it to Tara meant handing over control of the household finances to her. The money had to be given to her.

He took a plate of stir-fried fox meat and a bowl of clam chowder to the main room, then returned to the kitchen to fill another bowl of meat before heading over to Samuel's house.

On his way, he settled the debt for the oatmeal he owed from Tobias and paid off the alcohol debt, leaving himself with a few dozen dollars for emergencies.

Once he left, Tara looked at the stack of cash in her hands and gripped them tightly. She quickly returned to the house, locked the door, and repeatedly studied the 50 dollars in her hands.

Erick had always taken money from her in the two-plus years since they married, but this was the first time he had willingly given it to her.

If she managed this well, along with the odd jobs she did to earn a little extra, their living situation for the next two or three years would be secure.

She glanced around the shabby bedroom before carefully dividing the money into five portions and hiding them in different places.

Afterward, hearing Erick's steady footsteps returning, she knew he was back.

She exited the bedroom, unlatched the secured door, and ignored him completely.

She walked straight outside, washed her hands thoroughly, and only then returned to the house.

A dish and soup were steaming on the table, their tempting aroma filling the room. For a moment, she felt dazed.

After washing her hands, she went to the kitchen again.

The empty flour bin now contained fine white flour. There was also a full oil jar, and a ten-pound slab of pork hung from the rafters.

Ten pounds of meat? Who would eat that much meat? Most families would buy just a little bit.

Had he really changed? Tara couldn't be sure. How long could this supposed transformation last? After all, one couldn't teach an old dog new tricks.

She couldn't place her hopes on him anymore.

After she sat down, Erick placed a drumstick into her bowl.

"After we finish eating, you should rest. I need to go up the mountain early tomorrow."

Before winter arrived and the ground hardened, he wanted to quickly visit all the places he remembered where he could find dendo herbs, digging them up as fast as he could.

If he didn't act quickly, when spring came and word spread about the dendo herbs being sold, it would spark a rush to dig it up. At that point, making money from dendo herbs would become much harder.

During this time, he needed to go to the place where he knew the dendo herbs grew and dig it out.

For now, this was the fastest way to earn money, and he planned to save up enough to invest when the country fully opened up.

Tara paused momentarily when she heard him, but she nodded and said nothing once she understood what he was planning.

Even if he somehow got lucky last night and managed to dig up some dendo herbs to sell, there was no way he could count on being that fortunate every time. According to the books, dendrobium roots were fibrous and aerial, clinging to rocky surfaces and tree trunks—not something one could find everywhere.

She considered suggesting he find a job, even if it paid only a few pennies a day. It would be better than having no income at all. But then she thought about his temperament—if he weren't gambling or drinking, she would just let him be.

She picked up her cutleries and was about to put the drumstick back into the bowl.

Seeing this, Erick quickly used April as an excuse to stop her. "Tara, you're too thin. You need to eat more, or you won't have enough milk for the baby. No matter how good the milk powder is, it can't replace breast milk. Plus, milk powder is expensive and hard to get."

He then pushed the clam chowder closer to her.

"This is clam chowder—it helps with milk production."

His words earned him a glare from Tara. Her grip on the cutleries tightened until her knuckles turned white, but she didn't refuse further. Instead, she ate the drumstick calmly.

After a whole day and night of hard work, Erick was exhausted. After solving their immediate financial problems, he hungrily ate four pieces of bread and the pheasant meat, though they scratched his throat.

Finally, his hunger was satisfied.

He glanced at Tara, who was eating slowly, and said, "I'm going to sleep now. Leave the dishes there. I'll clean up in the morning." He got up, pushed aside the curtain, and bent down to enter the room.

He stripped off his clothes, leaving only his underwear, and collapsed into bed, instantly falling asleep.

After washing the dishes, she returned to the room and saw the mess on the floor. She bent down to pick up his clothes.

Taking them outside, she washed them under the moonlight.

She returned to the kitchen, closed the door, and quickly wiped herself before wearing clean clothes.

Once done, feeling exhausted, she locked the door and returned to the bedroom.

She wasn't paying attention and accidentally kicked the basket.

The items inside tumbled out.

Tara looked down and saw two paper-wrapped packages on the floor. She picked them up and opened them. One contained a brand-new set of women's clothes, her size. The smaller package contained three tiny baby outfits.

Her gaze drifted to the man sleeping on the bed. She stared at him for a long time.

She didn't understand him anymore.

She quietly put everything away, took the red jacket she had worn when she first married, and unraveled the thread, forming a small bundle to place on the table.

She blew out the oil lamp and, in the dark, climbed into bed.

Chapter 5

Erick slept like a log, unaware of April waking up and crying twice at night. It wasn't until dawn, just as the sky turned gray, that his biological clock stirred him awake.

He saw not the luxurious ward he had been in for years but the old, decaying beams of a dark, worn-out ceiling from decades ago.

It took him a moment to orient himself and realize where he was.

Turning his head, he saw Tara curled up, facing the wall, her back toward him. On the narrow bed, she kept a large distance between them—a visible boundary.

Seeing her pale and fragile body, wearing only a worn-out tank top that exposed large areas of delicate skin, soft and dewy with a faint pink hue, he couldn't help but be struck with desire.

Erick hadn't been with any woman since he made her leave in his past life, and because of his own inability, he had been forced to live a life of celibacy for many years.

Now, despite his body no longer being what it once was, he was involuntarily stirred by the sight of her.

It had been many years since he felt this way.

Swallowing dryly, he carefully pulled her into his arms. Her body's warmth, softness, and tenderness made him feel as though he had returned to his 20s.

It felt surreal, like a beautiful dream.

Could his rebirth have something to do with the pendant Tara gave him? Was it a second chance to turn his life around?

Just as he was about to kiss her, he felt her body stiffen. She was clearly resisting his touch, and he realized he had woken her up.

Suppressing his heart's bitterness, he fought his desires and got out of bed.

Wearing only his underwear, with his muscular chest exposed, he strode to the outdoor toilet, where a strong, unpleasant odor greeted him.

He couldn't help but marvel at the vitality of youth. Despite the years that had passed, he hadn't felt this alive in a long time.

He thought to himself that, for now, he would have to endure it. He would make it up to Tara once she wasn't averse to him.

After taking clothes off the clothesline, he sniffed them and enjoyed the soap's clean, refreshing scent. Despite their slight dampness, he quickly put them on.

He quietly returned to the room and began pulling items out of the basket, placing them on the table.

At that moment, Tara sat up in bed and said to him, "If you really want to change, go find a job. You can earn a few cents daily if you are willing to work. After a month, you'll have enough to get by. Our expenses aren't much. We can make do."

Though it wasn't as much as the 30 dollars a month regular workers made, it was enough to live on in the countryside.

Hearing her speak to him, he was overjoyed. He paused his actions, knowing she wanted him to work steadily. But he also realized that the opportunity to make something of himself was in his hands, and he couldn't waste it.

He didn't want her to be stuck eating bread with him. He wanted her and April to enjoy delicious food. In his past life, he had tasted every kind of delicacy, whether domestic or international—luxurious banquets, world-class chefs, Michelin-starred restaurants.

This time, he was determined to let her eat until she was full.

But he couldn't tell her this yet.

He needed capital to break into another social class, and the next couple of years were critical.

In his past life, he had wandered after she and April left, feeling like a stray dog. It wasn't until he met a benefactor that he could work as a waiter in Merchant Restaurant. With his charm, he was eventually promoted to manager.

That was when he had the chance to meet influential people.

Things wouldn't follow the same pattern as the previous one in this life. He needed to rely on himself and quickly save up his first fortune.

Hunting and digging for dendo herbs were his quickest ways to make money.

He didn't want to be like a blind man wandering through the forest, hoping to find dendo herbs by luck. The plant was rare and hard to find. It could take several people days or even weeks to spot just one.

But now he had the advantage of his memories from his past life, so he knew exactly where to look.

This was like having a cheat code, an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.

The problem was explaining to Tara why he insisted on going up the mountain to dig for dendo herbs.

Seeing that he had been silent for a long time, Tara knew he had become stubborn and would not be easily swayed. She sighed, pulled the blanket back over herself, and laid down again.

She felt she was just saying this out of annoyance and coldly added, "There's still some bread left for you on the stove in the kitchen."

Erick's face broke into a smile when he heard her words.

He quickly crossed to the bedside and kissed her soft, fair cheek.

Pulling her tightly into his arms, his sharp jaw resting against her neck, he exhaled warmly and said, "Tara, I talked to Samuel yesterday. You don't need to go over and help them today. When you have time, take half of the pork in the kitchen to your parents."

At that moment, when his scent reached her nose, Tara felt extremely nervous and scared, her heart racing and rising to her throat.

She thought he was angry with her for speaking out of turn, about to hit her or bully her again.

As she mentally chastised herself for speaking up, she was caught off guard when his warm, soft lips gently pressed against her cheek. She was too stunned to hear what he said next.

She didn't notice that he had also kissed April before leaving.

Frozen in place, Tara stayed still until she realized he had already left. The dimly lit room was now silent, with only her and April on the small bed.

In this era, every family was just scraping by, patching up old clothes for years. But here was Erick, willing to buy new clothes for April and even having extras to spare for changing.

Though it was still early, she couldn't fall back asleep, no matter how much she tossed and turned. She stayed in bed until it was nearly dawn before finally getting up. As she hadn't finished tidying up, she heard someone's voice at the door.

After dressing, she opened the door and saw Patricia standing outside. She asked, "What brings you here so early, Patricia?"

Patricia's eyes darted toward the kitchen, her smile calculating. "I heard from Evelyn that your family had meat yesterday. Did Erick win a lot of money? How much did he win? He must have made a fortune to be able to buy meat!"

Before Tara could respond, Patricia couldn't resist stepping toward the kitchen.

Peeking inside, she immediately noticed a large chunk of meat hanging from the kitchen beam—at least ten pounds. Her eyes went wide with shock.

Could Erick have stolen or robbed someone to get this meat? How much would this cost? How many ration tickets would it take?

They hadn't seen fresh meat in months, and even when April cried for food, they couldn't spare even a ration ticket for half a pound of meat.

Salivating, Patricia stared at the pork belly, her mouth agape in disbelief.

Then, she noticed another shock—a half pheasant hanging on the dark wall.

Turning toward the flour bin, she found it was full of fine white flour.

The oil cans were also full, and there was a bowl of white lard.

Was this really the same Erick's family, the one that was so poor after the family separation that even their bowls had cracks?

This was more luxurious than even the wealthy families in the city.

Patricia was incredibly envious of all of this. She raised her voice sarcastically as she remarked, "Tara, you better keep an eye on your husband. Gambling and drinking are bad habits, but they won't get him arrested. If he's stealing or robbing, though, that's a crime. You know that's a real problem."

Tara's face grew colder as she heard Patricia's words. "Patricia, what are you saying?"

Patricia turned, noticing Tara's cold expression. She smiled, trying to explain, "Tara, you know me. I'm straightforward. I'm just worried that Erick might be making a mistake!"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at the meat hanging from the ceiling beams, swallowing hard.

Though Tara had been frustrated by Erick at times, she didn't want to show weakness in front of others.

When she saw Patricia standing there, making sarcastic remarks and blaming Erick without cause, her anger started to rise.

Though he wasn't perfect at home, he treated Samuel and Harvey well and was always willing to help them. He never turned down work.

Tara thought Harvey was a decent man, but she couldn't stand Patricia's attitude, so she said, "If he breaks the law, the police will take care of it. You don't need to worry about it."

Patricia seemed to want to say something in return but stopped after a moment's thought. She smiled even more brightly and said, "Don't be mad at me. I'm just worried about Erick. He and Harvey are brothers, after all."

She paused momentarily. Seeing that Tara wasn't inclined to offer anything, she smiled and said, "Blake has been crying for meat. Would you mind lending me five pounds of meat? I'll make sure Harvey gives you the money later."