Chapter 2: Guanyin Sends a Child

The heroine of the original novel, *The Lucky Koi of the Era*, Liu Meng, was born with good fortune. She didn't just bring prosperity to herself, but to her entire family as well.

Since she was a child, she had "luckily" stumbled upon all sorts of treasures like lingzhi mushrooms, wild yams, and pheasants. Under Liu Meng’s guidance, her family’s life grew more prosperous by the day. Eventually, the whole family moved into the city in high spirits. Liu Meng herself fell deeply in love with the future tycoon male lead, grew old with him, was surrounded by children and grandchildren, and passed away peacefully of old age.

The Liu family, as the protagonists of the original book, were the main cast. To highlight how well the Liu family lived, there had to be a "Lin family"—a group of cannon fodder foils who were incredibly self-destructive and eventually reaped what they sowed.

The Lin family was notorious throughout the surrounding villages for having endless drama. Not only were they extremely patriarchal, but every single member of the family was a piece of work—difficult to deal with and petty to the extreme. The mother-in-law, Wang Cuilan, had a mouth that had battled countless old hags in the village without ever meeting a match, and her daughters-in-law had followed her example, mastering her true essence.

The cannon fodder female supporting character was always jumping around, causing trouble for the heroine, Liu Meng. She had endless tricks up her sleeve and never let a day go by in peace.

The two fought for hundreds of chapters. In the end, the cannon fodder female was schemed against by the heroine and married off to a lazy, good-for-nothing loafer in the village. While pregnant, she was beaten to death by the alcoholic loafer.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Meng merely leaned into the male lead’s arms and hypocritically sighed, "She was too delicate. She fought back after being hit twice, not even caring about the baby in her belly. Now look, she’s been beaten to death. How truly pitiful."

Lin Xiangrong had found it incredibly satisfying to read at the time, thinking the female supporting character deserved her fate and died well. But now that she had actually become that cannon fodder character, she wished she could turn back time and slap herself twice.

"Ouch!"

The courtyard gate was kicked open with a bang.

Two young men carried in a broken stretcher. The swaying motion as they set it down made Lin Yuandong cry out in pain: "My leg!"

"Master of the house, didn't you go to work? What happened to your leg?!" Lin Yuandong had been perfectly fine when he left, and now, not long after, he was being carried back. Fang Hongying, who had been pretending to feed the pigs to slack off, was so shocked she threw her basin away, scrambling and crawling to Lin Yuandong’s side.

The two men responsible for carrying him back took a step back, terrified of getting involved in the mess.

One man said, "Sister-in-law Fang, Brother Lin slipped while working and hurt his leg. You should take him to the village clinic and let Dr. Shen take a look."

The other man gave a look, and the two of them bolted like the wind, afraid of being caught and questioned endlessly.

"Mom!"

"Mom? Yuandong broke his leg!" Fang Hongying shrieked at the top of her lungs: "Second daughter-in-law! Hurry and get your family to bring the ox cart over to take Yuandong to town to get his leg looked at!"

"This leg can't be broken!"

If it broke, he’d be crippled. He wouldn't be able to work, and from then on, they’d have to live at the mercy of the other families.

Fang Hongying had always been strong-willed. Just the thought of it made her feel like the sky was collapsing. Her vision went black, and she felt dizzy, nearly fainting. However, as soon as her mother-in-law Wang Cuilan’s brassy voice rang out, she stood firm.

"What?" Wang Cuilan, who had been sewing shoe soles, heard Fang Hongying and immediately hopped off the kang, grabbed her shoes, and rushed out to see Lin Yuandong clutching his knee in agony. "How did you hurt your leg? Why did you fall?!"

The second daughter-in-law, Zhang Miao, ran out from the south wing room spitting out sunflower seeds. She dropped the seeds on the ground, wiped her hands on her clothes, and hurriedly made excuses: "What? Use my family’s cart? That won't do. My family’s cart is for hauling people to make money. How can we drive everyone else away just to haul Big Brother?"

A single trip could carry a dozen people and earn a good amount of money. How could they use it for just one person? It would be a total loss!

Fang Hongying was so angry she was breathing through her nostrils. She cursed, "You little hussy, what’s wrong with using your family’s cart? Is my man’s leg more important or those few pennies? Your family hasn't even said a word yet, and you’re already unwilling! Hmph!"

"Enough!" Old Man Lin, who carried a heavy sense of authority, tapped his pipe. "Stop the squabbling and listen to what Yuandong has to say."

"Dad, I twisted my leg, I can't move it!" Lin Yuandong was sweating from the pain. Fang Hongying was hugging him and wiping his face, rubbing his forehead red. He cried with a twisted face: "It’s definitely broken! We have to get to the big clinic in town quickly! Ouch, it hurts like hell!"

"No!" Zhang Miao shrieked. After being glared at by Wang Cuilan, she whispered, "Going to town takes a whole morning, and seeing a doctor at the town clinic costs a fortune. Where would the family get that kind of money?!"

The more she spoke, the more she felt she was right: "I think the village clinic is fine and it's close. Maybe they can fix Big Brother's leg."

Hearing the chaos outside, Zhou Zhaodi pushed open the window, wrapped herself in her clothes, and leaned against the head of the bed.

Inside the room, Lin Xiangrong also pricked up her ears to listen.

"Zhang Miao, you little hussy, I’ll scratch you to death!"

Hearing Zhang Miao’s words, Fang Hongying panicked and lunged at her, but was shoved aside by the burly Zhang Miao.

Fang Hongying was so angry she just stayed on the ground, slapping her thighs and howling: "Dad, Mom, this leg can't be delayed! What will we do if he ends up a cripple? We still have two kids waiting to get married!"

Wang Cuilan wore a fierce expression, both angry and anxious. "Do you think I’d let anything happen to Yuandong’s leg?!"

"Enough. I remember the third family has a handcart. First, get the eldest onto the cart, then call for an ox cart to take him to the town clinic. The money will come from the family treasury!" Wang Cuilan made the final decision.

Lin Dawei, standing to the side, nodded: "Listen to your mother-in-law. I’ll go call someone to help."

Wang Cuilan’s face was dark. Her head was aching from the two daughters-in-law arguing. She walked toward the west wing room, saw Zhou Zhaodi close the window, and shouted from afar: "Third daughter-in-law, what are you being lazy for? Push your cart over here."

"Mom, I can't push it." Zhou Zhaodi wiped her mouth: "I just gave birth to the little girl yesterday morning, I don't have the strength. You push it with me."

"Fine." As soon as Wang Cuilan crossed the threshold, she spotted the cart. She walked over, and just as she was about to push it, she saw a swaddled bundle inside. She picked it up and found herself staring into Lin Xiangrong’s pitch-black eyes.

This money-losing brat…

【Big Uncle is so miserable. His leg is just dislocated; it would be fine if he went to the village clinic. But they insist on going to the town clinic, and in the end, the delay will make him a cripple.】

Wang Cuilan’s body stiffened slightly. Where did that voice come from?

【If Grandma were quick-witted, she’d send Big Uncle to the village clinic, otherwise it’ll be too late.】

【But Big Uncle is unlucky too. Someone tripped him and his leg dislocated. Not only will he be crippled, but his job position will be taken by someone else. Even doing odd jobs, no one will want him. Truly miserable.】

【Too bad I’m just a swaddled baby right now, I can only go 'ah-woo, ah-woo'.】

Wang Cuilan’s eyes darted around. Who was talking?

"Mom, what are you looking at?" Zhou Zhaodi asked, looking confused. She urged, "Hurry and push the cart."

Huh? The third daughter-in-law can't hear it?

Wang Cuilan looked down. This voice—could it be this dead girl’s?

【What is Grandma staring at? Did she figure it out? Is she going to send Big Uncle to the village clinic? That would save him from becoming a cripple who falls into a sewer and drowns because he can't climb out.】

Lin Xiangrong, who had been listening to the noise outside, quickly recalled the plot that had been glossed over and couldn't help but complain in her heart, never expecting that Wang Cuilan could hear her inner thoughts.

In the original book, the cannon fodder female’s uncle was working one day when he was tripped by Liu Meng’s father and fell into a pit.

Not only was his leg dislocated, but on the way to town, they encountered a heavy rain. Between the rain and the fall from the cart, his injury worsened, and he ended up permanently crippled. His job position was also taken by Liu Meng’s father.

That wasn't all. With his leg ruined and his job gone, Lin Yuandong started drinking heavily at home.

One time, he fell into a sewer while drunk. Being a cripple, he couldn't climb out and drowned in the ditch. By the time he was found the next day, his body was already stiff.

What?

The eldest was not only crippled but drowned?!

Wang Cuilan’s eyes sharpened. Thinking about how Zhou Zhaodi couldn't hear the girl’s voice, a realization suddenly struck her.

It must be a sign from the Goddess of Mercy; otherwise, why would only she be able to hear it?

Good heavens.

So when the Goddess of Mercy sent a child, she didn't send a golden grandson, but a fairy!

Once a person becomes superstitious, even if a bird drops dung on their head, they’ll think it’s a sign from the Heavens.