From Zero to Farm Hero: A New Life in the Alps

Since the divorce, Qin Li couldn't bear to stay in the house. She packed up what little she wanted to keep—mostly clothes and personal items—and discarded the rest.

Qu Dani, worried about her emotional state, stayed with her for several days. That morning, they spent hours sorting and packing, leaving them both sweaty and exhausted.

Feeling indebted to her friend, Qin Li suggested they go to the city center for lunch as a thank-you.

Dani didn't hold back, ordering an entire table full of food. As they waited for their meal, she asked, "So, what's your next step?"

"I'm going to find a place to rent as soon as possible," Qin Li replied. Staying in that house, haunted by memories of her failed marriage, was out of the question.

"What about going back to your parents?"

"I haven't told them yet," Qin Li admitted.

Dani raised an eyebrow. "You can't keep it a secret forever."

"I know," Qin Li sighed. "But the longer I can delay it, the better."

Her parents, especially her mother, would explode when they found out. The fact that she walked away with almost nothing would only make it worse. Her mother had always opposed the divorce and would see this as a complete failure.

Dani suggested, "Why don't you move into my place? My parents bought me a one-bedroom apartment in the city. I'm living there now, but it'll be empty when I leave next week."

"Thanks, but I'll pay rent," Qin Li insisted.

Dani waved it off. "Don't be silly. We're friends."

"I have the money," Qin Li said firmly. "I still have the 50,000 yuan from Sun Yi, and I have my salary. It's only fair."

Dani smiled at her determination and relented. "Alright, if it makes you feel better."

"When do you head back to Germany?" Qin Li asked.

"Next week. Work starts as soon as I land. Honestly, I'm dreading it."

"Why? Is it that busy?"

"Busy doesn't even begin to cover it. We'll be traveling to the countryside for a shoot," Dani explained.

"Is that for the matchmaking show?"

"Yep. The place is gorgeous—a real hidden gem—but it's too quiet for me. I prefer the buzz of Munich."

Their conversation was interrupted by Qin Li's phone ringing. She answered to hear Zhang Fen's frantic voice on the other end.

"Li Jie, where are you?"

"I'm out. What's wrong?"

"Your parents are here at the office, causing a scene!"

Qin Li's stomach dropped. "I'll be there right away."

Dani noticed her friend's pale face. "What's going on?"

"I have to go," Qin Li said hurriedly. "My parents are at my office. I'll explain later."

"What about all this food?" Dani gestured to the table.

Qin Li barely registered the question, calling for the check and rushing out. She flagged a taxi, her thoughts racing. On the way, she called her brother, Qin Ming, demanding he meet her there.

As she neared the office, her mother's voice echoed through the halls, sharp and unmistakable. Qin Li winced and quickened her pace.

"Mom!"

She had barely spoken before Qin Mother slapped her hard across the face. The sound was loud enough to make everyone stop and stare.

"Don't call me Mom!" her mother shouted. "I don't have a daughter like you!"

Qin Li held her stinging cheek, lowering her voice to avoid drawing more attention. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What were you doing? You got divorced without telling me!"

"I didn't want you to worry," Qin Li tried to reason.

"And now I'm not worried?!" Her mother's voice was shrill, drawing more curious glances from coworkers. "Didn't I tell you not to divorce? How will you survive as a 28-year-old divorcee?!"

"Mom, please, not here," Qin Li begged, glancing nervously at her colleagues. "Can we go home and talk?"

"Now you're worried about appearances?" Her mother's voice was cutting. "Everyone already knows my daughter got dumped by a heartless man. What's left to hide?"

"Mom!" Qin Li's voice broke as tears welled up in her eyes.

She had been trying so hard to heal, to put the pieces of her life back together. But here, in front of everyone, her mother was ripping open the wounds she had worked so hard to close.

To Qin Mother, divorce wasn't just the end of a marriage—it was the beginning of a nightmare. Her daughter, once a married woman with a decent life, was now a divorcee who couldn't bear children. Who would take on such a burden? Qin Mother was furious. Why couldn't Qin Li have just endured it? Why throw away a perfectly fine life for this mess?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Without warning, she lashed out, landing a few slaps on Qin Li.

"One useless son is bad enough, and now you've turned on me too! Do you all just want me dead? Is that the only way you'll be satisfied?" she cried, her face red with anger.

Qin Li stood still, not daring to dodge her mother's blows. "Mom, let's go home. I'll kneel if that's what it takes. Please, stop this."

Her mother sneered, her voice sharp and cutting. "Kneel? What good will that do? How did I end up with a daughter like you?"

Qin Father, standing nearby, had finally had enough. "Old woman, what are you doing? Stop making a scene at her workplace. Do you want everyone laughing at us?"

"What's one more joke at my expense? The whole world's been laughing at me since the day she ignored my warnings and married him! Look at this mess now. Who's to blame?"

Qin Li's eyes darted around, catching glimpses of her coworkers whispering among themselves. Humiliation washed over her like a tidal wave. Why did her mother never take her side?

Unable to argue with his wife, Qin Father threw up his hands in frustration and stormed out of the office.

Qin Li, her voice breaking, grabbed her mother's arm. "Mom, do you want me dead? Is that what it'll take for you to stop?"

Her mother froze, taken aback by the outburst. Only then did she notice the bandages wrapped around Qin Li's wrist. For a moment, the anger drained from her face, replaced by shock.

"What happened? Was it that bastard, Sun Yi? That heartless traitor—I'll kill him myself!"

Qin Li's voice was cold. "It wasn't him, Mom. The one who keeps pouring salt into my wounds is you."

Her mother's eyes narrowed, her embarrassment morphing into rage. "How dare you talk to me like that? When I told you not to marry him, you ignored me! You ran off like a fool. And now, when I told you not to divorce, you went behind my back. Do you even see me as your mother?"

Before Qin Li could respond, her brother Qin Ming arrived with his wife, Liu Xiaojun, in tow.

"Mom, that's enough," Qin Ming said firmly, pulling their mother away. "You can yell at her all you want, but not here. Let's go home. You're embarrassing us all."

Still muttering under her breath, Qin Mother allowed herself to be dragged out of the office. The gathered spectators slowly dispersed, leaving Qin Li standing alone, her face pale and drawn.

Qin Li knocked hesitantly on her boss Lin Guodong's office door.

"Come in," he called.

Lowering her gaze, she stepped inside. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lin. My family caused a scene. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

Lin Guodong frowned, his irritation plain. "Qin Li, I understand that you're going through a rough time, but you need to keep your personal issues out of the office. Your family drama is affecting your work. You've been taking too many days off. We've got a promotion coming up for deputy section chief, and frankly, I don't see how I can recommend someone who's this distracted."

His words stung, but Qin Li forced a smile. "I understand, Mr. Lin. I'll be back at work tomorrow."

With a dismissive wave, he sent her on her way.

Outside the office, Qin Ming's wife, Liu Xiaojun, was waiting for her.

"Don't take it to heart," Liu Xiaojun said, attempting a comforting tone. "Mom's just getting older. Maybe it's menopause or something."

Qin Li shook her head, her shoulders slumping. There was nothing left to say.

"Let's go home," Liu Xiaojun suggested. "Mom will calm down eventually. You're her daughter. It's not like she can actually cut ties with you."

Qin Li didn't have the energy to argue. The thought of facing her mother again felt like walking willingly into a storm, but avoiding it wasn't an option either.

"Fine. Let's go," she said, resigned.

Back at the Qin household, the atmosphere was as tense as a courtroom. Qin Mother sat rigidly in her chair, glaring at her daughter like a judge about to deliver a sentence.

"Who got the house?" she asked, her voice cold.

"Sun Yi," Qin Li replied.

"And the savings?"

"They're gone," Qin Li lied. "He transferred everything."

Her mother's face darkened as the words sank in.

"You walked away with nothing?" she shrieked. "Seven years of your life, and you walked away with NOTHING? Are you completely stupid?"

She leapt to her feet, slapping and pinching Qin Li in a flurry of rage. "How am I supposed to survive now? Who's going to take care of us in our old age? You can't even take care of yourself!"

"Mom, I have a job," Qin Li protested, holding back tears. "I'll take care of you and Dad."

"Your pitiful salary won't even cover groceries! What happens when you can't pay rent? Are you planning to move back in with us?!"

Qin Li had no response. Her mother's words were a storm she couldn't escape.

Qin Father finally intervened, dragging his wife away. "Enough! Screaming at her won't change anything. If you want someone to blame, blame yourself for how you raised her!"

Exhausted, Qin Mother slumped back into her chair, tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks. After a long silence, she waved her hand dismissively.

"Fine," she said. "Tomorrow, you start going on dates. "