Except for one particular rapist that roams the village.

I find the ex-husband is very pitiful. He was too overbearing, sure. But his behavior will be considered a standard ML behavior in a different novel. In this novel, he is just not the ML so he didn't get the girl. Poor guy.

he didn't love her for 18 years of their marriage.

As they lived in military camp and due to jiang (ex husband) not not showing least amount of affection for her she had a very sad life.

He even neglected bring nutrition for her when she asked for it during her first pregnancy as she was suffering from lack of nutrition due to taking care of him and herself (and her unborn child) simultaneously.

When their second child miscarried (because FL saw pic of jiang and girl with whom he slept with while drunk. Due to this she had early labour and she had go to hospital alone but she fainted on the road. Her life was saved cause ML arrived but her child died) she got depressed.

jiang was injured when she had gone into early labour, when he went to hospital his first word were "why are making trouble, letting the whole family look for you early in the morning?".

After seeing FL in depression he finaly tried to improve their relation. He tried to cook for her but ended up suggesting thing she hated (after 18 years he didn't know the only thing she couldn't eat). He tried to do other things but FL was too hurt to care.

Jiang hid the report that said FL couldn't have baby anymore from everyone (she didn't know this) . But during a visit his family (who were not good to fl) found the report and accused FL of hiding the fact.

FL had enough after few months of struggle was able to divorce him.

he too was reborn. He threatened too cause trouble for then powerless ML if FL didn't leave Ml. This seprated FL and ML for 3 or 4 years.

I'm not the biggest fan of how the novel ended, with the husband from the previous life causing our FL and ML to be separated for a few years, but it was still a happy ending when they reunited. I was also surprised by the extra chapter that showed the ML also reincarnating, but back into the previous life of the FL. It really made my head spin and I'm actually questioning whether or not that's what actually happened or if I got confused by machine translation.

I know it was hard on people in the past and even now in poor places but the content with children maltreatment made me uncomfortable. The MC's behavior was a somewhat.. Creepy at the beginning

I think I saw this scene where the FL leaves the ML to protect him and ask him not to look for her many times in some dramas and WNs before. It even became one of the cornerstones in the wuxia novels, later the ML has to go through many hardships and break through the heaven to be with her again (and increase his harm by the way) but here the author gave up after only one chapter. Although I'm thankful I don't have read this kind of "interesting" plot over and over again, what was the point of even adding it? I guess the story development at this point is more in line with female readers than the males? (At least I lack interest in the last 8 or 9 chapters I read, I just keep skipping forward)

Also the way the MC deals with males looks somewhat out of line with the era to me. I don't know much about the 70's in china but from the novels I read it doesn't look open to the point where a female can be talking naturally with strange males in the meddle of the night alone

Sometimes I can't help wonder that if Jianyun was ML, it would've been another cool ML reincarnation novel. I feel bad for him, but at the same time, look down on him. Definitely, add a layer of complexity to the novel.

I will say though that while it's easy to see MC's ex-husband as the antagonist, I honestly would say that while he did neglect and mistreated MC by accident, he's not a bad man. He's not abusive or a cheater and to be honest they both had a fault in their marriage breakdown; but since we follow MC more, we only see her side. Big thing is that they didn't communicate, he was focused on his career and grew up in a cold family, she just held hopes in her heart that he would change and enabled his cold behavior. Neither of them voiced their actual thoughts or opinions to each other, and by the time he tried his best to change she was tired and jaded. They just aren't meant for each other, please do not demonize him. I know a few people have said JJJ's little sister turned out fine so why didn't he but I'd like to point out that this is the 70's and a patriarchal society, men are held to higher but stricter and colder standards (like the typical "men don't cry").

On the other hand, Feng Ting only shows up twice but honestly she's the real enemy in MC's past life, that b*tch. There's also another person whose the real antagonist in this life but I won't spoil that.

he's not actually a 100% scumbag. He doesn't cheat on his own. He's not just good at expressing himself and ge prioritized his career more. Albeit, he looked indifferent, he actually cared about the FL and their supposed to be children. It just that, it's too late for his regrets. Anyway, though I kinda feel a little pity for him, it doesn't mean I'll choose him over He Songbai.

i feel so bad for jiang jianjun im going to be sick don't read the extra about the past life if you have even one ounce of pity for the 2nd ML it will rip you apart. I mean yes he's at fault for taking zlx for granted and never communicating and letting outsiders backstab his wife and being too immature etc... but its just so sad.

if this was a different kind of story they wouldve reconciled (bc he would have redeemed himself...). instead jjj never communicates and is blind to zlx's needs and sadness and doesnt know how to fix things. very clearly a product of his childhood environment. he made his mistakes and now he has to pay for them...

he shouldve let her go in their reborn life and let her live happily, but the author didnt want to write that plot. I feel bad for jjj being used as a plot device! I pity him!! I pity him sitting in that military car outside zxl and hsb's extravagant and joyful wedding, alone in the dark and restraining himself from ruining their happy moment, thinking about what could've been if only he wasn't so blind. you s*upid man. imagine how happy he was when he found out he could have a second chance, a chance at redemption, a chance to set things right and give zxl the happy married life she wanted originally! and then s*upidly he decided to threaten zxl and hsb... ok I get that youre angry at hsb for what he did in your first life but can you live and let live, jjj? he's so f*cking s*upid in the first place to never clear up the situation between fang ming and him to zxl. I want to shake him upside down until he somehow gains his missing EQ.

the author is so cruel for making him a 3-dimensional character. it's hard to hate him and easy to pity him. the timing is just all wrong; they weren't meant to be. ironically, in the end notes, the author writes: "Jiang Jianjun: I hope you can all meet the right people." jiang jianjun, I hope you meet the right person too.

if this was a different novel he couldve been happy but alas. I guess all this is to just mourn his fate as the 2nd ML doomed to cause conflict. author thank you for writing a very sweet slice of life romance but also I will send you knives for hiding this sad, pitiful man in what couldve simply been a sweet heartwarming novel. my weakness is pathetic men.

ok I cant even be too mad at the author because he songbai is just. isnt he the perfect man??? the author is playing with my heart like a violin it's so damn sweet that he's just watching over zxl and protecting her quietly and paving her path before giving her such a perfect and eternal love that when she's reborn she runs straight to his side and repays the love and grants happiness to him, seriously. forgetting jjj this is the sweetest and most enduring love story? can we talk about how gentle and caring hsb is in zxl's first life?? no wonder this kind of f*cking fairy love sent her to the past with such brave and enthusiastic adoration. thinking about how zxl never knew that hsb in her first life was reborn. I'm emotional.