Chapter 4: Knowing the Evidence of the Zheng Family’s Crimes

This house has four rooms one for sleeping, one as a recording studio, one as a study, and one for entertainment. The kitchen was fully equipped, and the refrigerator was stuffed with food.

Seeing all kinds of meat, Zheng Qingning couldn’t help but swallow.

But…

Her gaze fell on the stove, and she was troubled.

She didn’t know how to use it.

Her eyes landed on some tomatoes and cucumbers in the fridge. She took one of each, washed them, and started eating them raw.

If she couldn’t eat meat, vegetables would do.

So this was Zheng Jiaojiao’s golden finger. Not bad, not bad now it belonged to her.

Thinking of the household registration page and the money in her pocket, she went back to the bedroom to put them away safely.

Worried she had stayed too long and someone might notice, Zheng Qingning left the space.

At that moment, in the Zheng family living room, Zheng Jiaojiao was telling Father Zheng about her and Ye Yunzhou.

“Dad, Yunzhou and I are truly in love. Once he goes back, he’ll be promoted and can apply for a place in the family housing unit. When I join him, I’ll give him a son. That’ll secure my place in the Ye family.”

“Dad, I’ve loved singing since I was little. Yunzhou told me the military performing arts troupe is recruiting. I want to give it a try.”

“Dad, you and Mom promised me you’d support whatever I choose to do.”

Seeing that Father Zheng remained silent for a long time, Zheng Jiaojiao thought he was against her going to the military with Ye Yunzhou and began quoting his past words to pressure him.

Father Zheng sighed. “Jiaojiao, do you even know Ye Yunzhou’s family situation?”

Looking at the only daughter of this generation in the Zheng family, spoiled by everyone, never allowed to suffer or fall even if she wanted the moon, someone in the family would go fetch it for her.

It wasn’t that he disapproved of her and Ye Yunzhou.

But given the Ye family’s situation, marrying in would be like jumping into a pit of fire. There would be no turning back for the rest of her life.

Zheng Jiaojiao scoffed, unconcerned. “Dad, isn’t Zheng Qingning still around? She can help the Ye family more. With her personality, she won’t say no.”

“Dad, am I your daughter or not?” Zheng Jiaojiao pouted angrily, looking at Father Zheng with dissatisfaction.

Just then, Zheng Jiaojiao clutched her chest and let out a muffled groan. Her face suddenly turned pale. She felt an emptiness inside her, like something important had just left her.

Father Zheng thought she was upset because he hadn’t agreed yet. “You… you always have to get what you want since you were a child. Fine, fine I’ll agree to you and Yunzhou. As for the Ye family…”

He frowned, looking troubled. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”

When the time came, they’d find something to use against Zheng Qingning to threaten her into working herself to the bone for the Ye family, so Jiaojiao could enjoy her life in the military.

As for Zheng Qingning…

Hmph.

She was a worthless burden anyway. A bit of hardship wouldn’t kill her.

Besides, after raising her all these years, this was the only use she had.

Zheng Jiaojiao wasn’t happy that her father had finally given in. Instead, she grabbed his sleeve and said weakly, “Dad, help me back to my room, quick!”

Her instincts told her that whatever had caused her physical reaction was in the room she shared with Zheng Qingning.

Seeing she wasn’t faking it, Father Zheng quickly got up and helped her into the room. There were no signs of anything being disturbed on Zheng Jiaojiao’s side. Both of them turned to look at Zheng Qingning’s bed.

Walking over, they pulled back the curtain and saw Zheng Qingning folding clothes.

“Dad? Sister? Do you need something?”

Father Zheng frowned at his daughter, sensing something was different about her.

Zheng Jiaojiao examined Zheng Qingning’s little space just a few worn clothes, nothing special. So why did her heart feel so empty?

“Sister, what were you just doing in the room?”

Zheng Qingning didn’t stop folding her clothes. Her expression shifted slightly as she blinked in confusion. “I wasn’t doing anything. You pushed me this morning, and I’m still dizzy and nauseous. I was just tidying up before lying down to rest.”

Zheng Jiaojiao’s face changed. She glared at her. “Why are you lying? When did I push you?”

Zheng Qingning knew arguing was pointless, so she kept her head down and continued folding.

Zheng Jiaojiao looked at Father Zheng with teary eyes full of grievance, as if she were about to cry, which made him feel even worse.

He looked at Zheng Qingning with a hint of coldness in his eyes. Then he grabbed her hair and started dragging her.

“I’ve told you over and over give way to your sister in everything! Are you deaf or what?”

“We raised you with good food and drinks all these years, and you’re still useless. Get out!”

He dragged her by the hair from the room to the doorway and threw her outside. “Think about your actions out there!” Then he slammed the door shut.

Zheng Qingning sat on the ground, head down. The pain from her scalp was sharp and real. It reminded her clearly of what she had to do next.

(God, the female supporting role is too miserable.)

(Miserable? She stole the female lead’s golden finger. She should be beaten to death and give it back to our girl!)

(Our girl really is the favorite of the heavens. Her dad embezzled factory scraps and sold them for her dowry, her uncle embezzled village funds and gave it all to her, and even the male lead’s stipend was handed to her. She’s basically one of the first ten-thousand-yuan households of the 1970s.)

Zheng Qingning, head bowed, curled her lips coldly.

Embezzlement?

Good.

Very good.

Just then, the door opened. Zheng Jiaojiao stood at the entrance, glaring viciously at Zheng Qingning, gritting her teeth.

“Bitch, what exactly were you doing in the room earlier?”

She had searched Zheng Qingning’s side thoroughly and found nothing unusual.

Yet that hollow feeling inside her wouldn’t go away.

“Sister, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Zheng Qingning looked up at her, eyes calm, lips curling in a bitter smile. “Sister, do I even have the right to secrets in this house?”

Zheng Jiaojiao choked. That was true Zheng Qingning had the lowest status in the family.

“Zheng Qingning, I’m warning you stay away from Brother Ye. Dad already agreed to our engagement. If you don’t want to die, stay at home and marry someone else quietly, or else…”

Her face twisted like a demon from hell as she stared at her.

“I have a thousand ways to make you wish you were dead.”

God, why won’t the supporting girl just die? Look how mad she’s making our girl!

Don’t be mad, girl. The male lead will only love you, spoil you, protect you. You’re the only one for him forever.

Am I the only one who thinks the supporting girl is pitiful? She didn’t do anything, but ended up marrying the wrong person and spent her whole life giving birth.

Zheng Qingning stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and looked at Zheng Jiaojiao expressionlessly.

“Sister, you look so ugly right now. You and that scumbag Ye Yunzhou really make a perfect match.”

She gave a faint smirk. “I wish you both an eternity together: a whore and her dog, forever united. May you and your trashy man cling to each other like glue. Make sure you never break up!”