Chapter 51

Su Qianqian put down the items in her hand. “Eggs and brown sugar. Have Sister-in-law cook you some brown sugar eggs; they’re very nourishing.”

In this era, combining these two items was indeed a good option. Many postpartum women needed to eat brown sugar eggs to recover, and brown sugar wasn’t cheap.

“That’s it?” Su’s mother stared blankly at the items in Su Qianqian’s hand, realizing she had really only brought these two things. “Your mother is seriously ill, and this is all you brought?” She started coughing again after speaking. Su Qianqian silently took two steps back, wary of any saliva spraying on her.

“Qianqian, stop upsetting Mom, or her condition will worsen,” Su’s eldest sister-in-law said disapprovingly.

Su Qianqian looked innocent. “What, do I need to bring flowers too?”

“You!” Su’s mother was so enraged that she almost couldn’t catch her breath. She sat up abruptly, ready to hit her. “I’ll beat you to death, you unfilial daughter, you wretched thing!”

“So you’re cursing me to die, huh? Bring flowers? I’ll beat the flowers out of you, believe me!” Su’s mother growled through gritted teeth, looking more like an enemy than a mother with her fierce demeanor.

At this point, Su Qianqian understood. Su’s mother was faking her illness. That leap out of bed just now was as agile as a tiger pouncing downhill. She was likely fit enough to live another 30-40 years without issue.

Su Fangfang hurriedly pulled Su Qianqian aside, knowing full well how harsh their mother could be when she beat her children. They’d both been beaten plenty as kids.

“Didn’t you say you were gravely ill? You look pretty fine to me,” Su Qianqian mocked.

Su’s eldest sister-in-law immediately chimed in, “Mom, don’t get too upset. You’re already sick; don’t overexert yourself trying to scold Qianqian. She doesn’t care about you and will just think we’re trying to take advantage of her. Saying such things within the family is truly disheartening.”

On the surface, she was persuading, but in reality, she was fanning the flames.

“Even if I’m on my deathbed, I must teach this wretched girl a lesson! Did you hear the nonsense she just spouted?” Su’s mother was utterly livid. Her chest heaved violently, and she grabbed a shoe, ready to hit Su Qianqian.

“But Su Youdi isn’t even married yet. Would you really be willing to die?” Su Qianqian didn’t buy it. This old lady cherished her life more than anyone else!

Su Fangfang tugged on her, signaling her to stop talking. After all, she was their mother. But Su Qianqian didn’t care. This wasn’t her real mother; she was just the mother of the original owner of her body. Besides, Su’s mother had never shown any motherly love to the original owner. A mother who lacked kindness shouldn’t expect filial piety in return.

“Mom, brown sugar and eggs are decent enough. Take care of yourself. It’s the busy farming season right now, and we don’t have much time. We’ll be going now.” Su Fangfang also realized their mother was just trying to extort things from her younger sister, likely because she knew Su Qianqian had come back from the city.

“You two ungrateful wolves! Raising you was a waste of my time!” Su’s mother cursed angrily. “I should’ve strangled you when you were born! That way, you wouldn’t be here infuriating me!” She glared at them, breathing heavily.

Su Qianqian let out a cold laugh. “Fangfang and I never wore new clothes, barely ate any meat, and did all the work. After we got married, you took the bride price and we sent back a lot of money. Who’s the real ungrateful one? Who’s truly heartless?”

Parental love? What a joke! The girls in the Su family were never treated as human beings, only as tools for labor.

When they were kids, their elder brother, Su Youtian, never had to lift a finger. It was always Su Qianqian and Su Fangfang doing all the chores. On top of that, he frequently bullied them, calling them “money-losing goods.”

“Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Mom gave birth to you! A mother’s grace is greater than the sky!” Su’s eldest sister-in-law interjected unhappily. How had her sister-in-law changed so much after being away for a while? She dared to say such rebellious things now!

“Oh really? So what you’re saying is that even after getting married, I should keep supporting my natal family? That all the good things should go to my natal family, is that it?”

“Well, yes…” Su’s eldest sister-in-law stammered, sensing something was wrong with her logic but unable to pinpoint it.

Moreover, the conversation had already reached this point, so she had to answer that way. Otherwise, it would be inconsistent, wouldn’t it?

Su Qianqian smiled. “Remember what you just said, okay?”

That smile made Su’s eldest sister-in-law uneasy. What was going on? What did she mean by that? Why did it feel off?

“We’re leaving now. Take care of yourself,” Su Qianqian said, ready to leave with Su Fangfang. But before they could step out, their younger brother, Su Youdi, blocked their way. “Is this how you treat Mom? You’ve upset her and made her condition worse. She needs to go to the hospital, so hand over the money.”

Ah, so this was what it was all about. They were just waiting to extort some money.

The whole family was putting on an act.

“We don’t have any money,” Su Qianqian said, spreading her hands. She did have money on her, but there was no way she was handing it over. It was obvious they were trying to manipulate her and Su Fangfang.

“Impossible. Hand over the money,” Su Youdi demanded, blocking the door with his tall and imposing figure, making him seem quite intimidating.

“No money,” Su Qianqian repeated firmly. Su Fangfang hesitated, thinking it would be better not to escalate the situation. She knew her family’s nature—if they didn’t give some money today, this matter wouldn’t end, and they wouldn’t be able to leave.

“If you don’t have money, then stay here and take care of Mom.”

Su Qianqian sneered. “Does she only have us two daughters? Are her two sons dead?”

“You wretched woman! How dare you curse me and our elder brother!” Su Youdi raised his hand to slap her. Su Qianqian, expecting this, pulled Su Fangfang aside, causing Su Youdi to stumble and nearly lose his balance.

Before anyone could react, Su Qianqian grabbed Su Fangfang and dashed out. She then ran into the kitchen and grabbed a kitchen knife. When Su Youdi stormed in and saw the knife, he froze in his tracks, immediately stepping back in alarm.

“What are you doing? Su Qianqian, have you lost your mind? Mom, Su Qianqian’s gone crazy! She’s trying to kill someone!” Su Youdi shouted, his earlier ferocity completely gone.

“Get back! Anyone who steps closer, I’ll kill them!” Su Qianqian held the knife, her icy gaze fixed on Su Youdi and the eldest sister-in-law, who had followed him in.

Terrified, Su’s eldest sister-in-law quickly ushered the children away.

Su’s mother, who could no longer keep up her act, rushed out. Seeing the scene, she was so scared she nearly collapsed. She quickly pulled Su Youdi far away.

“You bringer of misfortune! What are you doing? Put the knife down! Put it down!” She slapped her thigh and shouted at Su Qianqian.

“Are you going to let my sister and me leave? If not, no one leaves. If we’re going to die, we’ll all die together!” Su Qianqian’s icy demeanor startled even Su Fangfang, who realized her sister seemed completely different.

As she spoke, Su Qianqian waved the knife menacingly, her posture full of determination.

“Go! Get out of here, now!” Su’s mother was terrified. She believed this crazy girl might actually do it.

However, after calming down, Su Youdi doubted that Su Qianqian would actually dare to act. After all, someone who never fought back even when beaten as a child wouldn’t have the guts to wield a knife now.

“You’re just bluffing. Kill someone? You don’t have the guts. Go ahead, try it. Cut me if you can!” He deliberately stretched out his neck as he spoke, taunting her.