Bai Taoji sat on the kang¹, resting her chin in her palm, watching her fourth aunt, Li Cui’er, rummage around the house with her butt sticking out.

“Taotao, where did your mom hide the money?” Li Cui’er, having searched through the cabinets and drawers, began feeling around in the coat pockets hanging behind the door, all the while asking questions.

Bai Taoji frowned—this fourth aunt really thought she, Bai Taoji, was a fool?!

However—

Bai Taoji’s eyes shifted, and she stammered, “I-Our…family… no-no money!”

Li Cui’er scoffed in disbelief. “How could your family not have money! Your dad got injured saving someone and ended up that way. He was recognized as a model worker long ago. Even newspapers in the provincial capital praised him! From the county, the town, the village… even our production team pitched in and rewarded your dad! I heard it totaled four or five hundred yuan altogether!”

At this point, Li Cui’er suddenly thought of something and asked, “Taotao, do you even know what money looks like?”

Bai Taoji looked at Li Cui’er with an expression of pure innocence, her eyes as clear as a child’s.

The more Li Cui’er thought about it, the more it made sense—a little fool like her obviously wouldn’t recognize money!

So, she pulled a crumpled large denomination bill from her trouser pocket and held it in front of Bai Taoji. “Here, it looks like this… Taotao, where does your mom usually hide these things?”

Bai Taoji couldn’t make out what Li Cui’er was holding.

She was originally the Saintess of the Meizong Sect of Xuandu Continent, reputed as the most beautiful woman in the Realm. For some reason, she had been struck by lightning and transported to this bizarre world where she became a seventeen-year-old foolish village girl, Bai Taotao[efn_note]Taotao is her nickname, Taoji is her actual name.[/efn_note].

A bona fide fool!

The experience of being foolish was akin to wearing a veil that blocked all senses. It slowed her movements and made her clumsy. She couldn’t clearly hear what others said or see things properly. Even when she injured herself, she barely felt pain and her reactions lagged significantly.

However, if the environment was quiet, and people spoke loudly, slowly and clearly, Bai Taoji could still understand.

This terrible experience left Bai Taoji unaccustomed to her new reality.

After a month, she finally pieced together the basics of this large family:

—The Bai family had four branches. The old patriarch passed away early, leaving behind a stepwife and four sons. The eldest, Bai Zhengqian (Taotao’s father), and the second, Bai Zhengkun, were born to the old patriarch’s first wife, Du Min. The third and fourth uncles were children of the stepwife, Chen Juxiang.

According to Bai Taoji, the Bai family’s four branches lived in a courtyard, constantly quarreling, and only managed to get along thanks to the eldest branch’s forbearance.

This fourth aunt was nothing but a troublemaker in the family. Now, taking advantage of the fact that Bai Taoji is the only one in the eldest family’s house, she dared to come over and steal money???

At this moment, seeing Li Cui’er handing over the large denomination bill, Bai Taoji took it naturally, felt it in her hands, and asked, “This… is money?”

She genuinely wanted to make out the details of the bill, but no matter how close she brought it to her face, it remained a blurry smudge.

Seeing Bai Taoji take the large denomination bill, Li Cui’er felt a twinge of unease and wanted to take it back. But on second thought, Bai Taotao was just a fool—what was there to be afraid of?

So, Li Cui’er coaxed patiently, “Taotao, where does your mom hide things like this? Tell your fourth aunt, and she’ll make you boiled eggs!”

Bai Taoji held onto the “large denomination bill,” thought for a moment, and then answered, “In… my grandmother’s room!”

Li Cui’er froze, gave Bai Taoji a once-over, and spat, “Nonsense!”

—Old Lady Bai, Chen Juxiang, was Li Cui’er’s mother-in-law but also the stepmother to the Bai family’s eldest. The relationship between the mother-in-law and the eldest daughter-in-law was only superficial, so there was no way the eldest branch’s money would be entrusted to her care.

In that moment, if Li Cui’er hadn’t watched Bai Taotao grow up, she might have suspected whether this girl was truly foolish or just pretending.

Bai Taoji earnestly added, “It’s… true! My grandmother’s… table was made by my dad… himself. Inside… there’s a hidden compartment my grandmother… doesn’t know about.”

The family’s money certainly wasn’t kept with the old lady, but the table in her room did have a secret compartment.

Whenever Bai Taotao’s mom and the old lady quarreled, her mom said, “Back when Zhengqian first learned carpentry, the first thing he did was dismantle my dowry chest to make you a table…”

Sometimes, when her mom was busy and had no choice but to leave Taotao in the old lady’s care, the latter, out of propriety, wouldn’t refuse. But she considered Taotao a fool and didn’t bother avoiding her gaze when taking money from that secret compartment.

However, the compartment had a lock, and the key was always kept close to the old lady. Whether Li Cui’er could unlock it wasn’t Bai Taoji’s concern.

Hearing Bai Taotao’s words, Li Cui’er was stunned before breaking into a grin. She thought the eldest branch was really something, actually hiding the money…

Well, it made sense—the most dangerous place was also the safest place!

Li Cui’er, delighted, turned to head for her mother-in-law’s room. But after a moment’s hesitation, she stopped and asked Bai Taoji, “Taotao, where exactly is that secret compartment?”

Bai Taoji replied, “Right… on the right side, third drawer down, on the left… you’ll feel it if you reach in.”

Li Cui’er was overjoyed and rushed out.

Meanwhile, Bai Taoji discreetly hid the large denomination bill in her hand.

Li Cui’er dashed into the courtyard and headed toward her mother-in-law’s room, when she suddenly remembered something. She hurried back and asked, “Taotao, where’s the money I just gave you?”

“Huh?” Bai Taoji widened her eyes in confusion.

Li Cui’er knew she was in trouble!

—That large denomination bill was her hard-saved private stash!

“You little brat! How dare you steal my money! Hand it over, now! If you don’t, I’ll beat you to death today…” Li Cui’er roared furiously and raised her hand to strike Bai Taoji.

Before the slap could land, Bai Taoji burst into loud wails.

Knowing her slow reflexes, she had prepared beforehand. Holding a sewing awl her mom used for making shoes, she protected her arm.

Sure enough, Li Cui’er, blinded by rage, didn’t notice and slammed her hand down, only to have it scraped by the awl. A deep, bleeding gash appeared instantly.

The Second Aunt, who was hanging laundry in the courtyard, was startled by Bai Taotao’s cries. She quickly shouted, “Taotao, what’s wrong?”

Rushing into the room, the Second Aunt saw the fourth aunt, face twisted with anger, standing in front of the kang, her hand raised as if to strike Taotao. Taotao lay on the small kang table, crying her heart out.

The Second Aunt, aware of the eldest branch’s situation, knew that while Taotao might be a fool, she was their treasure. Moreover, the eldest brother and sister-in-law had specifically asked her to look after Taotao before leaving.

She hurried to pull Li Cui’er back. “Sister-in-law, you know Taotao’s condition. If she’s being naughty, just tell the eldest brother and sister-in-law when they return. Why resort to violence?”

Li Cui’er was furious. “Why don’t you ask what this little brat did? She stole needles as a child, and now that she’s grown up she’s stealing money!”

Bai Taoji didn’t say a word and just lay on the table, crying.

Second Aunt froze. “You mean, Taotao…”

Li Cui’er shouted angrily, “This little thief stole my money!”

Second Aunt looked unconvinced. “What nonsense are you talking about! Taotao hasn’t even stepped out of the house today. How could she have stolen your money?”

Li Cui’er was momentarily speechless.

At that moment, the women from the neighboring courtyards who weren’t working heard the commotion coming from the Bai family’s yard and gathered in small groups.

Some of them, having sharp ears, already picked up on what was happening and started gossiping—

“What’s going on?”
“I heard there’s been a thief!”
“A thief?! Oh no, this is serious!”
“Yeah, we have to catch the thief. Otherwise… no one will feel safe anymore. This is unacceptable!”
“Our village has always had a good reputation—we don’t even pick up things left on the ground. We were just recognized as a Model Village. How did something like this happen?”
“We need to get to the bottom of this! Otherwise, how will we have any peace in the future?”
“Let’s go inform the village chief!”

The Bai sisters-in-law, realizing this involved the Bai family’s reputation and shouldn’t escalate, quickly spoke up—

“No, no, no! This is just a family matter, a family matter!”
“No, no, no, we’re just joking, just joking! Hahaha…”

The villagers exchanged puzzled looks.

Just then, the Bai family’s eldest son and his wife arrived home with their eldest daughter, Bai Lili.

As soon as the hostess, Tang Liren, stepped into the courtyard, she saw the crowd surrounding her home.

Her first reaction was that hsomething happened to her foolish daughter, Bai Taotao. She immediately ordered, “Lizi, help your dad!”

—Taotao wasn’t a normal child, and Tang Liren had poured a lot of effort into caring for and educating her. So no matter who bullied Taotao, Tang Liren wouldn’t stand for it.

Once Bai Lili had supported Bai Zhengqian, Tang Liren rushed inside. Sure enough, she saw her daughter Bai Taotao lying on the small kang table and crying softly.

“Taozi, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Tang Liren panicked.

Before Bai Taotao could answer…

Tang Liren suddenly noticed her daughter’s snow-white arm covered in blood???

Then, turning her head, she saw her sister-in-law, Li Cui’er, standing there with a bloody hand…

Tang Liren was furious. She put her hands on her hips and scolded, “Li Cui’er, do you have any humanity left? How dare you come into my house and bully my Taotao while we’re not here?”

Li Cui’er stammered, “I, I…” She suddenly found herself unable to explain.

Tang Liren, with her strong and straightforward personality, had always known that Li Cui’er was sharp-tongued and unrelenting when she had the upper hand. Seeing her now unable to form a complete sentence only convinced Tang Liren that her precious, foolish daughter had truly been bullied. Her anger flared, and she raised her hand to deliver a loud slap across Li Cui’er’s face.

Li Cui’er staggered from the blow!

The women gathered at the door whispered among themselves—

“Li Cui’er finally got what’s coming to her! She’s usually as aggressive as a crab, but only her sister-in-law can handle her!”
“Come on, this only happened because Old Lady Bai isn’t here today. Otherwise, Tang Liren wouldn’t have dared hit her!”
“Wait, wasn’t it about a thief? From the looks of it, could Li Cui’er be the thief?”
“If that’s the case, we better be careful!”

Li Cui’er was so embarrassed that she covered her face and began crying. “It’s wrong to hit people…”

But she didn’t dare escalate the matter.

After all, this was the eldest son’s house, and Tang Liren was known to be tough.

Tang Liren glared at Li Cui’er. “What did our Taotao do to offend you?”
Li Cui’er stammered, “N-no, no…”

Tang Liren pressed, “If she didn’t offend you, why are you bullying her?”
Li Cui’er protested weakly, “I-I didn’t…”

Tang Liren’s voice rose. “Then explain why Taotao’s arm is covered in so much blood… What kind of deep grudge do you have against her? She’s just a teenage girl, and you went at her with a knife? Were you trying to kill her?”
Li Cui’er quickly denied, “I didn’t…”

Tang Liren continued, “Then tell me, you knew we weren’t home, so why did you come into my house?”
Li Cui’er hesitated. “I…”

Second Aunt tried to mediate. “Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law, no matter what, we’re all family. Let’s not make a scene in front of the kids. Can we leave this for now?”

Li Cui’er covered her face and cried, “Yes, yes, let’s leave it for now… We’ll see if you still dare bully me when Mom and Zhenglang get back!”

Tang Liren, furious again, raised her hand.

But Li Cui’er quickly ran off.

Bai Taoji lay on the table, pressing her lips together to suppress a smile as she tightly clutched a large denomination bill in her hand.

T/N: I’m really excited to translate this story. This is my first project on Shanghai Fantasy, you can also check out some of my other (on another site) that I have listed out on my kofi. This is story seems to be a very interesting one from the chapters I read. I don’t usually read a full novel before translating cause it greatly reduces my motivation so I’m excited to read this with you. I’m going to be releasing a single chapter/chapter a day (I’ll do my best!). You could also buy me a kofi to help motivate me cause translation is hard! Thank you for reading, I hope you get to enjoy this as much as me!

Another note: The novel often refers to the FL as a ‘fool’, this is obviously not a way to address someone who has regressed mental development and is not acceptable. However, it’s not seen as a necessarily horrible manner of reference in the Chinese language so I will be keeping it as I’m only a translator. I apologize in advance if anyone finds this offensive!

1. 炕 (kàng) refers to a traditional heated bed or platform. ↩︎