Zhang Xiao stepped forward, trying to grab her hand, but Xia Zhi subtly dodged and sneered, “It’s pretty unlucky to be your family.”  

Zhang Xiao’s face darkened, her lips pressed tightly as she glared at Xia Zhi in displeasure.  

Why did Xia Zhi seem so different today? It was like she had swallowed gunpowder.  

Hao Liping, however, brightened at the words—Xia Zhi really dared to lash out at anyone.  

She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Gu Yunshen’s arm, pretending to be pitiful as she nestled against him.  

But in reality, she shot Xia Zhi a challenging look.  

“Brother Yunshen, I know you’re worried about hurting Sister’s feelings, but a marriage without love isn’t perfect. Why force it?”  

Gu Yunshen hesitated at her words. It was true—he didn’t like Xia Zhi. She was always chattering, constantly following him around like a shadow.  

Besides, ever since they were kids, the neighbors in the compound had teased him about Xia Zhi. He had long grown sick of it. What decent girl behaves like her-shamelessly running to someone else’s house every single day?

Seeing that Zhang Xiao had also agreed, Hao Dazhuang stood up and said, “Well… since things have come to this, then—”  

“Wait!” Xia Zhi interrupted sharply.  

Gu Yunshen frowned in displeasure, his voice full of disgust. “Xia Zhi, enough is enough. We were only engaged, not married—don’t go too far. Besides, you’re nowhere near as interesting as Liping. Every time I saw you coming to my house, it annoyed me. Now that I’ve found true love, you should back off.”  

The only reason he had agreed to the engagement in the first place was because he thought having someone at home to take care of things would be convenient. But now that he had found someone he liked, naturally, he wanted to break it off.  

After spending the past month with Liping, he felt completely at ease with her—unlike Xia Zhi, who understood nothing and couldn’t help him at all.  

Hao Liping smirked triumphantly before putting on a pitiful expression. “Sister, Brother Yunshen and I are truly in love.”  

Then, in a voice so low only Xia Zhi could hear, she taunted, “Hmph, Xia Zhi, in the Gu family’s eyes, you’re just a maid.”  

Xia Zhi stared at her coldly, suppressing the fury in her heart.  

Even if she was going to break off the engagement, she would take back what rightfully belonged to her.  

“I agree to cancel the engagement with Gu Yunshen. But on one condition—the Gu family has to pay me back for all the money I spent on them over the years. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, right?”  

Gu Yunshen immediately retorted, “Bullshit! When has our family ever spent your money?”  

It was her who had been freeloading off them all this time!  

Zhang Xiao seemed to remember something, a flicker of panic flashing across her face. “Oh, Xia Zhi, let’s not talk like strangers—we’re practically family—”  

“Spare me the crap! Who’s family with you? Let me make this clear—two years ago, you promised Gu Yunshen would marry me, calling me your daughter-in-law left and right, tricking me into working for your family. You said it was all for Gu Yunshen’s college dreams, that if I endured a little hardship now, good days would come later.  

But now you want Hao Liping instead? Fine, no problem.  

Then I’m not part of your family. Everyone here knows how I’ve treated the Gu family.  

Hao Liping was right—I was just your maid.  

Well, going by the standard maid’s wage of twenty-five yuan a month, I slaved for you for two years—that’s six hundred yuan!  

And all those books for Gu Yunshen? I dug up sweet potatoes to sell just to buy them! Either pay me back in cash, or hand over the books!”  

Xia Zhi planted her hands on her hips and let loose. This family had no shame! They took advantage of the original Xia Zhi’s illiteracy, sweet-talking her into serving them. Disgusting!  

The onlookers immediately started murmuring among themselves.  

“That’s right. Xia Zhi and Yunshen were engaged two years ago. Zhang Xiao never called her by name—it was always ‘daughter-in-law,’ making her do this and that.”  

Back then, everyone had been envious—where else could you find such a hardworking, obedient daughter-in-law? They had often praised Zhang Xiao when chatting.  

Everyone had assumed the two would marry soon after the engagement, but Gu Yunshen kept delaying, saying he wanted to study at home and wait for the college entrance exams to resume.  

And Xia Zhi? She never complained, encouraging him while working tirelessly. But now that this had happened, were they just going to take advantage of her for free?  

Since when did the world work like that?  

Hao Liping balked at the mention of six hundred yuan. “Cousin, how can you say that? No one forced you to do any of this—you did it all willingly!”  

Gu Yunshen quickly agreed. “Exactly, Xia Zhi. Did I ask you to serve me? And those books—you were the one who bought them for me!”  

Xia Zhi nearly choked on her anger.  

The audacity!

How could the original host have fallen for someone like this and remained so devoted to him?

“Gu Yunshen, and here I thought you were educated! How can you spout such shameless nonsense? You tricked me with this engagement—isn’t that fraud? And you, Gu Yunshen—you’re a cheater! If I report all the dirty deeds your family has pulled to the Education Bureau, let’s see which university would dare accept a morally corrupt student like you!”  

“Xia Zhi, you wouldn’t dare!” Gu Yunshen immediately stood up and shouted, a flicker of panic crossing his face.  

Zhang Xiao also panicked and rushed forward to grab her, but she slipped and nearly fell.  

Instead, she ended up sprawled at Xia Zhi’s feet, clutching her pants leg with a pitiful expression.  

“Oh, oh, this is all my fault! Xia Zhi, I was wrong! But at the time, I really did see you as my daughter-in-law! Look, if you want, I’ll kneel for you—just please don’t report this!”  

A shrewd glint flashed in Zhang Xiao’s eyes as she theatrically prepared to kneel.  

“Ah, now, now—since when does an elder kneel to a junior? Xia Zhi, why don’t we just let this go?”  

“Yeah, who could’ve predicted something like this would happen…”  

The onlookers, seeing Zhang Xiao’s pitiful act, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. After all, they all lived in the same compound—wasn’t this going too far?  

Xia Zhi glanced at the aunties who were so quick to preach without understanding the pain, then grinned coldly.  

“Oh? Since you’re all so kind-hearted, why don’t you help pay the money back? After all, as you all know—I, Xia Zhi, am an orphan with no parents. Surely you wouldn’t all gang up to bully a poor, helpless woman, would you?”  

The crowd immediately fell silent. Six hundred yuan wasn’t six cents—how could any of them afford that?  

Xia Zhi observed their reactions, then turned back to Zhang Xiao—just in time to catch a fleeting look of impatience in her eyes.  

As expected—a pack of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

The original host had always been an outsider. How could these people ever have truly treated her as family?  

“Aunt Zhang, my stance remains the same—return my money and the books I bought. If you don’t, I will report you!”  

Xia Zhi crossed her arms, giving the group a sidelong glance. The original host had inherited her mother’s delicate, petite features—pretty and delicate.  

But under these people’s abuse, she had been worn down into a worn-out drudge. At just twenty, she looked like a haggard thirty-year-old housewife.  

What a waste!

Zhang Xiao was in a tough spot. Six hundred yuan wasn’t something they could cough up easily.  

Besides, if Yunshen was going to marry Hao Liping, they’d need money for the bride price and the wedding banquet. This was…  

“Xia Zhi, Auntie will pay you back. It’s just… right now, money’s tight. Could you give us some time?” Zhang Xiao looked at her pleadingly.  

“Exactly, Xia Zhi. Aunt Zhang already said she’d pay—why push it?”  

Chen Xiuping stepped forward. “Xia Zhi, what Liping did was wrong, but we’re all neighbors. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if we didn’t make this ugly?”  

In the past, Xia Zhi had always listened to her. If they could just smooth things over today and finalize Liping and Yunshen’s relationship, they could drag out the repayment as long as possible.  

“Xia Zhi, that’s enough!” Hao Dazhuang barked, his face dark with anger.  

Xia Zhi looked at these people—who sided with family over fairness—and felt nothing but cold disdain.