Chapter 10

“Ha, that’s quite a bold statement. Fourth Sister, have you gone crazy?” Xin Liyie thought Xin Qi had changed a lot. After spending a few years in Harbin, her temper had definitely grown.

Li Huilan was trembling with anger. “You… you… get out of here!”

Xin Qi smiled sweetly. “This is my home, Mom. Where exactly do you want me to go?”

Li Huilan screamed, “Anywhere! Just get out! The farther, the better!”

Xin Jianjun stepped forward to mediate, and Zhang Lan pulled Xin Qi aside, trying to get her to calm down and apologize to Li Huilan.

Xin Guoping said sternly, “This is unacceptable. How can you speak to your mother like that? Where are your manners?”

Xin Qi looked innocent. “Hasn’t she always told me to get out of this house? Didn’t you hear her? Who’s really the one being disrespectful here?”

Xin Guoping had never been spoken to so bluntly before. He pointed at Xin Qi, too angry to speak.

Xin Jianjun’s face darkened. He warned, “Xin Qi.”

Xin Qi decided to ease off. “Alright then, since Mom doesn’t want me in this house, I’ll leave.”

Before anyone could respond, she turned around, opened the door, and walked out.

But as soon as she stepped out, Xin Qi regretted it. Once again, she forgot to be careful with her words. What she just did—coming from Xin Qi—would be considered utterly rebellious.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Xin family hadn’t seen the real Xin Qi in six years, they might have suspected she was an imposter or even a foreign spy.

Though, technically, she was an imposter—just not a spy.

Apparently, hunger can really cloud your judgment.

Touching her growling stomach, Xin Qi decided to find something to eat.

After leaving the family housing compound, she finally found a state-run restaurant that didn’t require food ration tickets and ordered a bowl of noodles.

Once full, she was faced with a new problem: where to sleep tonight.

There was no way a hotel would let her stay without proper documents, and even guesthouses required an introduction letter.

After thinking for a while, she realized she still had to go back to the Xin home.

But she was unwilling. She’d never been kicked out of her own home before.

Xin Qi herself owned properties in every major city across the country—just not in Beijing.

She was from the south, and most of her business empire was in the southern regions and abroad.

Now, having inexplicably become Xin Qi… it truly was a case of a tiger falling to flatlands and getting bullied by dogs.

She decided that once her 3,500 yuan was unfrozen, her first move would be to rent—ideally buy—a place.

Then, she’d figure out a way to move her household registration and cut ties with the Xin family for good.

A woman should always have a home of her own, no matter the circumstances.

But for now, the future career woman would have to figure out how to crash in the Xin family’s living room.

Xin Qi comforted herself: real leaders know when to bend and when to stand firm. Only those who don’t fuss over temporary setbacks can ultimately win.

She thought for a moment and then knocked on Auntie Wang’s door next door.

When Wang Fengying opened the door, she saw Xin Qi standing there with a pitiful expression.

Having overheard the argument from earlier, Wang Fengying figured there was more drama to come. She eagerly let Xin Qi in.

Her tone was unusually kind. “Oh, Xin Qi, what’s wrong? Did you need something?”

Wang Fengying’s children weren’t home. Xin Qi greeted Wang’s husband, Ye Shunbiao.

Ye Shunbiao glanced at the excited-looking Wang Fengying, shook his head, and went back into the house.

Xin Qi sat obediently on the sofa, putting on her most aggrieved face. “Auntie Wang, I upset my mom. She kicked me out of the house.”

“I wanted to ask if you could talk to her for me, tell her not to get so worked up. It’s not worth ruining her health over an unfilial daughter like me.”

Wang Fengying asked, “Why would she do that? You’ve only been home a few days after being gone for years, and she’s already kicking you out?”

Xin Qi lowered her head and said sadly, “It’s my fault. I don’t have a job and eat without contributing. Mom wants me to go back to Harbin, which is understandable.”

Wang Fengying was shocked. “You’re her own daughter! How can she say you’re eating for free? That’s outrageous.”

“She’s being so heartless. You were sent off as a youth to Harbin at such a young age and stayed there for five or six years. Now you’ve just come back, and she already thinks you’re a burden?”

“I’m just a neighbor, but even I can’t stand watching this.”

Xin Qi looked moved. “You’re so kind, Auntie Wang. But my mom has her struggles. I don’t blame her. It’s just my unlucky fate. I’m useless and have to depend on my parents.”

Now Wang Fengying truly felt sorry for the girl. “You’re so understanding. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.”

“I’ll take you to see the women’s committee director at the factory. She’ll definitely help.”

Xin Qi looked deeply touched.

Wang Fengying took her to see Luo Hongying, the factory’s women’s committee director.

Luo Hongying had a daughter of her own who had been sent to Xinjiang for re-education three years ago and hadn’t been back since.

Hearing that Xin Qi had been re-educated in Harbin for six years tugged at Luo’s heartstrings.

And when she heard that Li Huilan had tried to kick out her daughter over a bowl of noodles, she became even more sympathetic.

Wang Fengying added that Li Huilan had always favored her sons and treated her daughters like they were worthless.

Luo Hongying frowned. “This is a new society. Men and women are equal. Women hold up half the sky.”

“How can people still cling to such feudal, backward beliefs like male superiority? Xin, don’t worry. It’s our duty at the women’s federation to protect women’s rights. We’ve got your back.”

“I’ll go with you and talk to your mother myself.”

When they arrived at the Xin household, Luo asked Xin Qi to knock.

Xin Qi pretended to be afraid and hesitantly tapped on the door.

After a moment, someone inside asked who it was.

Xin Qi recognized Zhang Lan’s voice and replied, “Sister-in-law, it’s me.”

There was silence behind the door.

Xin Qi looked at Luo Hongying.

Luo frowned and knocked herself.

Before she could speak, the door flew open.

“You little wretch, what the hell are you doing back here? Didn’t I tell you to get lost? You just love getting cursed at, don’t you? Want a beating that bad?”

Li Huilan had a broom in hand and was swearing viciously.

She was about to strike Xin Qi when she saw that the one knocking was actually Luo Hongying.

“Di… Director Luo, w-what brings you here?”

Luo, startled but composed, replied sternly, “If I hadn’t come, would you have beaten Xin Qi to death?”

Li Huilan’s face turned pale. “Director Luo, don’t listen to that little slut. I didn’t hit her.”

“Oh really? Then what’s that broom in your hand for? And calling your daughter a ‘slut’? Is that how a mother talks to her child?”

Wang Fengying chimed in, fanning the flames: “Exactly! From the looks of it, you were about to beat her senseless.”

“In the dead of winter, when your daughter came home sick, you didn’t even go to the station to pick her up.”

“And now, in the middle of the night, you’re kicking her out of the house.”

“Even a stepmother wouldn’t be this cruel. Your heart is colder than a stepmother’s!”