Chapter 4: Moving Out of the Su Household—So Hard to Clear My Name

Su Qingqing slept soundly through the night.

…

As the first rays of morning sunlight spilled through the window, she slowly opened her eyes.

On the wooden bed, a small child was quietly staring at her, his gaze timid.

When he saw her open her eyes, the little boy shrank back in fear.

Still bleary-eyed, Su Qingqing looked at the child beside her, and a warm, spring-like smile formed at the corners of her lips.

“Zijin, good morning!”

Su Zijin was stunned by his sister’s smile.

In his memory, his sister rarely smiled at him. She never even called him “Zijin.” She always followed their grandmother and aunt, calling him things like freeloader, brat, or even little bastard.

Su Qingqing couldn’t help but be moved by his dazed expression—he was just too adorable.

She had waited so long to have a younger brother she could spoil.

Back in the modern world, whenever she saw big sisters playing with their little brothers, she always wished she could be that big sister.

Now, she smiled with contentment and reached out to touch her brother’s head. The little guy instinctively flinched.

Alright, take it slow, she thought. For now, she still had to carry the burden left by the original Su Qingqing.

Just then, growwwl~, Su Zijin’s stomach rumbled.

Su Qingqing took out the leftover meat buns from the day before and headed to the kitchen.

Li Shi and Old Madam Su weren’t up yet.

Soon, the warm scent of meat buns filled the kitchen.

Su Zijin swallowed hard.

He really wanted one—but he knew they weren’t for him. They must be for Grandma and Auntie.

When Su Qingqing came back in with the warmed buns, she saw her brother sitting there with his eyes shut, sniffing the air with his little nose like a curious squirrel.

Su Qingqing was instantly smitten. She held a bun close to his nose. “Zijin, open your eyes—come eat!”

Su Zijin’s eyes widened. He couldn’t believe it—his sister had not only called him Zijin again but was also offering him food.

Su Qingqing handed him a bun. “Here. Eat if you’re hungry.”

Zijin stared at the unfamiliar version of his sister, then mustered the courage to ask, “Sister, did you become a good person now?”

Su Qingqing gently patted his head and said seriously, “Yes. Sister has changed. I’ll never be bad again. I’ll protect you from now on.”

Zijin carefully took the bun and started eating.

He didn’t know if she had really changed, but he hoped so.

He remembered that before he turned three, his sister had been very good to him. But afterward, she grew cold, even selling him off. Thankfully, he managed to escape and was saved by a handsome older brother. When he woke up, he found himself beside his sister again—so he figured she must have brought him home.

He was a small child, so just one bun filled him up.

Su Qingqing, on the other hand, gobbled down four large buns and rubbed her round belly. Now she had zero money. If she wanted to be good to her brother, she’d have to earn.

She rubbed her chin, deep in thought. Zijin obediently kept quiet.

Hmm… got it!

She could start by hunting. After all, this newfound strength and lightning-fast speed were clearly gifted by the heavens. She had discovered her speed while running through town yesterday—like the wind!

Guess getting struck by lightning wasn’t so bad after all!

…

“Qingqing, is breakfast ready yet?” came Li Shi’s voice from outside.

Su Zijin trembled slightly at the sound.

Su Qingqing knew Li Shi often beat him—and the original host had picked up those habits too.

The original Su Qingqing hadn’t been a bad child, but after their father entrusted them to the Su family, Grandma Su and Li Shi had twisted her.

“Don’t be scared, little one,” she whispered. “Sister will check.”

She walked out. The warmth in her smile vanished instantly.

“You don’t have hands of your own?” she snapped, glaring at Li Shi’s pudgy hands.

Li Shi was stunned. Normally, breakfast would be ready by now.

Su Qingqing didn’t bother dealing with these two third-rate drama queens. She turned and went back inside.

Time is precious—I still need to earn money for my sweet little brother!

“You don’t want to live in the Su house anymore?” Li Shi asked, expecting this line to make Su Qingqing back down and beg like always.

Instead, all she got was a door slammed shut.

Li Shi was dumbfounded. What? That’s not how this is supposed to go…

She scratched her head and decided to consult her mother-in-law.

Usually, it was her daughter Su Tingting who came up with ideas. Tingting had gone to the county town with her aunt five days ago, and her husband had gone too, hoping to find work.

Li Shi had one son and one daughter. Her son, Su Ziming, studied at a private school in Xiahe Town. Her daughter, Su Tingting, was two years older than Su Qingqing.

Back inside, Su Qingqing told her little brother, “Zijin, pack up—we’re going home.”

She remembered that when she was three, her father Su Wenyuan had asked to divide the family. He built a house at the foot of Jixiang Mountain, a bit away from the village. That was her true home. They had only been staying with the Su family temporarily.

Zijin looked puzzled. “Home?”

There wasn’t time to explain. She just looked at him seriously. “Come with me. I won’t ever sell you again. Trust me this once.”

“Mm-hmm!” he nodded.

He didn’t want to stay here anyway. Grandma, Auntie, Cousin Sister, Uncle, and Cousin Brother—all of them disliked him.

And his sister now seemed much better than before. He’d rather live with her.

Meanwhile, Li Shi entered Old Madam Su’s room. The old woman was waiting for her breakfast. Usually that wretched girl would’ve made the meal and Li Shi would bring it in.

Old Madam Su considered herself the wife of a scholar and carried herself accordingly: if she could sit, she’d never stand; if she could lie down, she’d never sit.

Even though her scholar husband had been dead for over 20 years, she was still proud of the title.

She never worked. Back then, she relied on Su Wenyuan to provide. Now, she lived off Su Qingqing’s embroidery work.

When she saw her daughter-in-law enter empty-handed, she scowled. “Didn’t I tell you to get the food? Where is it?”

Li Shi whined, “Mother, that little wretch didn’t cook anything!”

Old Madam Su frowned. She had smelled something tasty earlier—that’s what woke her up.

“It’s true,” Li Shi insisted, nearly in tears. “I’m going to give her a good lesson later!”

Old Madam Su stood up. “Come on, let’s go see what nonsense that little brat is up to.”

Meanwhile, Su Qingqing and her brother had packed their things. Just one tiny bundle—only a few tattered clothes.

She took his hand and walked away from the Su house.

Looking back once, she thought: Debts must be repaid eventually.

By the time Old Madam Su and Li Shi reached their room, it was already empty.

Su Qingqing and her brother had reached their actual home.

The house had four rooms, but it was in ruins after years of disuse. Several parts had collapsed. Only one room was somewhat intact, though all furniture had been looted by the Su family.

Whatever, it’ll do for now.

She had her brother sit on a big stone nearby. “Zijin, wait here. Don’t run around. I’m going to clean up.”

“Okay!” he nodded. If Sister said it, he would do it. He didn’t want to be sold again.

Su Qingqing rolled up her sleeves like she was going into battle.

Her god-given strength was no joke.

Zijin watched his sister’s blurry fast figure—she was so fast and so strong!

Fifteen minutes later, Su Qingqing surveyed her work with satisfaction.

She had used up a lot of energy. Her stomach grumbled again.

She needed to get her brother settled and then carry that wolf carcass from the mountain into town to sell.

Should I leave him here? Or with someone in the village?

Forget it—I’ll take him with me. I’m strong, I can manage.

“Zijin, stay here. I’ll take you to town in a bit,” she said, getting ready to retrieve the wolf.

Su Zijin turned pale. “Sister, please don’t sell me. I’ll behave. I’ll eat just one meal a day, and when I turn eight, I’ll carry sacks to earn money for you.”

“Good boy. I’m not selling you. I’ll take you to town to buy something yummy.”

But that terrified him even more—last time she had said the same thing and sold him to a scary butcher.

No matter how Su Qingqing coaxed him, he refused to go to town.

Ugh… another problem left by the original host.

Seeing her looking up at the sky in frustration, he quietly said, “Sister, I can go to Auntie Wang’s house. She treats me well.”

That might be the best option for now.

Su Qingqing picked him up and headed to Auntie Wang’s house.

It was siesta time, and the villagers were gathered chatting in small groups.

When they saw Su Qingqing carrying her brother, they sneered—thinking she was about to abandon or sell him again.

“So young and already so wicked. I’ve seen her ditch him before. One time, I had to take the kid back to the Su family!”

“Same here. I’ve saved that kid once myself.”

“Both are Su family girls—how come Su Tingting is so sweet, and Su Qingqing’s so vicious?”

“Did you hear? She sold him to that butcher in town the other day. Old Madam Su had to go and get him back.”

…

Su Qingqing muttered in her heart: Oh heavenly turtle, oh lovely neighbors… I love life… I love my villagers…

Ugh, clearing my name is going to be so hard!

Su Zijin, feeling misunderstood, whispered, “My sister didn’t try to sell me or abandon me. She’s changed.”

“She found me and brought me back—not Grandma.”

“Look at that! She must’ve threatened him. Now he’s covering for her!”

“Exactly!”

…

Zijin clenched his tiny fists. “My sister didn’t—!”

Su Qingqing had a headache from all the gossip. “Zijin, forget it. Let’s get you to Auntie Wang’s.”

She knew these villagers meant no harm, so she didn’t argue.

Words alone couldn’t clear the original host’s bad reputation overnight.

About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Auntie Wang’s door. Su Qingqing knocked.

“Who is it? Coming!”

Eh? That voice sounds familiar…