Chapter 3

Zhang Shufen suppressed her anger and replied, “Alright, you rest, I’ll wash the bowls and then leave.”

A money-losing wretch actually dared to order her around—just wait and see, hmph.

She shut the door with a bit too much force.

Song Wanyue looked at the system and asked, “My acting was fine, right?”

She had confidence in that, at least.

The system nodded. “No problem.”

Song Wanyue frowned. “No, this bed I still have to sleep on, I can’t let them do bad things in my room. Let’s make it in Zhou Shanshan’s room. System, do you sell knockout drugs and aphrodisiacs? I need three doses—Zhang Shufen should get some too. Also, my body feels feverish, do you have anything to bring down the heat? I’ve got money.”

Better to ask clearly first.

The system: “Wait a minute, host, Zhang Shufen too? You’re planning… heh, you’re really bad. Yes, I’ve got them, here you go. Two yuan, fixed price. Anything that exists in this world, you can buy from me.”

She was someone with a temper—grudges must be repaid.

Song Wanyue smiled coldly. “I want to see how the Gu family can show their faces in this village after such a scandal. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You reap what you sow. And this is only the beginning.”

The revenge had just started.

She was going to stir up the waters of this village so much that Gu’s father would lose his position as team leader.

Shame beyond repair.

The system sighed. “Well, since you put it that way, it’s fine. You’ve taken over the original host’s body—she made a deal with our System Bureau and has already gone on to reincarnate.”

“Wanyue, you do have a task. After all, you died, and bringing you here had a price. If you’re unwilling, I can send you on to reincarnate and look for another host. Our Bureau doesn’t force hosts. We have principles.”

Song Wanyue hugged the system. “Don’t, cutie, I’m willing to complete the task. Tell me what it is when the time comes. I’m guessing it’s to avenge the original host, right?”

Better to live than die—next reincarnation might not be so lucky.

She envied the warmth of the original host’s family.

She alone knew how much suffering she endured in her past life, how much money she earned, and for what.

When she was grown and earning well, her biological parents came to demand she support them in old age. Turned out she had once had a younger brother who’d died of illness.

They had thrown her away because they favored boys over girls. As far as she was concerned, she had no parents.

She never went back to live with them, just moved to another city, only visiting the orphanage people at New Year.

She’d wanted money, a good man, an adorable child, a warm and happy home.

But every day she returned to an empty, cold apartment, and could only drown herself in work.

Others drowned their sorrows in alcohol, she drowned hers in work.

Nothing wrong with that.

Song Wanyue pressed, “System, those three must be waiting outside already. I’m afraid they won’t behave. Give them a little knockout powder. If they’re carrying more aphrodisiacs, even better.

Thanks so much—otherwise I’d be the one getting tricked.”

After all, the drugs would be found on them. If investigated, it would show they had bought them themselves. Hard to talk their way out.

System: “Alright, speed it up, I’ll check around later.”

This plan was solid.

Song Wanyue followed Zhang Shufen out. Seeing no one around, she tapped the woman’s neck lightly, and she collapsed instantly. Dragging her aside, Wanyue moved on.

In the back garden, Gu Dahai and Zhou Shanshan were still cuddling and whispering.

Gu Dahai gazed at Zhou Shanshan with deep affection. “Shanshan, I’ll never let you down. Don’t worry, with Song Wanyue it’s just an act. For our future, I’ll perform well in her family and fight to get a proper job soon.”

Who wouldn’t want to become a capital resident? Besides, Song Wanyue was beautiful.

Zhou Shanshan, moved and reluctant, replied, “Dahai, I know your heart. The Song family is rich, you and your son will live well. When the time is right, we’ll be together.”

Seeing this, Song Wanyue thought Zhou Shanshan was quite skilled at brainwashing.

Gu Dahai walked toward Song Wanyue’s room, looking back every few steps. Song Wanyue came up behind and tapped his neck too.

“Bah!” she spat. “Play-acting, huh? Scum.”

Using the same method, she carried Zhou Shanshan inside as well. Had to hurry—people were coming soon to catch them in the act.

She laid them all on the bed.

Searching Zhang Shufen, she found the rest of the aphrodisiac powder—half a packet left.

She gave Zhou Shanshan a little, Gu Dahai a larger dose. To be safe, she asked, “System, is this enough? Should I add more? Not giving Zhang Shufen aphrodisiac is my bottom line, but this way it’s already hard to explain. Heh.”

System confirmed, “Enough. They gave you half a dose before—that was already too much. Any more and it could kill someone.”

Worried they’d wake up mid-way and spoil things, she fed knockout powder to Zhang Shufen and a little to Zhou Shanshan too.

No need for Gu Dahai—the aphrodisiac dose would overwhelm him.

Relieved after drugging them, she carefully wore gloves the whole time, leaving no trace. With disgust, she stripped them, putting Zhang Shufen off to the side, and laying Gu Dahai with Zhou Shanshan.

That would make things easier.

She cleaned up all traces.

“Let’s go. Soon Gu Hongmei will come with people to catch them red-handed.”

Gu Hongmei, Zhang Shufen’s younger daughter. Zhang Shufen had three sons and two daughters. Among them, Gu Hongmei most resembled her mother, so she was the most doted on.

In the original timeline, after being set up like this, the original host grudgingly accepted the marriage.

She had been feverish, drugged with aphrodisiac, taken advantage of by Gu Dahai. Villagers saw, her reputation ruined—she had no choice but to marry him.

Gu Dahai even knelt and claimed it was all his mother’s doing, that he had been forced.

After marriage, the Gu family schemed against her endlessly.

When Gu Dahai later became successful, his family clung to her like leeches.

Gu Hongmei was no weakling—besides Gu Dahai, she was the most calculating in the family. Zhou Shanshan first conspired with her. After Gu Dahai divorced, they planned to push the naive, wealthy original host into being his new wife.

But Song Wanyue would never be the fool, let alone a stepmother.

She thought bitterly—wasn’t the original host exactly that, a stepmother scapegoat? Zhou Shanshan wanted to divorce, go to college, and return to the city. Gu Dahai was like sticky taffy, relentlessly pursuing her after they were sent down.

Without Zhang Shufen and Gu Hongmei’s scheming, Zhou Shanshan wouldn’t have divorced so easily.

Song Wanyue suspected Zhou Shanshan’s true goal was to seize the Song family’s wealth through Gu Dahai.

As long as the Song family fell into trouble, their son-in-law would naturally get it all.

Song Wanyue pondered, “I need a reason for why I wasn’t there, and witnesses. Otherwise, how can I clear suspicion?”

Her brain spun quickly.

“Got it. Originally, the host was supposed to help Auntie Cui’s family dig sweet potatoes today. During the work break, she went to the bathroom, washed her hands by the river, slipped, and fell in.

I’ll avoid people for now and go to Auntie Cui. Hasn’t she long wanted to be the team leader’s wife? Even Accountant Zhang has been eyeing that position.”

The worksite wasn’t far from the educated youth dormitory.

She rummaged through a box, pulling out money, two cans of fruit preserves, a pack of White Rabbit candies, and a pound of cured pork.

Walking quickly, her body still weak from the medicine, but steady enough.

Seeing Auntie Cui’s family still digging sweet potatoes, she went close and whispered the whole plan in Cui Hehua’s ear. Naturally, she agreed.

Cui Hehua and Zhang Shufen had been rivals since childhood—comparing looks, husbands, children’s prospects.

Cui Hehua grinned from ear to ear. “Wanyue, you’re serious? Zhang Shufen tried to trick you and ended up tricked herself? Well, they’re all family anyway—no water flows to outsiders.

Now let’s see what face she has left in front of me.”

Song Wanyue calmly picked up a hoe and worked—thanks to the memories and muscle instinct, it wasn’t hard.

To make her alibi believable, she smeared mud on her hands and clothes.

“Of course, Auntie, later you’ll help me testify that I was here working early on. If the Gu family ends up in such a scandal, the team leader’s position will likely be stripped.

If Uncle Zhang wants to become team leader, I can help rally votes. I’ll put up twenty yuan, you do the legwork. Whether he gets the post depends on your efforts.”

Cui Hehua’s mind spun with calculation.

Twenty yuan. A full twenty yuan!

Helping today would mean opposing the Gu family.

But if what Wanyue said came true, Gu’s father would very likely lose his position.

And now, under collective punishment, one person’s crime meant shame for the whole family.

With such a scandal, their disgrace would spread everywhere.