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Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Su Qingqing woke up.
In her previous life, she had developed the habit of sleeping and waking early. Her internal clock always woke her on time.
She hadn’t slept well the night before, and her back and waist were sore when she got up.
She had planned to buy some bedding in town the day before, but ended up delayed for too long.
That night, she and her younger brother had no choice but to lay on a bit of straw and cover themselves with the ragged clothes they took from the Su family when they left—sleeping fully clothed to get through the night.
Thankfully, it was summer, and the night was not too cold.
She looked at her still-sleeping brother beside her and gently kissed his cheek.
There was still much to do today. The pork she bought yesterday still hadn’t been processed.
Su Qingqing took out her coin pouch and counted her remaining silver.
She had spent twenty-two copper coins on noodles, one tael and twelve coins on pork, 360 coins on rice and flour, and another tael on the carriage ride home.
Now, she had just over seven taels of silver left.
But looking around the house, there was absolutely nothing. Seven taels wouldn’t last long.
Looking again at her frail little brother and her own skinny, bean-sprout-like body…
Everything needed nourishment. And nourishment required money.
Sigh…
That annoying system had said it could help her make money, yet she hadn’t seen a single coin from it. Instead, it demanded that she keep earning to help it “recharge.”
Still, it seemed like the system only needed her to earn money, not give it all up.
As long as she kept earning, she could spend it how she wanted.
If the system dared act like a money-devouring beast, eating up all her hard-earned silver, she swore she’d fight it to the death.
Su Qingqing stretched her body to ease some of the soreness.
She had planned to render lard from the fat pork she bought.
But—she didn’t have a proper iron pot.
Looks like it was time… to settle some scores.
She glanced once more at her sleeping brother, then quietly closed the door and walked toward the Su family’s house in the village.
Only Old Madam Su and Li Shi were home.
Su Wenbo and his daughter Su Tingting were still in the county town. Su Ziming was attending school in town.
Perhaps because the old scholar Su had died early, the Su family was relatively small in number.
Old Madam Su was still lying in bed like some empress dowager, waiting for Li Shi to bring her breakfast.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, Su Qingqing arrived.
The Su family home was made of green bricks and tiled roofs, standing tall compared to most villagers’ mud-brick houses.
When she and her brother lived here, the others enjoyed airy, spacious rooms while the two of them were crammed into a dark, narrow mud hut.
Su Qingqing stood at the gate and stroked her chin thoughtfully.
How should she show up today?
As a pitiful, obedient granddaughter?
Or a vengeful, demanding one?
For the sake of public opinion, she decided to act the weak, pitiable kind.
By now, the sun had risen, casting a soft golden glow across the land. Villagers could be seen in small groups heading to work.
Su Qingqing stepped forward and knocked on the gate.
Inside, Li Shi was cooking and responded impatiently, “Who is it? Knocking so early in the morning!”
“Auntie, it’s me, Qingqing.” Her voice was soft and weak, as if she hadn’t eaten for days.
Li Shi’s voice came closer. “Oh, you little wretch. Didn’t you move out already? What are you doing back here?”
Clunk—the door opened.
As soon as Su Qingqing saw the door move, she pinched her thigh hard, and tears welled up instantly.
“Auntie, I know I was wrong… I just came to take back what belongs to my family.”
Old Madam Su, who was lying in bed like a corpse, heard the commotion and came out. When she heard Su Qingqing speak, she exploded.
“You little wench! Shameless whore! Nobody wants you! What things of your family are here? You’re just here to scam us!”
Neighbors nearby heard the yelling and quickly came over to watch.
As they arrived, they caught Old Madam Su’s vile curses loud and clear.
The onlookers froze.
In their impression, Old Madam Su was a kind, doting grandmother. Since when had she cursed her granddaughter so viciously?
Seeing the crowd, Old Madam Su quickly changed her expression. She coughed lightly and softened her tone. “My dear Qingqing! Even if you did something wrong, there’s no need to move out. You’re still my blood granddaughter!”
Su Qingqing squinted at the disgusting performance. In modern times, this kind of acting wouldn’t even qualify as background extra.
But somehow, the villagers bought it.
Fine. If she wants to act, I’ll act too.
Su Qingqing pinched her thigh again and cried harder. “Grandma, you always say I’ve done wrong, but I don’t even know what I did wrong…”
The crowd looked skeptical.
Li Shi stepped forward with a face full of disappointment. “Qingqing, I won’t bring up the past, but just a few days ago, didn’t you try to sell Zijing in town?”
Old Madam Su shot her a look. “Don’t say such things in front of everyone. How will Qingqing ever find a decent husband with such rumors?”
“Sigh, Old Madam Su is really too kind. Even after all this, she still defends her granddaughter.”
“Exactly!”
Su Qingqing ignored the villagers’ murmurs and fell to her knees, tears full of remorse. “Grandma, Auntie… I was only doing what you told me!”
“You said… Zijing wasn’t really my brother!”
Gasps rang out. Everyone turned toward Old Madam Su and Li Shi in shock.
Sensing things were going badly, Old Madam Su quickly cut her off. “Nonsense! When did I ever say Zijing wasn’t your real brother?!”
She was furious. When did this little wench become so clever?
Su Qingqing’s expression was full of disbelief. “Grandma… how can you deny it? You even said my mother died from anger because of him.”
“You said Zijing was born from Father and some woman outside. And when my mother found out, she died of grief.”
The villagers were stunned, jaws dropping.
That shattered everything they thought they knew.
Wasn’t Su Wenyuan famously devoted to his wife Liu Yue? How could he have a child with another woman?
Besides, everyone remembered when Zijing was born. It was all public.
Old Madam Su lost control and dropped the act. “You little whore’s daughter! Spewing nonsense—when did I ever say that?!”
The villagers exchanged glances, shocked.
Was this really the same kind, gentle old lady they knew?
One by one, they turned their eyes toward Old Madam Su and Li Shi.
But the old woman, consumed by rage, didn’t realize her mask had completely slipped.
Li Shi, on the other hand, was panicking—worried that Su Qingqing might expose her dirty deeds.
If her mother-in-law found out, she’d skin her alive.
Li Shi turned to look at Su Qingqing—only to see the girl watching her with a mocking smile.
Her heart skipped a beat. She trembled and quickly looked away.