Chapter 3: The Original Owner’s Adoptive Mother

After dinner, little Zhong Ling offered to wash the dishes. Seeing how serious she looked, He Jingshu nodded in agreement. Once she saw that Zhong Ling had done a good job, she felt at ease and went to search for the original owner’s savings.

Eventually, she discovered a loose brick at the head of the bed. Acting on a hunch, He Jingshu pulled it out. Inside was a small fabric-wrapped bundle. When she opened it, it really was money. Sitting on the bed, she counted — 245.63 yuan.

He Jingshu knew the original owner was stingy, but she didn’t expect this stingy. After all, Zhong Youliang’s monthly allowance plus subsidies only totaled 20 yuan, and he sent 18 back home each month. To still save this much was impressive.

“Daughter, daughter!” Zhang Daya shouted loudly for her adopted daughter.

He Jingshu immediately recognized the voice as the original owner’s adoptive mother and quickly hid the money. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Zhang Daya, all too familiar with the place, rummaging through the kitchen. When she found nothing, her expression darkened.

“You wretched girl! Why is there nothing here? Did you hide it?”

“You come snooping around all the time. Wouldn’t you know if it were hidden?” He Jingshu, seeing little Zhong Ling trembling in fear, was furious. Clearly, the girl had been frightened by Zhang Daya.

“You ungrateful brat, who do you think you’re talking to? Don’t forget you married into the Zhong family thanks to me. Now you’re just burning the bridge after crossing it?” Zhang Daya was furious. This girl used to always welcome her with a smile — now she dared to talk back?

“Enough. Don’t cause a scene in my home. Even if you raised me, I’ve long repaid the debt by marrying over. If you’ve got nothing else, then leave.” He Jingshu wasn’t going to take her nonsense.

Zhang Daya was livid and rushed at her to hit her. But He Jingshu knew Taekwondo — she swept a leg and knocked her down. Zhang Daya was shocked and furious.

“I must’ve been cursed! I raised an ungrateful wolf! She eats my food, drinks my water, and now even hits me! Captain! Captain, come and stand up for me!” Before long, a crowd of villagers had gathered.

Everyone assumed Zhang Daya had come to demand money again, and that He Jingshu had refused — just like always. She gave Zhang Daya everything except money.

Zhang Xiuying heard the commotion, hesitated a moment, then decided to check — afraid her precious granddaughter-in-law was being bullied again.

“What’s going on?” The village leader arrived quickly, as it wasn’t the busy farming season yet.

“Leader! This ungrateful girl eats my food, drinks my water, and now she hits me! I’m so miserable — I raised a white-eyed wolf!” Zhang Daya screamed while lying on the ground.

“You loser! How dare you hit my grandma!” Tie Dan charged forward to hit He Jingshu, but she dodged, and he fell face-first to the ground.

“Waaaah! Grandma, my mouth is bleeding! It hurts so bad!” Tie Dan sobbed, blood dripping from his lip.

At that point, the Zhang family couldn’t hold back anymore. Despite the village leader being there, Zhang Daya’s sons and their wives lunged at He Jingshu together.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiuying rushed out with a hoe: “So this is how Zhang Fugui’s family bullies my daughter-in-law! Gang up on her, will you?” He Jingshu felt a little warmth in her heart at the sight.

“You wretched girl! How dare you hit my son? I’ll fight you!” Tie Dan’s mother lunged at He Jingshu, trying to hit her. But He Jingshu grabbed her hair without flinching and yanked it down hard. Tie Dan’s mother howled in pain.

“Honey! Help me!” Tie Dan’s mother shrieked, her face twisted in agony.

Tie Dan’s father stared at He Jingshu in shock, hesitating. His older brother and sister-in-law, afraid of strong opponents, looked away — since it wasn’t their kid who got hurt.

Now, the villagers were seeing He Jingshu in a new light. The Zhang family’s adoptive daughter had always been meek. Since when was she this fierce? Clearly, it was the Zhangs who had pushed her too far.

“Enough! Let go!” the village leader shouted, furious at the chaos.

Even as the Zhang family kept wailing, He Jingshu didn’t let go.

“Keep it up and I’ll dock work points.” That shut the Zhang family up instantly. Only He Jingshu was still gripping Tie Dan’s mother’s hair.

“Youliang’s wife, let go.” The village leader looked exasperated.

Seeing that the crowd had calmed down, He Jingshu finally let go. She ignored the Zhang family’s hateful glares. Cowards, all of them — bullies who only picked on the weak.

“Leader, you have to stand up for us. Back during the famine, we didn’t abandon her. And this is how she treats our family now?” Zhang Daya glared furiously at He Jingshu.