Looking at the two ugly faces in front of her, Comrade Jiang Manyue felt disgusted even sparing them a glance.

“If you want to eat, cook for yourselves.” She swept a cold gaze over them. “What, are your hands or legs broken?”

Ma Hongxia was stunned. She thought Yueyue would behave as always, quietly going to the kitchen.

She didn’t expect her to lash out instead. Her face turned red with anger.

“Jiang Manyue, what do you mean by that? Haven’t you always been the one cooking?”

“Exactly!” Ma Xiaojun stood with his hands on his hips. “If you don’t cook, what am I supposed to eat?”

Jiang Manyue shot back, “Eat shit.”

“You—what did you say?!” Ma Xiaojun’s round face flushed deep red.

Jiang Manyue ignored them and walked away.

They still thought she would keep enduring everything like before. Dream on.

Ma Hongxia, furious, grabbed her wrist. “Jiang Manyue, how dare you talk to me like that? I’ll teach you a lesson.”

She raised her hand to strike, but the next second she was pinned to the ground.

“Ah!” Ma Hongxia’s arm twisted painfully, and she cried out, “Let me go.”

“You dare lay hands on me? Just wait until my second brother comes home. He won’t let you off.”

“He’s nothing,” Jiang Manyue replied, applying more force.

She didn’t want Ma Xiangyang anymore. These parasites thought they could still suck her dry.

All those years of hard work brought her nothing but betrayal and ruin.

“Ah!” Ma Hongxia cried, tears streaming down. “I was wrong, let me go.”

Jiang Manyue released her. “I’m warning you. Don’t mess with me again.”

Ma Hongxia backed away in terror, dragging Ma Xiaojun with her.

Yueyue had never dared to act like this before. She wouldn’t even say a word, let alone fight back.

Jiang Manyue rolled her eyes and went to the balcony. She looked at the cramped cot where she had always slept, anger boiling inside her.

She was the homeowner. Why was she the one living like this?

She pushed open Ma Xiangyang’s room. It was the master bedroom, sunny and spacious.

There was a TV and an expensive Diamond brand fan they bought for fifty yuan.

He had said the side rooms were too hot in summer, so he needed the master bedroom.

Back then, she was foolish enough to give up her room, complete with custom-made furniture she had paid for.

She thought she’d move back in after marriage, but Ma Xiangyang said it was only right for her to give it up. Then he forced her onto the balcony.

She was not just foolish but pathetic. Now she only wanted to slap her past self.

She rolled up her sleeves, packed up all the clothes in the wardrobe, and tossed them onto the balcony.

“What are you doing?!” Ma Xiaojun ran over when he saw her tidying up.

His textbooks and toys were also thrown out. He lunged at her, trying to stop her.

“You wicked woman! This is my room. You can’t touch my things.”

Jiang Manyue threw his clothes aside. “This is my room. I’m taking it back.”

“What?” Ma Xiaojun cried in frustration, rushing to grab his things.

“Get out!” She grabbed the brat and tossed him out, then slammed the door shut.

She spread out her clothes and bedding, lying down comfortably on the big bed.

This room was much better than the balcony. She couldn’t kick the Ma family out yet, but she wouldn’t let the scumbag live in her room.

“Waah!” Ma Xiaojun sat outside crying, hugging his toy car.

“This is my room. Wicked woman, give it back.”

“Don’t cry, Xiaojun,” Ma Hongxia said through clenched teeth. “Wait until your second brother comes back. We’ll make her pay.”

Jiang Manyue ignored the noise outside and took out pen and paper to sketch.

She knew the early ‘80s fashion well. Denim jeans were the trend.

Jeans and denim jackets were all the rage and very expensive.

She quickly drew a few design sketches and calmed herself.

Then she began cutting fabric. Tonight, her goal was to make a pair of jeans.

Even reborn, her sewing skills remained sharp.

Time passed quickly. Before she knew it, it was deep into the night.

“Someone, anyone! Is everybody deaf? Someone’s gonna die here!”

An old voice shouted from the next room, loud in the quiet night.

Before, she would have rushed over immediately.

Now, she didn’t move and kept working.

The shouting turned to curses.

The one yelling was Ma Qingxiang, Ma Xiangyang’s father, lying in the sickbed.

Three years ago, he went blind from cataracts. Last year, he suffered a stroke and became immobile.

He needed constant care, especially for the toilet, or he would soil himself.

Every night when he called, she had to help him up. That job always fell to her.

She worked all day, cared for him at night, and rarely got a full night’s sleep.

In winter, when it was freezing, she sometimes didn’t want to get up. Then he would curse her endlessly.

She swallowed her disgust, washing his soiled clothes, caring for him as if she owed him.

She had taken on the duties Ma Xiangyang ignored.

No matter how hard she worked, the old bastard cursed her the moment she slowed down.

She had been tormented like this for seven years before he finally died.

“Damn it, is everyone dead?”

“Jiang Manyue, you wretched woman, are you deaf?”

“You heartless thing, can’t you hear me?”

At last, Ma Hongxia, disturbed from sleep, covered her ears and pretended not to hear.

Even the neighbors started complaining. “What’s with all the noise? Can’t people sleep?”

Jiang Manyue opened her door and walked into Ma Qingxiang’s room.

His clothes were crooked, his waistband undone, lying there groaning.

The room stank of urine, with piles of soiled pants everywhere.

When he saw her, Ma Qingxiang glared and cursed, “Jiang Manyue, are you deaf?”

His filthy mouth kept spewing curses. She had cared for him for years, but he never stopped insulting her.

She picked up a pair of urine-soaked pants and shoved them into his mouth. “Shut your filthy mouth.”

“Mmph mph!” Ma Qingxiang struggled violently, his ugly face turning purple.

He gagged, retching as if he might vomit.

“You wretch, help, someone help!” he gurgled.

Still screaming, huh. Jiang Manyue stuffed the stinking pants deeper into his mouth.

Finally, peace and quiet.