“Me, taking advantage?”  

Yi Jing, who was walking home with her twin siblings, instantly bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “What advantage did I take?”  

“Why are you being so unreasonable? It’s only right to give her money since your sister is going to the countryside in your place.”  

Zhang Lanxiang shot her a meaningful look. Yi Jing suddenly understood and sweetly sidled up to Yi Yong, linking arms with him as she said gently, “Dad, don’t blame my sister. It’s all my fault. If I weren’t in poor health, she wouldn’t have to go.”  

The family’s treasured son, Yi Jianguo—destined to inherit the Yi family’s “throne”—couldn’t care less who went to the countryside, as long as it wasn’t him.  

“Mom, is dinner ready? I’m starving.”  

“It’s ready. Everyone, wash up and eat.”  

“Yay!”  

Soon, the whole family gathered around the square table.  

The younger twin sister, Yi Ling, pouted at the spread—a bland stir-fried cabbage, pickled radish, and salted mustard greens without a hint of oil—and complained, “Where are the eggs? How are we supposed to eat this?”  

Though Yi Ling resembled Yi Yong closely, almost like a carbon copy, his favoritism toward her paled in comparison to his devotion to Yi Jianguo.  

Frowning, Yi Yong turned to Zhang Lanxiang. “Didn’t we agree that Jianguo and Lingling get eggs every day? Where are they?”  

“Xiao Chi ate them.”  

Zhang Lanxiang openly threw Yi Chichi under the bus. “Xiao Chi said she’s going to the countryside and deserves to eat well. I figured since she’s taking Jingjing’s place, we owe her this much, so I let her have all the eggs.”  

“All of them? She ate all twelve eggs?” Yi Jianguo’s eyes bulged in disbelief, as if he wanted to devour someone.  

Zhang Lanxiang hummed in confirmation. Seeing Yi Yong’s darkening expression and the fury in his eyes, she sidled up to him, gently patting his chest while cooing soothingly, “Now, now, Old Yi, don’t be angry. It’s only natural for the child to resent us a little.”  

“Things will be better once she’s in the countryside.”  

Then, she turned to Yi Jianguo and the others. “Don’t hold it against your sister for eating so many eggs. It’s just this once. Once she’s gone, all the eggs will be yours.”  

Yi Jianguo and the others were still displeased but said nothing.  

Yi Yong, however, was livid. He slammed the table repeatedly, roaring, “That little brat didn’t get beaten enough! If she weren’t leaving in three days, I’d break her legs!”  

His voice carried far, reaching Yi Chichi’s ears just as she arrived at the doorstep. Fresh from seeing the doctor and selling her job, she now carried a hefty sum of 680 yuan. A cold smirk curled her lips.  

This so-called father was worse than a beast. Even animals protected their young, but this man—well, it wasn’t even worth mentioning.  

Glancing at the oil-paper package in her hand, a flash of icy determination crossed her eyes.  

Originally, she had planned to settle things amicably and make a clean break.  

But now?  

There was no need for that anymore.

She wanted this family to tear each other apart and descend into hell.  

She reached out and knocked on the door. The voices inside abruptly stopped.  

Zhang Lanxiang had a hunch. “It must be Chichi coming back. Old Yi, don’t lose your temper with the child later. If she’s resentful, let her vent. After all, we’re her parents—we can’t hold grudges against our own child. Everything we do is for her own good…”  

Her words couldn’t have sounded more understanding. Anyone listening would think she was trying to calm Yi Yong down, but in reality, she was fanning the flames.  

Yi Yong lived up to her expectations. The fury in his chest—sparked by Yi Chichi depriving his precious son of eggs—burned hotter and hotter.  

“She’s resentful? What the hell does she have to resent?! I’ve raised her all these years, and instead of gratitude, she repays me with resentment? What kind of heartless, ungrateful brat is she?! A grown girl of seventeen or eighteen, yet she understands nothing. What’s the big deal about going to the countryside? It’s not like she’s being sent to her death!”  

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. When he saw Yi Chichi walk in expressionlessly, carrying two oil-paper packages, he barked, “What the hell are you holding? And who are you putting on that dead-face act for?”  

Yi Chichi couldn’t be bothered to answer. She strode straight toward the kitchen.  

“Yi Chichi! I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?! Your sister’s been nothing but good to you, and you—”  

“Can you just shut up?”  

Too impatient to endure his nonsense, Yi Chichi unwrapped one of the oil-paper packages, revealing the medicinal herbs inside. “I have a splitting headache. Can you at least let me brew and drink my medicine before you start lecturing me?”  

She looked at Yi Yong with sorrowful eyes. “Dad, my head hurts so much I feel like I’m dying!”  

Malnourished, Yi Chichi’s 165 cm frame was little more than skin and bones. Her face was gaunt, her cheekbones protruding, but her eyes—already large—seemed even bigger now, filling with tears as she gazed at him pitifully.  

Yi Yong’s expression softened. Zhang Lanxiang, who had been closely monitoring the father-daughter exchange, sensed danger. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around Yi Yong.  

“Old Yi, let Chichi take her medicine first. Whatever you have to say can wait until she’s done.”  

She pulled Yi Yong away, feigning concern as she asked sweetly, “Xiao Chi, do you need help from Mom?”  

“No.”  

Seeing her refusal, Zhang Lanxiang didn’t insist.  

The family of five returned to the table and resumed their meal. Not a single one of them asked if Yi Chichi had eaten—it was as if she didn’t even exist in this household.  

Yi Chichi, however, was perfectly content with the solitude. With practiced ease, she removed the cover from the coal stove, waiting for the flames to rise before placing a small iron pot on top.  

Then, she poured the braised pork she had brought back into the pot and sprinkled in ground medicinal powder from the herb package, stirring it evenly.  

Traditional Chinese medicine was a wondrous thing—it could save lives, but it could also kill.  

Yi Chichi wasn’t a practitioner of Chinese medicine, but in her original world, her family background had been… unusual.

Her father’s side was a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, while her mother’s side was a lineage of embroidery masters.  

Both Chinese medicine and embroidery required innate talent.  

Unfortunately, all of her talent had been poured into embroidery.  

She had studied Chinese medicine too—though she never quite mastered the art of healing, she became exceptionally skilled in the crooked paths of poison-making and hypnosis.  

She had no intention of poisoning Yi Yong and his family to death. Once her goal was achieved, the Revolutionary Committee would come knocking on their door.  

This family wasn’t even worth dirtying her hands for.  

As the iron pot heated up, the braised pork inside began to release a rich, mouthwatering aroma.  

Yi Jianguo’s nose twitched. His eyes lit up at the scent of meat.  

“There’s meat!”  

He sniffed the air like a puppy, trying to locate the source, only to find Yi Ling and the others staring eagerly behind him.  

When he turned, he saw Yi Chichi walking over with a plate of braised pork.  

“Eat up,” she said, placing the dish on the table before turning back to the kitchen.  

In the 1970s, resources were scarce, and meat was a rare luxury.  

The sight of the glistening, soy-braised pork, its aroma laced with a faint medicinal scent, was enough to mesmerize Yi Yong and the others.  

Even Yi Yong, who had been ready to scold her, forgot all about it the moment the fragrance hit him. He grabbed his chopsticks and shoved a piece of pork into his mouth.  

The moment he moved, Yi Jianguo and the others followed suit.  

The whole family devoured the meat like a pack of starved ghosts.  

Yi Chichi watched coldly as they swallowed every bite. Then she returned to the stove and leisurely began preparing the remaining herbs.  

Time ticked by.  

Finally, a heavenly sound rang out—**thud!**  

From her perch on a small stool, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, Yi Chichi stood up and glanced outside.  

Yi Jianguo had slid off his chair and was now sprawled on the floor, snoring like a lumberjack sawing wood.  

As for Yi Yong and the others—some were slumped over the table, others sat motionless in their chairs, heads drooping.  

The corner of Yi Chichi’s lips curled up. She strode over and checked each of them, confirming they were all alive and well. Then, she fetched a rope and tied their hands and feet together like trussed-up pigs.  

Once they were securely bound, she arranged the family of five in a neat, orderly row.