Gasping for breath while clutching her waist, Yi Chichi headed straight for Yi Yong and Zhang Lanxiang’s room.  

In this era of ration coupons, having money without the right tickets was useless. The original host’s mother had died on duty, leaving behind compensation money.  

Yet, the original host hadn’t seen a single cent of it. She wasn’t about to leave that money behind to benefit the Revolutionary Committee members—she was taking every last bit.  

The door wasn’t locked, just slightly ajar. Yi Shichi pushed it open and stepped inside.  

Over the years, Yi Yong had embezzled quite a fortune.  

The ten-square-meter master bedroom was furnished with a large wardrobe featuring a full-length mirror, a five-drawer cabinet, a vanity table, and two large stacked trunks.  

There was even a sofa.  

The trunks and cabinets were all padlocked. Yi Chichi took the keys she had retrieved from Zhang Lanxiang and Yi Yong, testing them one by one.  

Click—the lock opened.  

Once the trunks and wardrobe were fully exposed, Yi Shichi began her treasure hunt.  

She found 2,270 yuan in cash—mostly in ten-yuan bills.  

Of that, 800 yuan was the original host’s mother’s compensation, with a receipt to prove it.  

Another 970 yuan was Yi Yong’s ill-gotten gains, stored separately alongside a ledger.  

The ledger recorded the origins of this money.  

Yi Chichi didn’t take this portion—it had to be left behind for cleanup.  

She also left behind two small gold bars (each about 30 grams) and a gold-based treasure bracelet—these too had to remain for the aftermath.  

The remaining few hundred yuan included 120 yuan for the original host’s rural resettlement subsidy.  

The original host’s subsidy receipt, “Glory Certificate for Educated Youth Going to the Countryside”, and the Yi family’s grain and oil ration book were all stored together with the coupons.  

The original host had truly been pitiable—she had died without ever knowing that educated youth sent to the countryside were entitled to subsidies.  

If she had known…  

Well, it was too late now. No use dwelling on it.  

After organizing everything, Yi Chichi began packing her luggage.  

The northeast was bitterly cold, and if she didn’t prepare properly, she’d be the one to suffer.  

Buying new supplies was out of the question. Yi Yong and Zhang Lanxiang had hoarding tendencies—whenever they saw something good, they snatched it up for their home.  

So, Yi Chichi packed two brand-new, unused thick quilts, a 70-80% new military overcoat (so heavy and sturdy it could double as a blanket), and other essentials.

She scavenged two sets of brand-new, unworn clothes and shoes from Yi Jing and Yi Ling, along with two sets of 70-80% new cotton-padded jackets and trousers.

Since they’d be worn as outer layers, she didn’t mind.

The main issue was that making clothes nowadays was a hassle-not only did it cost money, but it also required ration coupons.

Without enough coupons, even gathering fabric took time, let alone accumulating enough cotton to make padded jackets. Without connections and sufficient cotton

coupons, it could drive a person mad.

So, if there were ready-made clothes available, why not take them?

Once she had enough fabric and cotton coupons in the future, she could always make new ones and sell the old ones.

As for undergarments…

Thinking of the tattered, rag-like underwear she was wearing, Yi Chichi made a humble yet ambitious vow in her heart: Once I reach the northeast, I’ll have the freedom to wear proper undergarments!

Zhang Lanxiang, you really deserve to die! How much fabric does a single pair of underwear even need? And yet you still withheld it from me.

Just wait-your comeuppance is coming.

Yi Chichi was the type who could endure anything-except being taken advantage of.

Moreover, she firmly believed in settling scores on the spot, or else she’d stew in anger until she couldn’t eat or sleep.

So, after packing her luggage, she dug out Zhang Lanxiang’s sewing needle, transformed into Rong Mama (the infamous torturer from My Fair Princess), and stabbed the needle straight under Zhang Lanxiang’s fingernails.

The fingers are connected to the heart-needle torture was one of the ancient cruel punishments.

A soul-shattering pain jolted through Zhang Lanxiang, who had been sleeping soundly, smacking her lips in her dreams. Her eyes flew open, and she instinctively opened her mouth to scream-

Only to find something stuffed inside.

When she focused her gaze, she saw Yi Chichi, who had just withdrawn her hand, smiling sweetly at her.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

She wanted to say, “What the hell are you smiling at?!”-but all that came out were muffled noises.

A strange, musty stench filled her mouth-like an unwashed rag that had been left for days.

Realization struck, and her eyes widened in horror. Had that little bitch Yi Chichi really gagged her with a dirty rag?!

“Looks like you’ve figured it out!”

Yi Chichi, watching her expression closely, curved her lips further.

“Don’t scream, or I can’t guarantee what I’ll do next.”

Her voice was gentle, her smile radiant.

But to Zhang Lanxiang, she looked utterly malicious, so much so that she wished she could leap up and kill her on the spot.

Furious, Zhang Lanxiang glared and let out a stream of incoherent grunts.

But all her curses were drowned out by the rag in her mouth.

“You’re not behaving at all.”

Yi Chichi sighed in mock disappointment, fully embracing her role as the villain. Slowly, she pulled out the needle.

“So, I’ve decided to give you another stab. Last time, you were asleep and didn’t fully experience it. Now that you’re awake, I’ll reward you with the pain of ‘ten fingers connecting to the heart.”

Before Zhang Lanxiang could react, Y Chichi swiftly drove the needle back in.

Instantly-

Zhang Lanxiang’s pupils dilated in agony, her entire body trembling like a leaf.

Pain!

Excruciating pain!

The pain made her wish she could just die.  

Even giving birth wasn’t this agonizing.  

That vicious little bitch Yi Chichi actually stabbed needles under her fingernails.  

Where’s Old Yi? Why hasn’t Old Yi come to teach this little bitch a lesson yet?!  

She opened her mouth to call for Yi Yong, but all that came out was a rasping, saw-like wheeze.  

Her heart sank as a terrible premonition rose in Zhang Lanxiang’s chest.  

She turned her stiff neck to the side and saw Yi Yong and the others tied up in strange positions, lying motionless.  

Instantly, she felt as if she had plunged into an icy abyss.  

It’s over!  

Total annihilation!  

Yi Chichi wore an expression of satisfaction, admiring the fruits of her labor.  

Right now, her heart was colder than a fishmonger who had been slaughtering fish at Da Runfa Supermarket for ten years.  

So, you can feel fear too!  

So, little girl, you see? There’s nothing to fear from wicked people.  

If you haven’t left yet, open your eyes wide and watch—watch how your big sister avenges you!  

A breeze drifted in through the open window, like the little girl’s response.  

Yi Chichi curved her lips into a smile, reached out, and tilted Zhang Lanxiang’s head. Under Zhang’s slightly terrified gaze, she said softly, “Look into my eyes. I have something to tell you.”  

She’s insane! Yi Chichi has truly lost her mind!  

Zhang Lanxiang struggled desperately.  

She understood the principle of being at someone’s mercy—under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t even need to egg Old Yi on to beat Yi Chichi to death. She’d consider herself merciful and virtuous just for not doing so.  

But now, the situation was different. Her children and her man were just like her—tied up, stripped of their freedom.  

There was nothing she could do but obey.  

Otherwise, she had no idea what this deranged Yi Chichi might do to them.  

Discretion is the better part of valor. She nodded frantically.  

She’d cooperate—she’d cooperate with everything!  

Yi Chichi gave her a radiant smile, her voice calm and measured.  

“…Zhang Lanxiang, the Buddha says there are three sufferings in life. The first is inability to let go. Is there someone or something you can’t let go of?”  

As she spoke, her eyes locked onto Zhang Lanxiang’s, her fingers tapping rhythmically.  

“The second suffering is constant comparison. Do you feel that marrying Yi Yong brought your life to perfection? When you see the factory director’s wife, do you feel envy? Do you resent why it wasn’t you who married the director…”  

Before she could mention the third suffering, Zhang Lanxiang’s gaze began to blur, as if she were fighting sleep but losing the battle.  

Yi Chichi, well-versed in the art of hypnosis, narrowed her eyes slightly, her smile growing even gentler.