Chapter 6 – You’d Better Not Play Any Tricks in Front of Me

When Song Kexia woke up, her back was soaked in cold sweat.

The last scene in her dream was of her biological parents and her fourth brother crying uncontrollably in front of her grave. They wanted to relocate her tomb, but that family refused no matter what.

In the ensuing conflict, her fourth brother was beaten to death, and her third brother’s leg was broken.

Her biological parents were already old. Losing two children in quick succession left them devastated both physically and mentally, and their health quickly declined.

She didn’t understand how they could have such deep feelings for her—deep enough to risk their lives. Was this the bond of blood ties?

Her mind gradually cleared. Moving slowly, she got dressed.

Outside, the sun was already up. Song Leyi wasn’t in the room.

As soon as Song Kexia stepped out the door, Li Yunmei’s expression soured.
“Why are you wearing that? Didn’t you make two new dresses the other day? Go put one of them on.”

A quick glance told Song Kexia that her father wasn’t home, but Song Zhengli and Song Leyi were.

And Song Leyi was wearing the brand-new dress Kexia had made not long ago—a dress she herself hadn’t even worn yet.

“I don’t have any new clothes. She’s wearing the dress I just made,” Song Kexia said, casually pointing at Song Leyi. “Why didn’t you say anything before taking my things?”

Song Leyi bit her lip, her face pale, looking all pitiful.
“Elder sister, I’ve never seen such a beautiful dress in my life. I saw you had so many, so I thought you wouldn’t mind if I tried one. I’ve always worn hand-me-downs, never had new clothes of my own. I was just… too envious of you. Please don’t be angry. I’ll take it off and give it back right now.”

She spoke tearfully, but her body stayed firmly seated—her feet didn’t even twitch.

Seeing her like this, Song Zhengli’s heart ached.
“Xiaxia, talk nicely. Why are you bullying Leyi?”

Kexia gave him a cold look. Every time something involved Song Leyi, he jumped around like a flea. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d recognized her as his own mother and was playing the role of a dutiful son.

“How am I bullying her? She took my new dress without asking, and me asking about it is bullying?”

“It’s just a dress. You have so many. What’s the harm in giving her one?”

Kexia laughed outright.
“Second Brother, if you feel so sorry for her, why don’t you buy her a new dress yourself? The money you spend on a pair of leather shoes is enough to buy fabric for two dresses. Just cut back a little, and she could have even better clothes.”

Song Leyi looked at him with hopeful eyes, but Zhengli stammered,
“I’ve already bought my shoes; I don’t have any money left. If I did, wouldn’t I give it to her?”

Then he turned to Kexia, his tone heavy.
“When did you become like this? You used to be so understanding. Now you’re so aggressive.”

Yes. It was exactly because she had been “understanding” that they’d thought she was weak and easy to bully.

He had pushed her aside to secure himself a spot in the army. Why should she be good to someone who lived off her blood?

Seeing the time, Li Yunmei stepped in to stop the quarrel.
“That’s enough from both of you. Xiaxia, go wash up and put on something nice.”

Kexia didn’t move.
“If she doesn’t take off my dress, I’m not going.”

This made not just Li Yunmei anxious, but also Zhengli.
“You already agreed—how can you go back on your word now?”

“I’ll say it plainly—when she returns my dress, I’ll leave. Not before.”

Li Yunmei nearly raised a hand to slap her, but Kexia’s voice turned icy.
“If you dare lay a hand on me, I’ll tell Zhao Yinqiu about this and ruin the whole thing.”

No matter how angry she was, Li Yunmei wouldn’t risk Zhengli’s future. She could only drag Leyi into the room.
“Take off the dress! Why are you wearing hers?”

Leyi was so furious she nearly cried. She had lived in the Song family in Kexia’s place for so many years, enjoying a good life—what was so wrong with wearing one of her dresses?

Everything Kexia had should have been hers anyway.

By the time Kexia finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, Leyi was sitting there wiping tears while Li Yunmei tried to comfort her.

Seeing Kexia come in, Li Yunmei’s face darkened.
“She gave your dress back. Don’t make things hard for her again.”

Kexia picked up the scissors from the table and shredded the dress into strips.

Li Yunmei shrieked,
“What are you doing? That was perfectly fine—why ruin it?”

The look in Kexia’s eyes was so sharp it didn’t seem like she was cutting fabric, but slicing into their flesh. The sight made Li Yunmei’s heart pound.

When had she become so terrifying?

“If something dirty touches it, of course I’ll cut it up and throw it away. What, should I treat this filth like a treasure?”

Leyi’s face flushed red with anger, and this time she cried for real.
“Mom, did you hear what she just said?”

“I’m telling the truth. If you want me to meet Zhao Yinqiu, you’d better behave.”

Li Yunmei was both angry and helpless—she had a headache just looking at her. For the sake of her second son’s future, they’d just have to endure it a little longer.

She went to find a white dress with tiny yellow flowers.
“Put this on. A young girl should look presentable.”

Kexia didn’t argue, changing into the dress. The transformation was immediate—
from a fresh-faced little sister to a poised, elegant beauty.

Since Zhao Yinqiu had already seen her in person, there was no point wasting energy pretending to be plain. If she had that time, she might as well focus on something more useful.

And what was more useful than money?

“Mom, give me fifty yuan.”

The size of the request startled Li Yunmei.
“What do you need that much money for?”

“I’m going out later. Should I make a man pay for me? Wouldn’t that make him look down on me?”

Li Yunmei considered it and thought she had a point—but fifty yuan was far too much. She pulled out fifteen.
“We have so many mouths to feed; we can’t just let you spend recklessly. This is all I have—make it last.”

Fifteen wasn’t much, but Kexia didn’t mind. She put it away.
“Then I’m off.”

As she walked out, Leyi watched her, unable to hide the jealousy and hatred in her eyes.

Kexia was the perfect blend of her parents’ best features. Living in the city meant she never had to do farm work, so her skin was fair and smooth. Add in good family conditions, and she had grown up well-fed and well-proportioned, with a curvy figure and the seductive look of a fox spirit.

No wonder even an older man like Zhao Yinqiu insisted on meeting her in person.

“Mom,” Leyi said, “if she marries Director Zhao, will she really help our family? What if she whispers in his ear and makes him change his mind?”

“How could she? We’ve raised her all these years—would she really bite the hand that fed her?”

“Maybe she wouldn’t before… but I think she’s changed. I think she hates us.”

Li Yunmei snapped,
“What would she hate us for? All these years you suffered in the countryside while she enjoyed city life. Now we’re still taking care of her and found her such a good match, and she’s still not satisfied.”

But Leyi’s worry lingered.
“I still think we should be careful.”

Li Yunmei thought it over and decided she’d better keep a closer eye on Song Kexia from now on. After all, she wasn’t really one of them—who knew what she might do?