Chapter 70

Old Lady He looked at the Captain, but she didn’t speak. She just kept wiping her tears with her hand.

This left the Captain at a loss. Usually, this aunt was the most likely to cause trouble and make a fuss. Now, she wouldn’t say anything, just kept crying. What was he supposed to do?

The Captain said, “Auntie, you’re so old, don’t make a spectacle of yourself. Just tell me what’s going on. If we can help, we’ll do our best.”

“If outsiders see you like this, what will they say about me, the Captain? They’ll think I’m some kind of evil person who bullies old people. You’re not doing me any favors.”

Old Lady He still looked at the Captain and kept crying, but she wouldn’t speak.

Just as the Captain was about to give up and leave, Old Man Xia, hunched over and trembling, stepped forward. He looked at Xia Yunxuan and said, “Girl Yun, please take pity on your grandpa, grandma, and your parents. Our money was stolen by someone, and the grain distributed by the team is already gone. We haven’t eaten for several meals.”

“If we weren’t desperate, I, this old man, wouldn’t have the nerve to come to you. Could you please give us some money and food coupons so we can buy some coarse grain to get through this difficult time?”

“We don’t ask for anything fancy. Just something to fill our stomachs. This old man doesn’t want to starve to death. I want to live a few more years so I can see you doing well. Then I can die in peace.”

“I know I was wrong as your grandpa. Can I apologize to you in front of everyone? Please take pity on us. Even if you’re still angry, just lend us some money and food coupons.”

The aunts and Sister in the village, Mrs. Li, Mrs. Wang, and Zhao Laopo, also persuaded her. “Girl Yun, your grandpa and grandma are so pitiful. Please help them.”

“We can’t be heartless as children. That will bring retribution. Besides, you’re living so well now. It’s only right to help your grandpa, grandma, and parents.”

“No matter what, you’re still a member of this village. If something happens, you’ll still have to ask them for help.”

“Children should be obedient and sensible. Don’t have such a bad temper. It’ll hurt you. No one will like you in your husband’s family. We women shouldn’t spend money recklessly. We need to be frugal and manage our money wisely. Look at the watch you’re wearing. It must cost hundreds of yuan.”

“And your clothes are all new, without any patches. That’s taking up resources. Your behavior is not good. Only capitalist daughters would act like that. Aren’t you afraid of being taken away for re-education?”

“No matter what, your parents and grandparents raised you. Now that you have the means, what’s wrong with giving them some money and food coupons?”

Mrs. Wang said, “Girl Yun, it’s a good thing you’re not my granddaughter. Otherwise, I would have beaten you to death. You’re not filial to your elders and you dare to spend money recklessly. You’re turning the world upside down.”

Old Man Xia and Old Lady He looked at each other and exchanged a wicked smile in a place where no one could see. They wanted to see this little brat get scolded by so many people and see what she could do about it.

Xia Yunxuan slowly stood up and said calmly, “Have you finished, all you busybodies who love to meddle and play the hero?”

“Are you tired? Are you thirsty? Do you want me to make you some sugar water, get some melon seeds, and bring some chairs so you can put on a good show?”

“You’re so worried about my grandpa and grandma. Why don’t you give them your own rations since they don’t have any food? You’re all so old. You won’t die if you skip a meal or two.”

“You’re so easy to talk when you’re standing here. When they wouldn’t give me food, bullied me, and made me sleep in the storage room with the rats, where were you to speak up for me?”

“They have two good hands and feet. They don’t have any food. Why are they coming to me, the granddaughter they kicked out? When they disowned me, you all saw that I didn’t take anything from them except the clothes on my back. Now they remember me? Why didn’t you do anything earlier?”

“They were so ruthless back then. They didn’t care if I, a young girl, would starve to death after they kicked me out with nothing to eat or drink.”

“I’m the kind of person who doesn’t forget anything, especially grudges. They treated me this way, so I’ll treat them the same. It’s fair. Besides, Xia Dabao is a big, strong guy. He’s always messing around with cats and dogs, lazy and doesn’t work. Whose fault is it that he doesn’t have any food?”

“Don’t think they’re going to rely on me to work and support them like before. They’ll stay at home and make me do their laundry and cook for them. If I’m even a little slow, they’ll beat me up.”

“Heh, I’ve died once, so I’m not afraid of anything now. Don’t try to get attention from me. Don’t say I’m heartless. You can say whatever you want.”

“I used to be soft-hearted and didn’t care about anything. I almost got sold to Zhang the Butcher, who liked to beat his wives to death, by my own mother.”

“So, you have to go crazy. Going crazy makes you happy. If I’m not happy, everyone else can go to hell. I just love to see you wanting to get rid of me but being helpless.”

“And don’t try to use morality to blackmail me. I’m a person without morals now. Don’t try to reason with me. If reasoning worked, why are women called ‘money-losing goods’ and ‘bad omens’ as soon as they’re born?”

Xia Yunxuan whispered to Old Man Xia and He Laotou, “Stop acting. I know what kind of people you are. Don’t even think about asking me for money. Don’t even think about it.”

“And don’t think I don’t know that I’m not your biological child. If it weren’t for the fact that you raised me, I would have reported you for stealing a child long ago. So, cut it out.”

Old Man Xia and He Laotou’s eyes widened. They wondered how this little brat knew. They never mentioned this in front of her. No wonder she was so heartless now. She had known all along.

“And let me give you a friendly reminder. You should go to town and visit your precious granddaughter. If you go too late, you might only see her body. See, I’m still a good person. Even though you treated me this way, I’m still thinking of you.”

The two of them collapsed to the ground as soon as they heard Xia Yunxuan’s words. Xia Yunxuan clapped her hands and left.

Xia Yunxuan looked at the Captain and said, “Captain, you should go to work.” Hu Guiqin quietly gave Xia Yunxuan a thumbs up. She thought that this little girl had become so powerful now. She didn’t have to worry about her being bullied anymore.