Lin Xiuli got up to open the door. When she saw who it was, her expression darkened slightly. She spoke coldly, “Second Aunt, what brings you here?”

“Aiyo, listen to yourself! Do I need a reason to come see my own sister?” Bai Huifen’s voice was sharp and grating.

She pushed past Xiuli at the door, sniffed the air, and headed straight for the dining table.

Seeing that a third of the lavish meal remained—meat dishes they rarely had even a few times a year—her face twisted in greed.

That heartless and ungrateful Bai Huifang! Just last month, when she came to borrow money, she was only given five yuan and was brushed off.

Yet here she was, living the good life as an official’s wife, eating well and drinking fine things, with no thought for her older sister.

Without hesitation, she plopped down, picked up a random pair of chopsticks from the table, and started shoveling meat into her mouth.

She didn’t forget to yell toward the door, “Sanya, you wretched girl! Hurry up and eat some meat while you can. If you miss this chance, there won’t be another!”

At the doorway stood Zhao Xiaoyuan, silently watching the three well-dressed people inside—especially the girl who looked like a fairy.

She had never in her life seen someone with such fair skin and delicate features. Even the girl’s clothes looked beautiful.

She had left the house full of confidence in her new white shirt, black pants, and cloth shoes. But now, next to that girl, she felt like a country bumpkin.

Her lowered eyelashes cast heavy shadows under her eyes.

Hearing her mother call for her made her even more ashamed. She hung her head in silence.

Standing beside Lin Yaowen, Xiuzhu watched the dark-skinned, sharp-faced middle-aged woman with fascination.

Her behavior was simply outrageous.

Following the woman’s shouting, Xiuzhu’s gaze shifted toward the doorway. That was when she noticed the girl standing there—her skin was a bit dark, but she had delicate features and looked about the same age as her.

Bai Huifen saw that her daughter wasn’t moving and couldn’t be bothered to call her again. If she didn’t eat, then so be it—more for herself.

She wolfed down the food and, in no time, had finished everything on the table. Wiping the grease from her mouth with her hand, she finally remembered to ask, “Where’s your mother?”

Watching from the side, Xiuzhu felt sick to her stomach and quickly stepped further away.

Suddenly, she sensed an uncomfortable gaze on her.

She turned her head and saw that only the girl was standing there, still in the same posture with her head lowered.

Hearing her cousin’s voice, Xiuzhu turned back, puzzled.

“My mom is at work. Second Aunt, if you’re looking for her, you should come back when she’s off.” Xiuli’s tone was full of impatience—she was utterly fed up with this aunt.

Whenever her grandfather and father weren’t around, this woman would come knocking every few days, begging for money like a relentless leech.

“Aiyo, dear niece, are you trying to kick me out?”

“How dare you! I’m your elder—you’re being unfilial!”

“Even if your mother isn’t here, you are!”

“Your second cousin is at the age to get married. We want to buy him a job. As his aunt, isn’t it only right for your mother to lend me 200 yuan?” Bai Huifen wasted no time getting to the point.

Lin Yaowen, being young and hot-tempered, shouted in anger, “You’re shameless! What does your son getting married or buying a job have to do with our family?”

“You better leave now! If you don’t, I’ll call the guards to throw you out.”

But Bai Huifen wasn’t afraid of this brat. She had come today determined not to leave empty-handed.

If she waited a few more days for the Lin family men to return, she wouldn’t dare come at all.

So, she plopped onto the ground and started wailing.

“Aiyo! My own family is unfilial! They despise me for being poor!”

“I don’t want to live anymore! The Lin family brats are bullying their elders!”

At that time, being labeled as “unfilial” was a serious offense that could even get someone arrested.

Lin Yaowen was both furious and anxious but couldn’t do anything to shut her up, as a small crowd had already gathered outside to watch the commotion.

Standing nearby, Xiuzhu sighed in exasperation.

Why had she been running into so many shameless people lately?

And why did they all use the same tactic—throwing themselves onto the ground and making a scene?

Were they trained at the same school?

But since this was her aunt’s biological sister, and she didn’t know the full situation, she remained silent and watched.

Seeing the growing crowd outside, Xiuli’s face flushed red with anger.

“Second Aunt, get up first. If you don’t, you won’t get a single cent!”

“You want to borrow that much money? Our family isn’t a bank! You’ll have to wait until my parents get back to discuss it.”

Right now, all she wanted was to get rid of this shameless leech.

Bai Huifen got up from the floor upon hearing those words. Her gaze flickered with greed as she looked at the radio in the living room.

She had been eyeing it for a long time—this was a perfect opportunity.

Pointing toward the radio, she said, “Then I’ll take the radio first. Once your mother gives me the money, I’ll return it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she moved toward the radio. When the time came, she could just claim it was stolen—killing two birds with one stone. She’d get both the money and the radio.

Seeing this, Xiuli quickly stepped forward to stop her, grabbing her arm. However, her strength was no match for Bai Huifen, who had been working in a factory for years.

Lin Yaowen, anxious, was about to rush over to help, but Xiuzhu pulled him back and whispered something in his ear before stepping forward to assist her cousin.

She wasn’t physically strong, but in this situation, she had no other choice. Still, she didn’t want to touch this mean-spirited woman, who had just wiped grease off her mouth with her hand.

Spotting a mop nearby, she quickly grabbed it and started swinging it at Bai Huifen, shouting, “Stop right now! Or I’ll beat you so hard you’ll be picking up your teeth off the floor!”

Just as Bai Huifen was about to shake off Xiuli, she was suddenly struck by the mop.

Now that Xiuli had grabbed her again, she couldn’t break free to teach this damn girl a lesson.

Furious, she shouted toward the doorway, “Sanya! You stupid girl, get over here and help me beat this brat!”

Under normal circumstances, Zhao Xiaoyuan wouldn’t have interfered in her mother’s fights. She always maintained a gentle and obedient image outside.

But seeing this girl who was so disgustingly beautiful, jealousy surged within her.

Why was she dressed so well? Why was she looking down on others with such arrogance?

Feigning reluctance, she slowly walked toward Xiuzhu. Despite getting hit by the mop a few times, she didn’t stop.

Seizing an opportunity, she grabbed Xiuzhu’s wrist and pinched her arm hard, attempting to scratch her face.

Xiuzhu, who had never even done household chores at home, was pathetically weak and no match for Zhao Xiaoyuan.

Realizing she was about to have her face scratched, cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands forcefully pushed Zhao Xiaoyuan away.

“D-Don’t worry… I-I… will protect you!”

Zhang Dahu stammered. It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful girl, and he couldn’t control his nervousness.

He had overheard the commotion at the Lin household and came to watch at the doorway.

Earlier, when Lin Yaowen ran out and saw him, he immediately asked him to protect his sister and cousin.

Xiuzhu quickly hid behind him, sighing in relief, “Thank you. If not for you, my face would definitely be scratched by now.”

“N-no problem,” Zhang Dahu stuttered, his face flushing red at the soft, delicate voice of the girl.

Zhao Xiaoyuan, now pushed aside, looked furious. She had been so close to scratching that girl’s face!

Just then, Lin Yaowen rushed back, drenched in sweat, with two soldiers in uniform following behind him.

Pointing at Bai Huifen, he said, “It’s her! She tried to steal from us and even attacked us. Get her out of here!”

Bai Huifen hadn’t expected the little brat to actually bring people over. Panicked, she immediately started wailing, “I didn’t do anything! Officers, he’s just being unfilial and bullying me!”

“Bullshit! I saw you and your daughter attacking people and trying to steal! Everyone, say something—am I right?” Zhang Dahu angrily defended the Lin family.

“That’s right! I saw everything from the doorway. Not only was she trying to steal, but she even ordered her daughter to attack the pretty young lady!” Zhang Dahu’s mother, who had witnessed the entire event, spoke up in outrage.

The onlookers all chimed in agreement.

Bai Huifen was at a loss for words, and under the pressure of public condemnation, she was forcibly taken away by the two soldiers.

As she was being led off, Zhao Xiaoyuan looked at Xiuli, crying pitifully, “Cousin, I was forced by my mother just now! Please don’t blame me, I’m sorry!”

But Xiuli had long since lost any patience for her second aunt’s children. Her voice was cold as she said, “Just leave.”

She then turned away and walked over to Xiuzhu, speaking to her gently to comfort her.

A flash of resentment flickered through Zhao Xiaoyuan’s eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. With a pitiful, tear-streaked face, she sobbed as she chased after her mother.