Chapter 15: Calculation, life is like a play, all depends on acting

Yang Mumu and Yang Zhaodi stopped in the busiest area of the city, where the most gossip was exchanged, and the voices were loudest. 

Everywhere people were discussing today’s big scandal.  They didn’t need to do anything; just standing there, they could hear everything.  Mumu deliberately chose a spot near a large gathering of people before releasing Zhaodi’s hand.

 She pretended to be out of breath, dramatically clutching her knees and flopping down onto the ground.

“I can’t go on, I’m too tired. Let’s rest here for a bit,” she said. “There are a lot of people here, and it’s safe. Come sit.”

Mumu had run quickly, not tiring herself, but Zhaodi was nearly collapsing, her face pale, her braids undone.  Hearing this, she immediately crawled over to sit and rest, untying her hair to re-tie it.

As soon as she sat down, the excited gossip from the nearby crowd flooded her ears.

“Did you hear?  Those people in the photos – Yang Zhong, Li Yuhua, Zhang Cuilan, Zhao Bing, and Xu Qiang – they’re finished.  They were caught red-handed at Zhang Cuilan’s house, just like in the pictures. They’ve all been taken to the police station.”

“Wow, they did it yesterday, and today they got together again.  They deserve it! Those photos made me sick; they’re so shameless! They’re going to pay for this!”

“And there’s more!  They were caught in the act, and they were planning to kill Yang Mumu and take her house and money.  Yang Zhong is Mumu’s uncle!  He’s so vicious! He even colluded with his stepmother to get his niece sent to the countryside.  She had a good job as a financial accountant at a machinery factory, and now she’s forced to go to the countryside.”

“Hey, they were still after her job!  What a terrible thing!  It’s good that these people got what they deserved.  Their affair was discovered, at least the girl will be safe.  They’re so disgusting!  They even took pictures as a souvenir.  They deserved to be reported!”

Zhaodi, shocked, turned her head, her loose hair flying, and rushed into the gossiping crowd, frantically asking, “What are you saying?  They were caught?  What photos?  Tell me!”

“Hey, you haven’t heard yet? Let me tell you…”

“I’ll tell you too…”

Several enthusiastic onlookers, seeing someone who hadn’t heard the gossip, immediately surrounded her and shared the details.  Zhaodi stood in the crowd, looked up at the sky, and laughed maniacally.

“Karma! Karma!”

“Hey, that girl looks familiar? Let me see?” Someone rushed to push back Zhaodi’s hair.  Zhaodi fled the crowd, grabbed Mumu’s hand, and ran again.

An aunt slapped her forehead and shouted, “I remember! That’s Yang Zhong’s daughter, Yang Zhaodi! And the one she’s with is Yang Mumu?  Wait… doesn’t this girl know her uncle is after her life and everything? Why is she with Zhaodi?”

A kind person shouted in their direction, “Mumu, Mumu, don’t be fooled by your cousin! You don’t know yet, but it just came out that her father wanted to harm you! They’re a family, and they probably know, maybe she’s eyeing your things and planning to harm you!”

These aunties were so insightful; they hit the nail on the head. Mumu stumbled, shocked.

“Ah, Cousin, what? You? Really?”

“I wouldn’t hurt you, Mumu. Believe me, I’m not like them. You saved me today, and I won’t let you down. I hate them too.”

Seeing the frantic expression on Zhaodi’s face turn to remorse when she looked at Mumu, she understood.

They ran to a secluded place before Zhaodi stopped.  She grabbed Mumu’s hand and apologized.

“Mumu, I’m sorry. My father has always been after your house and the money your uncle left you. He also wanted your job. I knew, but I couldn’t stop him, and I didn’t dare tell you.”

Zhaodi hung her head, paused, and continued, “One, I didn’t dare. Two, I was selfish. I even secretly prayed they would succeed, because if they had money, they wouldn’t bother me, and they wouldn’t just marry me off for a small amount of money. It would buy me more time, and I could plan for myself.”

Mumu angrily threw away her hand. “You, you all… I never thought the only remaining family I had would plot against me like this!”

“Heh, I’m not surprised I’m their daughter. I’m just as despicable. I only care about myself, and I coldly watched and even condoned everything. What’s laughable is that I overestimated my importance to them. Last night, I understood something.” Zhaodi laughed self-deprecatingly, hatred spreading in her heart.

“No matter what, they would sell me, regardless of money, time, or my value. I was just a tool they could use and discard.”

“Last night, my father sold me. In the end, it was you, Mumu, who saved me. I’m sorry, Mumu. I should have warned you sooner. Whether you forgive me or not, I will atone for my sins.”

Zhaodi reached for her hand, but Mumu pulled away.  “How will you atone?  I don’t accept your apology. You have your reasons; I can understand that you didn’t tell me. But you should have at least warned me, given me a hint. I rushed over to save you after hearing you were sold.”

Yang Mumu looked at her with disappointment, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “You heard what happened. Your father and the others were reported for multiple illicit affairs. Your father won’t be coming back, and if he’s really dead, only your mother will be able to control you. Your life will be much easier than before; you should be happy.”

“Your mother only loves your brother and isn’t good to you, but if you find a way to get your household registration book and a referral letter, without your mother and brother, you can go far away, escape this mess, and live freely. Your father and these rumors won’t affect you at all; instead, you’ll benefit from misfortune and live better.”

Tears streamed down Yang Mumu’s face.  Her eyes were red as she punched her chest, crying and accusingly asking, “And me? What did I do wrong? My parents are dead, and my relatives got me sent to the countryside. I can’t work my good job; even if it’s just a leave of absence, I have to stay in the countryside for a whole year before I can come back. What am I supposed to do? How can I forgive you? It’s not you or your brother going to the countryside, not your parents, it’s me! I’m going to the countryside! Who knows if I’ll be sent to the far Northwest, if I’ll even have a chance to come back? I hate it! I actually saved the daughter of my enemy!”

Mumu switched from poking to pounding, continuously beating her chest, crying and shouting.

“Mumu, don’t do this, don’t hurt yourself. Hit me, hit me. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mumu.” Yang Zhaodi grabbed Mumu’s hands, crying uncontrollably. She had taken Mumu’s words to heart. She slapped herself hard several times, then wiped away her tears, her eyes hardening as she looked into the distance.

“I hate myself too. I hate them even more. I’ll make sure they never come back. Mumu, go home and wait for my news.”  With a heart full of hatred, Zhaodi ran off.

Yang Mumu stopped crying and wiped away her tears.  Watching her back, she calmly smiled, a relaxed smile playing on her lips. She walked home with a leisurely gait, without a trace of resentment or madness.  Life’s a stage, and acting is everything. She almost wanted to give herself an award.

Yang Mumu looked at the spinning wheel in her space. She had placed a surveillance device on Yang Zhaodi, and the screen now showed what was happening to Zhaodi.