Xu Xue’s past life was a tragedy, and this life she is definitely going to take revenge on them, while the book’s contents can still serve as a reference. Xu Mumu is not very worried.
The house is currently empty, very quiet.
Xu Mumu picks up a pebble from under the bed and uses force directly.
The pebble shatters into small pieces, and a smile appears on Xu Mumu’s face. It’s great; her physical strength came with her, and she still has the power to protect herself.
She throws the broken pieces of stone out, feeling the sunlight outside. Living in this peaceful era is truly wonderful.
It’s spring 1976 now, and in a little over a year, the entrance exam to university will be restored. At that time, she will definitely take the exam. In the previous life, she also got into a prestigious university, and having a degree is important for better future prospects.
By then, Xu Xue will also take the entrance exam. In the book, she did quite well, getting into the provincial key university, and received quite a bit of reward from the county.
She just doesn’t believe she’s any less than Xu Xue. The things Xu Xue learned, some were taught by that teacher in the previous life, and during this year, she hasn’t been idle at all. Besides dealing with the Xu Family’s scoundrels, busy making money and finding love, she spends other times studying.
She has all the textbooks and plans to go to school tomorrow to experience high school life once more.
As for making money, Xu Mumu temporarily isn’t planning to think about it. Right now, it’s nothing more than engaging in speculative buying and selling at the black market. The family has nothing, and they don’t have the kind of luck that the female lead does, so better not think about it for now.
Doing business surely won’t work. The decent way to earn money is to work in a factory; the people from the main branch are unreliable, can’t get in, and have no connections, so better forget about it.
While Xu Mumu is contemplating, some people return home. It’s Madam Chen and Li Caixia.
"Grandma, Mom, you’re back." Seeing the two, Xu Mumu is very happy as they’re both fond of her.
Madam Chen is very thin, with some wrinkles on her face. Her clothes have many patches, and the garments have been washed white.
In contrast, Li Caixia is a bit chubby. Honestly, the main branch lives the best life in this family, almost never going hungry and often being able to extract some food from Madam Chen.
Compared to others at home who are sallow and emaciated, the main branch members are relatively healthy.
"Oh, Mumu, why are you outside? The wind is strong outside, your illness isn’t quite healed yet. Hurry back in to lie down." Seeing her daughter awake with quite a good complexion, Li Caixia is naturally pleased.
Still, she hopes Xu Mumu continues to feign illness. Feigning illness is great, there’s good food, and they can get some money from Grandma to prepare some special meals for the daughter. By then, the two sons can also eat some good things.
"Mumu, is there anywhere that’s not comfortable? Where is Xu Xue, that wretched girl? I told her to tidy up the vegetable plot this morning, where has she gone?" Madam Chen is concerned about Xu Mumu but then turns to scold Xu Xue.
Xu Mumu doesn’t know what to say by now; no wonder Xu Minglei and the others call her a wretched girl, they must have learned it from Grandma.
"Um, I’m fine. Xu Xue got injured and went out." Xu Mumu poses as gentle and obedient.
"Where did she go?" Madam Chen frowns, her eyes filled with displeasure; that wretched girl doesn’t work, just goes outside to be lazy. She’ll hit that wretched girl when she comes back.
"Xu Xue hurt her forehead, she should have gone to the clinic." Seeing Madam Chen’s face doesn’t look good, Xu Mumu cautiously says.
"What? The clinic, does that wretched girl deserve it?"
With that, Madam Chen starts cursing, with a variety of cursing words.
Then, Xu Mumu sees Xu Xue already walking to the courtyard entrance.
Xu Xue is wrapped in bandages on her head, staring coldly at Madam Chen, as if Madam Chen was cursing someone else.
Xu Mumu clearly sees that Xu Xue is resenting them. To be honest, if she had experienced the same hardships, she certainly would have resentment too.
"Mom, that wretched girl is back." Li Caixia immediately informs Madam Chen and hands her a broom.
"Well, she still knows how to come back. Why not die outside then." Madam Chen gets angry seeing Xu Xue and raises the broom to hit her.
"Come on, hit me. It’s best to kill me; otherwise, I’ll report you for abuse." Xu Xue coldly stares at Madam Chen.
"Grandma, leave it, Xu Xue is injured too. I’m hungry, shall we go and make some food?" Xu Mumu has a headache. Li Caixia is still watching the commotion as if it’s not a big deal, occasionally egging her mother-in-law on.
"Tut-tut, the wretched girl’s wings have hardened, even starting to threaten elders. Which family’s junior is so vicious, wanting to sue their elders." Li Caixia puts the wicked hat on Xu Xue.
Xu Mumu, with great strength, easily restrains Madam Chen.
"Mumu, let go; today I must beat this lazy girl to death. She even threatens me, doesn’t work all day, so delicate. Does she think she’s a lady?" Madam Chen favors males over females, and except for Xu Mumu, she doesn’t like the girls at home.
Especially those two from the second branch look distressing. After giving birth to Xu Wan, their mother got injured and couldn’t have more children, causing the second branch to be childless.
"Who do you think is the lady of the house; don’t you have any sense?" Xu Xue sneers, feeling disgusted with Xu Mumu’s pretentious good-heartedness.
Xu Xue is determined to create a stir. The grievances suffered at home can’t be for nothing; her main goal is to split up the family.
"Wretched girl, if you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll beat the life out of you." Madam Chen gets even angrier, breaking free from Xu Mumu and charges at Xu Xue with the broom.
Talking about the ladyship, isn’t it the kind of thing the capitalists do? Moreover, Mumu can’t be the same as that wretched girl.
In Madam Chen’s mind, the gap between these cousins is like a chasm. She can extol Xu Mumu to the skies and trample Xu Xue to the ground.
However, Xu Xue isn’t foolish enough to stand there waiting to be hit.
"Murder, my grandma wants to beat me to death." As Madam Chen chases, Xu Xue runs out loudly shouting, attracting quite a crowd since it’s the time people are leaving work.
Indeed, Xu Xue’s objective is achieved, drawing in many onlookers.
Xu Mumu:... Starting off so intense? Xu Xue surely is going to unleash a big move and cause a commotion. It’s just uncertain what Uncle, who is weak and honest, only knows how to suppress his wife and daughter to be filial to his mother, will do.
The couple from the second branch are particularly honest, never retaliating or answering back. Many of the household chores are done by them; they’re like servants in the home.
"Mom, let’s follow quickly." Xu Mumu pulls Li Caixia and immediately follows them.
When Xu Mumu and Li Caixia run over, they already hear people discussing their family, with most of the talk naturally about Madam Chen.
"After all these years, Madam Chen is still so fierce."
"Did Xu Xue make some mistake? Otherwise, Mrs. Chen wouldn’t hit her."
"I heard Xu Xue pushed Mumu into the river a few days ago, really malicious."
...
Xu Jiang and the others just returned, seeing Madam Chen chasing Xu Xue with a broom, Xu Xue shouting ahead, and Xu Mumu and her mother following Madam Chen.
There are quite a few villagers watching around; this scene is even more lively than a theatrical performance.