At Taoniang’s residence.
The snow had stopped.
Jiaojiao was in the courtyard cooking a donkey meat hotpot, and she had also warmed up a bowl of sweet rice wine.
The food was bubbling away, and the entire yard was filled with the rich aroma of donkey meat mingled with the fragrance of wine.
At the same time, the cursing of the Feng family echoed through the air.
The Feng family had no idea how long it had been since they’d last tasted meat, but Jiaojiao feasted on good food every few days and made sure they could smell it – it was pure torture for them.
Jiaojiao heard a knock at the door. The visitor said they were from the Sheng family.
She opened the door with a hint of suspicion.
She thought to herself that even if the madam and the seventh young lady hated the Feng family to the bone, they wouldn’t come all the way here on New Year’s Day just to “torment” them, would they?
Only after opening the door did she see that the visitor was a noble young master who looked somewhat frail and unwell.
The group entered the courtyard. Two servants carried in a chair cushioned with a soft fur blanket, while two others brought in a basin of blazing charcoal.
The noble young master, supported by his attendants, settled into the chair. A clear-featured young servant beside him announced,
“Our young master is the third young master of the Sheng family. Having heard that Taoniang is now paralyzed, he has come specially today to pay a visit.”
On the way here, Sheng Mingyi had learned many things from Qiuju.
For instance, before the age of six, that girl’s personality was remarkably similar to the “Feng Sixth Girl” in his dreams – timid, quiet, clumsy with words, long-suffering, never fighting back when hit or retaliating when cursed.
But after turning six, her personality had suddenly undergone a drastic change – she became calculating and even dared to defy her family…
The Feng family thought “Feng Sixth Girl” might be possessed by some evil spirit, so they gave her away for free to the Zhang family as a “child bride.”
But the Zhangs sent her back the very next day, and not long after, the entire Zhang family committed suicide—
Sheng Mingyi had a fleeting suspicion that perhaps that girl could dream of things just like he could.
So she had woken up in this life and changed her personality so drastically? And altered the course of her own fate?
He wasn’t sure.
Qiuju also said that Taoniang was paralyzed and couldn’t speak.
The other Feng family members were all paralyzed too. Some time ago, that girl had gone to see Taoniang and the others.
She had apparently mocked them ruthlessly, driving the Feng family to the brink of madness…
“Your servant pays her respects to the third young master of the Sheng family. Taoniang is bedridden and paralyzed, living together with the other paralyzed members of the Feng family.”
Jiaojiao bowed respectfully.
This group from the Sheng family bore no ill will toward her, so she guessed they were also here to gloat over Taoniang’s misfortune.
However, among the group, there was a girl dressed as a maid who stared at her with fierce, hostile eyes.
That girl bore a slight resemblance to Taoniang.
Jiaojiao figured she must be Qiuju – Taoniang’s second daughter.
Just then, a woman’s shrill, piercing voice came from the room where the Feng family was staying.
“You cursed harlot! You vile wretch! You’re torturing us! When my nieces come, I’ll have them skin you alive—”
No sooner had that curse died down than a man’s voice rang out.
“Jiaojiao, I truly love you – I’ve never lied to you! Please – please let me go, won’t you?”
“Boss Feng, you black-hearted, rotten-lunged dog!
“I’ve been married to you for all these years, borne you children, given you my whole heart – and you went and got together with that whore?
“Have the dogs eaten your conscience?
“I was truly blind to have married you! Old Lady Li, you’re a curse on everyone—
“If you hadn’t goaded me back then, I would never have married into your family, and I wouldn’t be a cripple suffering like this now—”
“Nonsense! Our Feng family was unlucky to have married a woman from the Li family!
“I regret marrying you with all my heart! The only woman I’ve ever loved in this life is Jiaojiao—”
The exchange of insults was so awkward that Jiaojiao felt terribly embarrassed.
“Third Young Master, they’re all paralyzed – this servant has to support the household and serve them three meals a day…
“Sometimes I can’t attend to everything properly… which is why they get a bit hot-tempered…
“This servant will go stuff their mouths right now—”
“No need.” Sheng Mingyi spoke calmly and gave Yannian a look.
Yannian immediately called out, “Bring Taoniang and the Feng family out—”
Several servants behind him quickly entered the room, and soon Taoniang and the Feng family were carried out one by one and placed on chairs.
This scene looked so familiar to Jiaojiao!
Last time the seventh young lady had come, she’d done exactly the same thing.
She had no idea what the third young master was planning to do on New Year’s Day, but she was starting to feel a little curious.
“Fourth Girl, I’m your father – Fourth Girl, save me!
“Save your father – if this keeps up, I’ll die…
“You have to save me – I’m your father—”
Feng Lao’er was the first to spot Feng Fourth Girl – now Qiuju – and shouted out with desperate hope in his eyes.
The other Feng family members also saw Qiuju and began pleading for help.
For a moment, every single Feng family member had fervent, desperate eyes, as if Qiuju were Guanyin herself come to save them.
Even Taoniang’s dead-fish eyes showed a flicker of life.
Almost everyone in the courtyard was staring at Qiuju, who couldn’t help swallowing nervously.
Seeing her relatives reduced to such ghastly, inhuman states, she felt a pang of heartache and distress – but that was all.
She had neither the energy to take care of such a large group of people, nor could she possibly spend years of her monthly allowance and bonuses to support them—
Besides, the young master’s attitude toward these people was still unclear…
She’d better not get involved. If she had to blame anyone, it was her parents, grandparents – they were the ones with bad fortune.
Qiuju dared not look at the Feng family. She gritted her teeth and said,
“Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, Uncle and Aunt, and my two older cousins…
“Ever since you sold me and my fifth sister away all those years ago, I’ve stopped being a member of the Feng family. Now I’m just a servant of the Sheng household…”
The meaning was clear – don’t try to claim kinship, because it’s useless. I’m just a lowly maid.
The Feng family stared at her with eyes wide with rage.
Qiuju had a rosy complexion, and the clothes she wore and the ornaments in her hair clearly weren’t cheap.
Even if she’d just spared a little silver to have someone give them a proper wash and a warm bowl of soup, they’d have been grateful.
But Qiuju actually…
The Feng family’s hearts felt colder than the deep winter sky. Feng Lao’er was so furious he couldn’t even speak – he could only wheeze heavily.
“You – how can you be so heartless?
“Do you have no conscience at all? Are you really going to stand by and watch us die?
“If you abandon us, you’ll get your comeuppance one day too!”
Xiao Li shi screamed hysterically.
Any guilt Qiuju might have felt evaporated instantly, replaced by indignation.
“Aunt, your own family has daughters who are young ladies and concubines – why not ask them for help instead of begging a servant like me… I’m truly powerless…”
“Bullshit!
“That’s all complete bullshit! You’ll definitely get what’s coming to you one day—”
Xiao Li shi cursed, then broke down in tears.
Xiao Li shi had regretted everything a long time ago!
Not long after she first married into the Feng family, she had already known they were cold-blooded, shameless, and cared only about profit.
But back then, she wasn’t at the bottom of the pecking order, so she thought it didn’t concern her.
No matter how badly the Feng family bullied others, they wouldn’t bully her – she’d given birth to two sons!
So later, she naturally joined in with the bullying and exploitation of Sixth Girl…
Retribution – it was all retribution…
