Earlier in the laundry room, Taoniang had suffered terribly, and after being beaten half to death, her body was left severely weakened.
The doctor at the medical clinic had warned that her body was too weak for strong tonics, so she couldn’t take anything too nourishing. But now that her condition had stabilized, it was time to replenish her health.
However, given the Feng family’s circumstances, if any good food were bought, Taoniang wouldn’t get so much as a scrap.
Only eggs—something that didn’t give off much smell when roasted—could be eaten in secret…
Feng Siyi and Feng Wuyi, being young, stared at the roasted eggs with pitiful, longing eyes, swallowing hard.
“Sanya, roast four more eggs later—one for each of you girls, and save one for your father…”
“Mom, we don’t need any, keep them for you to recover…”
The three girls spoke in unison, their words warming Taoniang’s heart and putting her at ease.
Of her four children, Taoniang cherished her youngest daughter, Mingzhu, the most—she was the treasure of her heart.
Next was Sanya. Smart and her firstborn, Taoniang genuinely loved her too.
As for Siyi and Wuyi, she didn’t feel as deeply for them.
Still, they were her own flesh and blood, and since the two younger ones served her diligently, Taoniang wasn’t overly harsh on them.
“Don’t worry, I have a way to earn money now. I didn’t bring you gifts this time, so consider the eggs as compensation. From now on, each of you will get one every day…”
The two younger ones were overjoyed, and even Sanya seemed to exhale in relief.
Beside them, Feng Lao’er wore a pained and guilty expression.
He knew he should be making chicken soup to nourish Taoniang’s body, but he didn’t dare defy his mother.
“Wife, you’ve suffered too much being with me…”
Taoniang stiffened for a moment, cursing him inwardly as a useless coward, but outwardly she soothed him gently.
“Being married to you is my blessing. I’m not suffering…”
“Taoniang…”
Feng Lao’er grabbed her hand, moved to the point of tears.
It was at this moment that Huang Yaning barged in.
The door to the second branch’s room had been broken once before by Xiao Li-shi, who had stormed in searching for stolen money.
Feng Lao’er had only done a slapdash repair job afterward, so when Huang Yaning slammed into it now, the door flew open.
On her way over, Huang Yaning had felt something surging violently in her chest, driving her to the brink of madness—she wanted to tear Taoniang apart, pluck out every strand of her hair, gouge out her eyes, smash every tooth…
She even envisioned worse, but the moment she saw Taoniang lying on the bed, her rationality snapped back.
Yet the madness remained.
Half of her mind was a raging fire, urging her to flay Taoniang alive; the other half was still water, whispering for patience and long-term planning.
Huang Yaning stared deeply at Taoniang. Compared to this time in her past life, Taoniang looked at least ten years older—her face pale, her cheeks sunken.
So she really was beaten and thrown out. Huang Yaning felt a vicious satisfaction.
Then she spotted the half-eaten egg in Sanya’s hand, and an idea struck. She turned and ran into the courtyard, shouting at the top of her lungs:
“Grandma, how can you be so cruel?
“My mom’s half-dead, on the verge of meeting the King of Hell, and you’re only feeding her eggs?
“You’re so stingy! How can eggs help her recover?
“Go kill the old hen at home and make soup for her—
“My mom’s the family’s benefactor! Without her, where would you all be?
“You eat her food, spend her money, and now that she’s been beaten half to death, you abandon her—
“You’re heartless! If my mom dies, my dad will cut ties with you, and us sisters won’t acknowledge you either—”
Huang Yaning’s words were like water splashed into hot oil, instantly rousing the entire Feng family from their winter idleness. Their faces twisted with fury.
The second branch had been stealing eggs? And now they wanted the hen? Taoniang dared to call herself the family’s benefactor? Feng Lao’er planned to sever ties?
“Grandma, go see my mom—how can you be so heartless—”
Old Li-shi shrieked and charged into the second branch’s room, grabbing Taoniang by the hair and slapping her repeatedly.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
Huang Yaning’s sudden intrusion had left everyone in the room stunned.
Then, hearing her shouts in the yard, they were torn between shock and rage.
Taoniang, finally snapping out of it, was about to order Feng Lao’er to drag the wretched girl out and beat her to death—when Old Li-shi stormed in.
Sanya and her sisters tried to intervene, but Xiao Li-shi and her two sons quickly joined the fray…
The room descended into chaos. Feng Dabao and Feng Erbao, being boys, were stronger, and soon Xiao Li-shi’s side gained the upper hand.
Xiao Li-shi even found coins on Sanya and dug out a few taels of silver from the bedding.
“Mom, look—they’ve been hiding money all along! They were just playing you for a fool yesterday!”
Xiao Li-shi poured fuel on the fire, and Old Li-shi’s blows grew even fiercer. Taoniang, already injured, could barely fight back.
“Grandma, my mom’s the family’s money god—don’t you dare hurt her!”
Huang Yaning squeezed into the fray, shouting what seemed like defense but was actually pure provocation.
Pretending to shield Taoniang, she dug her small hands into Taoniang’s back and viciously twisted.
“Ahhh—!”
Taoniang let out a shrill, ghostly scream.
“Auntie, how dare you bully my mom? You don’t earn a single coin—you’re not even fit to carry her shoes!
“My mom’s back is still injured—don’t touch her!”
Xiao Li-shi, called a useless parasite, flew into a rage and tried to hit Huang Yaning, who dodged. So she redirected her fury onto Taoniang, deliberately targeting her wounded back…
“Feng Lao’er, save me—!”
Feng Lao’er was being held back by Feng Lao’da and could only beg uselessly.
“Mom, stop… please, I’m begging you…”
Truthfully, Feng Lao’er could have broken free—but he was a coward who only bullied those weaker than him. Seeing his mother in a frenzy, he didn’t dare oppose her.
Spotting Huang Yaning in the corner, he shook off Feng Lao’da and delivered a brutal slap to her face, knocking her to the ground.
But he didn’t stop. Grabbing her collar, he yanked her up and began whaling on her backside.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
The room was filled with the sounds of blows, cries, screams, and curses.
Taoniang’s shrieks filled Huang Yaning with an almost euphoric thrill.
“Hahaha…”
She laughed softly under her breath. Though her face and backside burned with pain, her heart was exhilarated.
Of all the days since arriving in Taohua Village, today was the most satisfying.
So what if she hurt herself to hurt Taoniang?
She wanted Taoniang to suffer—more, even worse.
As long as Taoniang was in agony, she’d do anything.
Even if Taoniang tried to kill her, Huang Yaning no longer cared.
A reckless impulse surged—why not just find a way to slaughter the entire Feng family?
If Minmin ever heard of it… would she forgive her?
The thought made her laughter turn to tears, streaming down her face…
