Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 21

“Grandma, meat! Dabao wants chicken legs, chicken breast, and chicken butt—”

“Grandma, Erbao wants chicken legs too, and chicken wings…”

Huang Yaning had just stepped through the gate when she heard the excited voices of Feng Dabao and Feng Erbao.

The wall of the Feng family’s kitchen facing the courtyard had most of its bricks removed, creating a large window-like opening, so anyone in the yard could see straight into the kitchen.

Old Madam Li stood scowling in front of the wok, spatula in hand, while Dabao, Erbao, and Young Madam Li crowded around the pot, inhaling the aroma greedily.

“Eat, eat, eat—all you know is eating! At this rate, you might as well cook me and have me for dinner too!” For once, even her precious grandsons couldn’t escape Old Madam Li’s foul mood.

“My egg-laying hen, just gone like that… what a cursed fate! You’re all just debt collectors!”

She smacked her thigh as she continued cursing.

Young Madam Li’s expression darkened. “Mother, what does this have to do with Dabao and Erbao? If you’re angry, don’t take it out on them! Ah—Mother, stop! It hurts—”

Old Madam Li grabbed her daughter-in-law’s ear and twisted it viciously. Young Madam Li shrieked in pain, wrenching free before fleeing into the courtyard…

Returning home to this scene eased some of Huang Yaning’s agitation.

The Feng family were her daughter Minmin’s enemies—and hers as well. If the Fengs were unhappy, she was happy.

Feng Eldest, Feng Second, and the three girls from the second branch stood in the yard, inhaling the rich, mouthwatering aroma, their throats bobbing as they swallowed. None noticed Huang Yaning’s return.

With a cold smirk, she went to the water vat to wash her hands, then took a seat in the main hall, waiting for dinner.

Old Man Feng was already seated in the place of honor. When she entered, his gaze locked onto her, deep and calculating, as if plotting something sinister.

You old fool. She had disciplined over two hundred servants in the Sheng Mansion while he was still digging up sweet potatoes in some backwater village!

Huang Yaning met his stare head-on, her aura instantly overwhelming his.

Old Man Feng’s face paled, and he quickly looked away, terror flashing in his eyes.

He hadn’t witnessed the incident a few days ago where “Liuya” had gone mad with a cleaver—he’d only seen the aftermath. At first, he’d assumed his granddaughter had simply snapped after being pushed too far.

But this morning’s display was far too cunning and ruthless for a six-year-old.

Now, after meeting “Liuya’s” gaze, he was certain: This was not his granddaughter.

This was a ghost—a vengeful spirit that had taken over Liuya’s body!

The aura she radiated was that of someone who had wielded absolute authority, someone who tolerated no defiance.

He was an old man—why provoke a ghost? Did he have a death wish?

His heart pounded as if he’d narrowly escaped the underworld, his back drenched in cold sweat.

Fortunately, he had already procured that thing earlier today…

For now, he had to play along—no mistakes.

And so, that evening, with Huang Yaning’s demand and Old Man Feng’s consent, both chicken legs ended up in her stomach.

The Feng family endured the most humiliating meal of their lives.

Meanwhile… Sheng Mansion

Since Tao-niang’s punishment and the Sixth Miss’s reduced allowances, the Haitang Courtyard had kept a low profile—until recently, when they flaunted their status once more.

The Madam, noticing her daughter’s gloom, had specially purchased a pearl hair set worth 2,000 taels from an external jeweler and gifted it to her.

Everyone knew the Madam owned a jewelry shop as part of her dowry, and new designs were always sent to her and the Sixth Miss first.

But it seemed the Sixth Miss had grown tired of the usual selections, prompting the Madam to buy this exquisite set elsewhere.

The pearls were flawless—gleaming, perfectly round, and meticulously arranged into hairpins, dangling step-shakers, earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet.

Qingtian, the maid, made sure to parade the set around the mansion for hours before returning to Haitang Courtyard. By noon, every servant and master in the Sheng household had heard of it.

This was no accident.

Lately, the servants had begun whispering that the Sixth Miss was too extravagant, indifferent to their hardships.

Ridiculous!

Whether the Miss spent lavishly or not, it was the Sheng family’s money—with the Master, Madam, and young masters’ full approval.

A master was a master, a servant was a servant!

Did these lowborn worms think they deserved the same privileges? Know your place!

Qingtian deliberately flaunted the pearls to remind everyone of the Sixth Miss’s standing—and to crush any further dissent.

Only then could she, as the Miss’s top maid, live comfortably.

Lately, the Miss had even begun resenting the Madam, but thanks to Qingtian’s smooth talking, her mood had improved.

And the Madam had rewarded her efforts—10 taels of silver as a tip. Clearly, her performance was appreciated. Worth every honeyed word.

That afternoon, the Sheng Mansion’s concubines and illegitimate sons also received gifts.

The two young masters each got two bolts of fine fabric and two pieces of fur.

The five concubines received one bolt each—luxurious materials that would cost at least a hundred taels on the market.

By tradition, the wife was superior, the concubines inferior; the legitimate were exalted, the illegitimate were base.

For concubines and bastards, such treatment was already generous.

But ever since it was revealed that the Sixth Miss alone spent 1,600 taels monthly on food, many were seething.

1,600 taels.

That number was too specific, too infuriating.

Most hid their resentment, but two concubines—Hong and Bai—had no such restraint.

These women, spoiled by the Master’s favor, received only 60 taels for monthly food expenses. But since the Master often dined in their quarters, they enjoyed the same delicacies as the Madam—chicken, duck, fish, pork—never lacking. Even their servants ate well.

Sheng Yong also privately spoiled them with bird’s nest soup, white fungus stew, ginseng-infused pigeon broth…

They had long believed their lifestyles matched the Madam’s.

But on the 15th, they learned of Sheng Mingzhu’s food budget—and it burned them.

Now, Mingzhu flaunted 2,000 taels in pearls, while they got a single bolt of fabric?

Their pride was crushed.

The fiery Concubine Hong “accidentally” shattered a tea set, then gave her fabric to a maid.

The frail Concubine Bai “fell ill”—her servants scrambling to fetch the physician, then demanding snow lotus from outside, throwing the courtyard into chaos.

Seeing this, Concubine Hong also sent someone to the accounts office, demanding silver for ginseng to “recover her health.”

Since when did concubines have the right to withdraw funds?

But the Madam feigned ignorance, and with these two being the Master’s favorites, the accountants had no choice but to report to Sheng Yong.

He rushed back, pacified his concubines, and bought them a cartload of gifts—jewelry, fabrics, and even two Western mirrors (each costing 500 taels).

The concubines pretended to be appeased, but who knew if they’d later sabotage Mingzhu?

The Sheng servants gossiped endlessly.

The Sixth Miss’s image as “kind, gentle, and considerate” had shattered.

As for the Madam? Few blamed her. After all, her dowry funded the household, and she herself lived modestly. At most, they muttered that she spoiled her daughter too much.

Qingtian had hoped to elevate her mistress’s status.

But her shortsightedness backfired—spectacularly.