Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 42

Old Lady Li, who had been wailing on the ground, shot up the moment she saw Feng Dabao and Feng Erbao. She lunged forward, grabbing both boys by their collars.

“Where’s the money?! You two heartless little brats—where is it?! Give it back!”

Her face was twisted with fury as she shrieked.

The boys’ collars were yanked so tight they could barely breathe, their eyes wide with terror as they gasped for help.

“G-Grandma… let go…”

“Dad… Mom… help…”

Xiao Li, from her mother-in-law’s earlier cursing, had pieced together what was happening.

Someone from the He family had seen her two sons buying malt candy and spread gossip in the village, leading to rumors that they had stolen money from home…

In Xiao Li’s mind, her precious boys were completely innocent.

Not because she trusted their character—but because she believed in their love for her.

She was sure they might steal from Old Lady Li, but never from her private stash.

So, the stolen money couldn’t have been her sons’ doing.

With her face swollen and hair in wild disarray, Xiao Li roared:

“Impossible! My Dabao and Erbao would never steal from this family! Someone probably stole the money and framed my boys!”

Still screaming, she rushed forward to pull Old Lady Li away. Despite her disheveled, crazed appearance, her youth and strength gave her the upper hand, and she managed to free her sons.

Ironically, Xiao Li was right—her sons were being falsely accused. But Huang Yaning had no intention of clearing things up for the Feng family.

She watched their infighting with relish.

The second branch’s three daughters kept their heads down, expressions unreadable.

Feng Lao’er’s face was red, his expression constipated.

Huang Yaning could guess what he was thinking.

First, he didn’t know exactly how much his parents had lost.

More importantly, he was well aware that Old Man Feng and Old Lady Li’s “burial money” wasn’t meant for him—and the eldest branch’s savings were even further out of reach.

If he knew his parents and elder brother had lost at least a hundred taels, he’d be heartbroken—even if he’d never see a penny of it.

But since he didn’t know the amount, he just felt humiliated.

A few days ago, the whole village had heard about the Feng family’s stolen money. Now, there was proof the thieves were from inside the family. Could anything be more shameful?

Old Man Feng radiated fury, his eyes simmering with something dark.

As for Feng Dabao, his face first flashed disbelief, then quickly darkened like a burnt pot.

Clearly, the father had already begun suspecting his own sons.

Old Lady Li, still panting, glared venomously at the two boys.

“You two little demons stole our burial money—the savings of a lifetime! Did you give it to your parents?! Spit it out—!”

Then she turned her bloodshot eyes to Xiao Li.

“If you don’t return the money, I’ll have you divorced and sell these two traitorous brats—!”

The threat was so vicious that Xiao Li froze as if struck by lightning.

In the Feng family, Old Lady Li had always doted on her two golden grandsons.

Now, she was talking about selling them—and divorcing their mother.

The others looked just as stunned.

“You—old hag—I’LL KILL YOU—!”**

Suddenly, Xiao Li snapped. With a shriek, she launched herself at Old Lady Li, landing two heavy punches straight to her stomach.

Earlier, Old Lady Li had gotten the upper hand by catching Xiao Li off guard in her sleep.

But now, Xiao Li had the advantage of youth and strength. Her fists sank deep into Old Lady Li’s soft belly.

She was about to strike again when Feng Lao’er stepped in, shielding his mother. He didn’t dare fight back, only blocking Xiao Li’s blows.

But Xiao Li was beyond reason. She clawed, hit, and cursed at Feng Lao’er like a madwoman.

The second branch’s three daughters couldn’t bear to see their father bullied and joined the fray.

The younger two clung to Xiao Li’s legs, while Feng Sanya—the craftiest—jumped up and yanked her hair…

Screams, curses, sobs, and even the sound of Old Lady Li retching filled the air…

What a spectacle.

Eventually, Feng Dabao and Feng Erbao were given a thorough “bamboo shoot stir-fry” (a beating with bamboo sticks), and under the pain, they confessed everything.

Some time ago, two strings of coins had mysteriously appeared under their pillows. They’d spent one string buying food from Widow Jiang, and the last string had gone to the malt candy today.

Feng Dabao’s face was grim as he summarized:

“Father, Mother, Dabao and Erbao have explained. A few days ago, two strings of coins suddenly appeared under their pillows. They didn’t steal from the family.”

The Feng family had been too blinded by rage earlier to think straight. Now, it dawned on them—the boys wouldn’t have the guts to steal such a large sum.

Even if they knew where the money was hidden, they’d have taken it little by little, not all at once.

But this realization only deepened their despair.

Furious and unwilling to let it go, they stormed to Widow Jiang’s house to take out their anger on her.

Xiao Li had once been close to Widow Jiang, but now, the thought of her swindling a whole string of coins from her sons made her see red.

Widow Jiang insisted she hadn’t cheated the boys—she’d traded them eggs and flour fair and square—and refused to return a single coin…

The two women tore into each other, their former friendship forgotten.

With the Feng family backing her up, Xiao Li quickly gained the upper hand, beating Widow Jiang until her face was swollen beyond recognition.

Only when Widow Jiang threatened to take the matter to the magistrate did Xiao Li finally back off.

Back home, Feng Sanya suddenly spoke up in a timid voice:

“The money under Eldest and Second Brother’s pillows… it appeared around the same time Liuya started acting strange…”

Her words struck the Feng family like a bolt of lightning. All eyes turned to Huang Yaning, sharp as knives.

“Heh—”

Huang Yaning sneered coldly, thinking to herself that Feng Sanya was indeed a tricky one.

“I’m busy from dawn till dusk—I barely have time to eat or sleep. How would I know about the family’s money, let alone where it’s hidden?

“But you three sisters? You laze around all day, with plenty of time to snoop for hidden savings!

“Three of you—one to steal, two to keep watch!

“Who knows? Maybe your mother didn’t earn enough this year and secretly told you to rob your grandparents and uncle’s family, then play the filial daughter by ‘returning’ some to them—

“Tsk tsk, what a clever scheme!”

“Liuya! We’d never steal! And our mother is yours too—don’t you dare slander her!” Feng Sanya snapped, her face flushing red and white with rage.