Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 44

After returning from the Zhang family to the Feng residence, Huang Yaning discovered half an unburned incense stick beneath the firewood shed’s window.

She suspected it was knockout incense and secretly tested it in the pigpen.

The pig only sniffed it once or twice before its legs gave out, collapsing to the ground…

It was undoubtedly knockout incense!

On the night she was sent away, the Feng family must have lit this incense outside the firewood shed’s window.

Perhaps the wind was strong, or maybe the incense was of poor quality—half of it broke off and fell inside, where she later found it upon returning…

Since her rebirth, Huang Yaning’s hatred for Sheng Mingzhu, Taoniang, her three ungrateful sons, and the Feng family had grown with each passing day.

Sheng Mingzhu, her daughter, Sheng Yong, and those three ungrateful sons were in the capital, out of her reach. For now, she couldn’t make any major moves against the Feng family without drawing attention. But the Zhang family? She had no reservations about them.

This broken incense felt like a knife handed to her by the heavens.

Earlier, Feng the Eldest had slapped her, giving her the perfect “excuse” to run away from home.

Moreover, that morning, while gathering firewood in the mountains with Xiaohong, she had already tricked the girl into revealing a shortcut to the neighboring village.

She walked swiftly—Mimin’s body, hardened by years of labor, had astonishing endurance. Having just eaten a large bowl of noodles, she felt surging with the strength for revenge.

By the time she reached the neighboring village, the sun had just set.

The Zhang family lived at the edge of the village. She found a high vantage point and hid, watching.

Soon, smoke curled from chimneys as the scent of cooking filled the air, mingling with children’s cries and the barking of dogs…

Huang Yaning noticed lights in the Zhang house and smoke rising from their kitchen.

Just as she’d guessed—given Old Zhang’s cautious nature, he must have kept Zhang Yazi at home for a few days. Now that Old Zhang and his wife were bedridden, the one in the kitchen had to be Zhang Yazi.

Which meant the entire Zhang family was home…

The cold glint in her eyes sharpened as she stared fixedly at the Zhang residence.

By midnight, Huang Yaning crept closer.

This was her first time doing something like this. Her heart pounded, her palms slick with sweat—but not once did she consider retreating.

Instead, she felt a faint thrill of anticipation.

At last, she could do something for Mimin…

The Zhang family was poor, their courtyard wall crumbling in places—making it easy for Huang Yaning to slip inside.

Unhindered, she tiptoed into the yard, a handkerchief already pressed over her nose and mouth.

She edged toward the window of the Zhangs’ bedroom, listening intently. Only loud snores answered her.

Poking a hole in the paper window, she lit the incense and carefully pushed it inside.

She didn’t let go immediately, holding onto the end until the burning heat nearly seared her fingers. Only then did she release it. Soon, the snores inside gradually ceased.

Steeling herself, Huang Yaning entered the Zhangs’ kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and used it to lift the door latch.

The latch clattered to the ground, the sound jarring in the silent night. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

She waited in the cold wind. When no movement came from inside, she pushed the door open.

By the faint moonlight, she saw the entire Zhang family sprawled on their grime-coated bed.

Raising the cleaver, she stood ready—if any of them woke now, she wouldn’t hesitate to slit their throats.

But after a tense moment, no one stirred. Her nerves eased slightly.

Then she caught the scent of alcohol. Turning, she spotted dishes on the table, their surfaces unusually greasy…

The Zhangs had come into sudden wealth. Resisting the urge to splurge outside, they’d indulged at home instead.

Gritting her teeth, Huang Yaning searched the bed, fighting back disgust. After some effort, she found a 10-tael silver ingot each on Zhang Yazi and his mother.

The two gold bracelets—the most valuable items—were hidden under Old Zhang’s pillow.

The Feng family had no eye for quality; they thought the bracelets were worth only 80 taels. In truth, those two small bracelets were worth at least 100 taels.

With the money secured, Huang Yaning wasted no time. She lit the straw beneath the bed with her fire starter, then set the quilt’s corners ablaze…

The quilt, stiff with filth, took effort to ignite.

She watched as the flames grew, then latched the door and climbed out through the window.

Small and nimble, she slipped out easily. After returning the cleaver to the kitchen, she left the Zhang house.

This was her first time killing someone. In that moment, her hands shook violently, her entire body trembling.

But then she remembered everything from her past life—the agony of her poisoning, Sheng Mingzhu’s gloating as she revealed how her three sons had betrayed her, watched her die, and even framed her for killing her own daughter.

The memory flooded her with boundless hatred. Her trembling stopped.

From a high vantage point on the mountain, she watched thick smoke billow from the Zhang house, the flames growing fiercer…

She knew the Zhang family was doomed. Tears welled in her eyes—

Tears of joy.

“Mimin, I’ve avenged you…”

“Mother, Zhuer has come to see you—”

The moment Sheng Mingzhu entered, leaning on Qingtian, she saw her “mother” chatting warmly with her cousin.

It felt like a club had smashed against her skull. Her smile froze.

“Cousin—”

Huang Xianjing stood up nervously at Sheng Mingzhu’s arrival. But when she saw Sheng Mingzhu’s expression, her face paled.

A few days ago, her aunt had secretly sent Xiangxiang and Qingchi to her courtyard with gifts—silver, fine fabrics, expensive furs, food, and daily necessities, all thoughtfully chosen.

Du Momo had announced that everyone had worked hard over the years, rewarding each maid with two strings of coins. She even sent five taels to the kitchen for a feast of pork head meat and mutton, leaving the entire courtyard in high spirits.

Now, well-fed and warmly dressed, everyone worked with cheerful diligence.

What touched Huang Xianjing most was her aunt’s gift of sliced century-old ginseng for Du Momo.

Du Momo was the closest person to her besides her aunt. This gesture filled Huang Xianjing with indescribable gratitude.

But news traveled slowly to their courtyard. She only learned of her aunt’s illness today and rushed over in a panic—

Only to run into her cousin.

Now, she stood awkwardly by the bed, unsure what to do.

“Sixth Girl, why wasn’t I announced?”

Sheng Minmin’s voice was stern as she glared at Sheng Mingzhu, Qingtian, and the flustered Xiangxiang.

Clearly, Sheng Mingzhu and Qingtian had barged in, and Xiangxiang, too timid to stop them, had failed in her duty.

Xiangxiang immediately dropped to her knees.

Qingtian wanted to kneel too, but she was still supporting Sheng Mingzhu, whose ankle was injured.