Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 82

Huang Yaning felt that Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao, despite having no blood relation to her, had shown her kindness when she was just an unloved peasant girl. Their compassion proved they were good-hearted people.

Aunt Zhao had even saved her life by pulling her out of the pond. And when chaos erupted in the Feng household, leaving Taoniang injured, it was Aunt Zhao who carried her all the way home from the Feng residence.

Uncle Zhao was a doting father to his daughters. Every time he saw Huang Yaning suffering, he thought of his own girls.

Fearing his daughters might endure hardship in their employers’ homes, he hurried to town to send them letters.

Such a kind, soft-hearted family who cherished their daughters—Huang Yaning believed that if she “settled” with the Zhao family after leaving the Fengs, they would surely treat her well.

Besides, she had no other choice.

Between the Zhaos and the Fengs, she could only gamble on the former.

Little did Huang Yaning know that Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao’s closeness to her was all under Sheng Minmin’s orders.

Even their “rescue” during critical moments was only because Sheng Minmin had instructed them not to let her die.

Just then, Old Lady Li returned with a sour face. “I’ve asked around—Dabao and Erbao never tried to harm you—”

Huang Yaning couldn’t be bothered to argue. She turned to Uncle Zhao. “Uncle Zhao, could you go to town and report this to the authorities for me—”

“You wretched girl, how dare you—!”

Old Lady Li lunged at Huang Yaning in a fury, but Aunt Zhao shielded her.

“Old Lady Li, if you have something to say, say it—why resort to violence—?”

“Get out of my way! This is my family’s business—!”

“You get out! If your precious grandsons really didn’t push Liuyan, why are you so worked up?”

The two women exchanged heated words, pulling and shoving. Though Old Lady Li was fierce, Aunt Zhao’s youth gave her the upper hand.

Huang Yaning tugged lightly at Uncle Zhao’s sleeve, snapping him out of his daze.

“Old Man Feng, either hand Liuyan over to us, or I’ll report this to the authorities right now—”

Old Man Feng pondered for a moment before gritting his teeth.

“Ten taels! Give us ten taels of silver, and you can take her away. Otherwise, go ahead and report us!”

Huang Yaning nearly spat in Old Man Feng’s face!

If not for making the sale contract appear legitimate in the eyes of outsiders, she wouldn’t have given the Fengs a single coin.

One tael was already her absolute limit—not a penny more.

“One tael!”

“But I can tell you who in the Feng family has money and where it’s hidden.”

“If you search, you might find dozens—maybe even a hundred taels…”

Old Lady Li’s eyes gleamed greedily at the mention of such wealth, urging Huang Yaning to speak quickly.

Huang Yaning kept her gaze fixed on Old Man Feng. After a brief hesitation, he agreed.

“Fine! But you must show us the money first.”

A bright smile spread across Huang Yaning’s face. Telling them first didn’t matter.

She wasn’t afraid of the Fengs going back on their word. If the accusation of Dabao and Erbao attempting murder failed to pressure them, she could always threaten them with Taoniang’s theft.

Old Lady Li and Old Man Feng surely had more money hidden in their rooms. If she accused them of theft and brought the authorities in, even without solid evidence to convict them, any silver found by the officers would never return to the Fengs.

To protect their life savings, they wouldn’t dare refuse her freedom.

“Your dear daughter-in-law, Taoniang, hides banknotes in her undergarments.”

In her past life, Taoniang had once shared village gossip with her, including how wives hid their private savings.

Taoniang mentioned some hid money in roof beams, pillars, under beds, inside pillows, quilts, or shoes…

The methods were bizarrely creative. Huang Yaning had laughed and asked where Taoniang hid hers.

Blushing, Taoniang leaned in and whispered that she had altered her undergarments to conceal a few banknotes…

Huang Yaning also knew Taoniang had received many rewards from the Sheng household over the years, amassing a considerable fortune.

That cunning woman was cautious—she must have hidden the bulk of it somewhere more secure, but she would definitely keep some on her person…

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Li stormed toward the second branch’s quarters, murder in her eyes.

But Old Man Feng was more cunning. He called Feng the Eldest and Feng the Second over, making Old Lady Li reluctantly produce a tael of silver and sending them to town for New Year supplies.

Feng the Second, seeing the silver, suspected nothing and left with his brother.

Next, Old Lady Li shooed the second branch’s daughters out to gather firewood. Feng Sanya refused to leave Taoniang’s side, staying behind to care for her.

Once the second branch was mostly cleared out, Old Lady Li and Little Lady Li barged in.

Huang Yaning wasn’t about to miss this spectacle.

Little Lady Li lunged at Feng Sanya. Earlier, after Old Lady Li interrogated her sons, Little Lady Li learned that Feng Sanya had incited her boys to kill.

Furious, she wanted to tear Feng Sanya apart.

Her rough hands clawed at Feng Sanya’s face, determined to scar her.

“You wretched, deceitful brat! Hoarding money, keeping everything for yourself… Let’s see where else you’ve hidden it!”

Little Lady Li ranted as she attacked. A grown woman against a frail girl—Feng Sanya stood no chance, desperately shielding her face with her arms.

When she failed to disfigure the girl, Little Lady Li resorted to another vile tactic—tearing at Feng Sanya’s clothes under the pretense of searching for money.

Feng Sanya, still an unmarried maiden, was humiliated beyond endurance, shrieking in horror…

The sight filled Huang Yaning with delight, as if she’d drunk celestial nectar.

But the main event was still Taoniang. Old Lady Li, despite her age, moved with startling vigor, yanking the quilt away.

After the last brawl, Taoniang’s back wounds had reopened, forcing her to lie prone for treatment.

Perhaps for easier dressing changes, she wore only a肚兜 (dudou, traditional Chinese undergarment) and underclothes beneath the quilt…

Amid Taoniang’s screams, Old Lady Li stripped her not only of the肚兜 but also her underclothes, leaving her completely exposed…

Taoniang, naked and trembling with rage, turned purple when she saw Old Lady Li inspecting her肚兜.

“Old Li! I’ll kill you—!”

Ignoring her, Old Lady Li felt along the肚兜 and discovered a hidden layer—inside were six banknotes.

Overjoyed but furious at Taoniang’s secret hoarding, she slapped Taoniang twice across the face, leaving her cheeks swollen and red.

“She’s got something valuable around her neck!” Huang Yaning called out.

Old Lady Li noticed a red-stringed key hanging from Taoniang’s neck and yanked it off violently, taking a clump of hair with it…

“Ahhh—!” Taoniang’s agonized scream echoed…

Old Lady Li, triumphant like a battle-hardened hen, marched to the main room with her spoils.

Taoniang, watching her last sixty taels and key being stolen, spat a mouthful of blood in fury before passing out…

Finally, Scholar Li was summoned to draft the sale contract. Uncle Zhao paid one tael of silver.

Under the village chief’s witness, Old Man Feng and Old Lady Li pressed their fingerprints.

From that moment on, Huang Yaning was no longer a member of the Feng family.