Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 20

Wang Fengqin fled in panic, with Shen Liya chasing after her. The others exchanged bewildered glances.

Shen Zhiqiu sensed something was wrong and hurried forward to pick up Yaya for a check.

Startled awake by the thunder, Yaya was still a little dazed. She yawned, then looked up at Shen Zhiqiu with a sweet, crescent-eyed smile.

[Opening my eyes to see Mommy first thing—so happy~]
[Mommy smells so nice, I wanna snuggle~]

Seeing Yaya was unharmed, Shen Zhiqiu let out a relieved sigh and kissed the little one’s cheek.

“Zhiqiu, you’re so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter.”
“Oh my, how can she be this adorable?”

Except for Lu Shuangshuang, everyone else gathered around, cooing over Yaya. Yaya, ever sociable, beamed sweetly at each auntie.

“It’s getting late, we should head out. Zhiqiu, take good care of yourself.”

Shortly after everyone left, one of them returned.

“Xiaomei, did you forget something?”

Shen Zhiqiu had just finished changing Yaya’s diaper and was gently guiding her through some baby exercises when she heard the door open. She thought it was Yue Mingyuan, but instead, it was Dong Xiaomei.

Dong Xiaomei was the youngest in their troupe but blessed with a voice like a nightingale’s. Rumor had it the troupe leader had discovered her while hiking—after a long search and much effort to bring her into the troupe.

Yet, Dong Xiaomei was introverted and insecure, never having performed on stage. Aside from training, she mostly helped Shen Zhiqiu organize costumes in the wardrobe room.

After Shen Zhiqiu became pregnant and could no longer dance, the troupe leader temporarily reassigned her to the wardrobe room. Since it was usually just the two of them, Shen Zhiqiu had grown fond of Dong Xiaomei and often looked out for her.

“No.”

Dong Xiaomei walked straight to the bedside, fists clenched, her delicate face tense with nerves. Sensing she had something important to say, Shen Zhiqiu took her hand and gently pulled her down to sit beside her.

“Xiaomei, what’s wrong? Don’t be afraid, tell me.”

“Sister Zhiqiu, what I’m about to say is true. Please believe me.” Dong Xiaomei gripped Shen Zhiqiu’s hand urgently.

“I believe you. Go ahead.” Shen Zhiqiu withdrew her hand and patted Dong Xiaomei’s shoulder reassuringly.

“Sister Zhiqiu, that day… I saw it. It was your sister, Shen Liya, who pushed Lu Shuangshuang. That’s why Lu Shuangshuang ended up knocking you over.”

Shen Zhiqiu clarified, “You mean the day I was brought to the hospital?”

Dong Xiaomei nodded vigorously.

A chill flashed in Shen Zhiqiu’s eyes. So Lu Shuangshuang hadn’t lied—and her first suspicion had indeed been Shen Liya.

That day, Shen Liya had arrived with Lu Shuangshuang, constantly pulling at her, urging her to “calm down” and “talk things over.” But in hindsight, every word had only stoked Lu Shuangshuang’s anger.

Had she not heard Yaya’s inner voice, she might’ve still been grateful to Shen Liya for rushing her to the hospital. But piecing everything together now sent a cold dread creeping up her spine.

And it wasn’t just this incident. Her previous miscarriage… was likely also Wang Fengqin and Shen Liya’s doing.

Wang Fengqin used to brew her daily tonics, and Shen Liya would always watch her drink every last drop. Those tonics must’ve been laced with something, just like the millet porridge Wang Fengqin had been feeding her lately.

“Sister Zhiqiu, d-do you not believe me?” Dong Xiaomei raised her hand. “I can swear it!”

“I know Sister Liya is your sister, and you two are close, but I really saw it.”

When Shen Zhiqiu remained silent, Dong Xiaomei grew frantic, on the verge of tears.

“Xiaomei, I believe you.” Shen Zhiqiu lowered Dong Xiaomei’s hand and met her gaze firmly. “I truly do.”

“Xiaomei, have you told anyone else about this?”

Dong Xiaomei shook her head. “No. I didn’t dare. I thought only you should know.”

“You did the right thing.”

Shen Zhiqiu hugged her tightly. “You’ve helped me immensely. Thank you.”

“Sister Zhiqiu, don’t say that. You’re making me blush.” Dong Xiaomei smiled shyly, her cheeks rosy as apples. “You’ve always been kind to me. I remember.”

“Xiaomei, can you do me one more favor?”

Shen Zhiqiu knew confronting Shen Liya directly was pointless—she’d never admit it, even with Dong Xiaomei’s testimony. Worse, Shen Liya might’ve already prepared countermeasures, waiting for her to walk into a trap.

But she couldn’t let this slide. Shen Liya had to face consequences!

Dong Xiaomei agreed readily. “Just tell me what to do, Sister Zhiqiu.”

Shen Zhiqiu wrote several identical notes in flawless block letters—untraceable to her handwriting. She handed them to Dong Xiaomei.

“Put these up on the women’s restroom wall. If they get torn down, replace them. But be absolutely careful—no one can see you!”

“Don’t worry, Sister Zhiqiu.”

Dong Xiaomei carefully tucked the notes into her army-green satchel, then pulled out a small cloth pouch. “Sister Zhiqiu, this is an herbal sachet my grandfather made specially for Yaya.”

“With summer coming, the bugs will be everywhere. This’ll keep Yaya from getting bitten.”

“Let me tell you, my grandfather’s sachets are famous. Every spring, families from nearby villages come asking for them.”

“Yaya’s sachet has extra ingredients—the best ones, all gathered by me from the mountains.”

“Xiaomei, this is the most precious gift. Thank you.”

Shen Zhiqiu took it and inhaled the light herbal scent—soothing and refreshing.

“Sister Zhiqiu, why so polite? If you and Yaya like it, that’s enough. It’s nothing fancy.”

“Xiaomei, is your grandfather a highly skilled doctor?”

“I’m not sure, but whenever villagers feel unwell, they go to him. Usually, two or three doses of his medicine fix them right up.”

Dong Xiaomei often spoke of her grandfather, so Shen Zhiqiu knew he was a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. She wanted her father-in-law to consult him—he’d seen several doctors lately, but all recommended surgery. She could tell the old man was reluctant.

After Dong Xiaomei left, Shen Zhiqiu discussed it with Yue Mingyuan, who called home to pass Dong Xiaomei’s address to Wan Jiayin.

That night, once everyone was asleep, Dong Xiaomei tiptoed into the women’s restroom and stuck Shen Zhiqiu’s note on the wall as instructed.

By the next morning, the restroom was packed, crowds swarming around it in layers.