Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 56

“Big Sis… come in.”

Shen Xiang stepped aside and gently tugged at Shen Zhiqiu’s sleeve.

Shen Zhiqiu knew he had taken her words to heart. She took his hand, and the siblings walked inside together.

“Xiao Xiang, I only have one request for you: from now on, don’t get involved in whatever Mom, Dad, or Second Sister say or do.”

“And if possible, fight less and read more.”

“Real heroes don’t act recklessly—they save their strength to protect their country.”

“Reading more will help you understand what’s right.”

Shen Xiang nodded solemnly. “Big Sis, I understand.”

Though his mother always told him to side with Second Sister, he liked Big Sis more.

She always gave in to him, bought him treats and his favorite comic books, and told the best stories.

Most of all, he thought Big Sis was really pretty—like a fairy.

The house had four rooms. The two main rooms—one large, one small—were occupied by Shen Daqiang, Wang Fengqin, and Shen Xiang.

The east-facing room, similar in size to Shen Xiang’s, belonged to Shen Liya.

And the tiny west-facing room next to the coal shed? That was hers.

As the old saying went: Only those with no other choice live in west-facing rooms—freezing in winter, scorching in summer, suffering every day.

It was still morning, not yet at its hottest, but the moment she opened the door, a wave of stifling air mixed with mildew hit her.

Shen Zhiqiu waved a hand in front of her nose and headed straight for the floor cabinet by the bed. Sure enough, the lock had been pried open.

Inside, everything was tossed into chaos. Her mother’s clothes had been turned into rags, and the metal box for jewelry was gone.

Suppressing the anger rising in her chest, Shen Zhiqiu reached deep into the cabinet, her fingers finding a hidden gap in the bottom panel. After some effort, she slowly pulled out a small paper packet.

She dusted off the wood shavings and tucked it into her bag.

Next, she went to Shen Daqiang and Wang Fengqin’s room. She found the metal jewelry box first and took inventory—everything was still there except for the necklace.

She dumped the entire contents into her bag, then searched for the bankbook.

But after checking several spots, it was nowhere to be found. Shen Zhiqiu paused, scanning the room until her gaze landed on the pile of bedding on the kang (heated brick bed).

She climbed up and felt around the pillows. Sure enough, inside Wang Fengqin’s pillowcase was the bankbook under her name.

Back then, to ease her suspicions, the account had been opened in her name. Every month after getting her salary, she’d deposit it there.

Over the years, it should have held nearly 8,000 yuan.

But when she opened it, less than 200 remained—most of the withdrawals had happened in the last month or two.

Shen Zhiqiu didn’t dwell on where the money had gone. She stuffed the bankbook into her bag, then yanked out Wang Fengqin’s favorite clothes from the wardrobe.

With the scissors she’d found earlier, she shredded every last one—especially the prized wool coat.

Finally, she stabbed the scissors straight into Wang Fengqin’s pillow.

“B-Big Sis…”

Shen Xiang had been trailing her the whole time, too scared to approach.

Shen Zhiqiu smoothed her hair and patted his cheek, smiling brightly.

“Xiao Xiang, this is what they call giving them a taste of their own medicine. When your parents ask, tell them I said to go ahead and call the police. I’ll be waiting.”

The resentment bottled up for over a month was finally released. Shen Zhiqiu felt fantastic.

Humming “My Motherland” (“A vast river with rolling waves, winds carrying the scent of rice blossoms…”), she rode to the nearby police station.

“Officer, I’d like to report a theft. My money’s been stolen.”

She placed her work ID, bankbook, and personal seal on the table.

“I’ve never withdrawn from this account, yet almost all the money is gone.”

Over 7,000 yuan was no small sum. The officers took it seriously.

After a detailed inquiry, they asked for her contact information, promising to update her as soon as possible.

Shen Daqiang and Wang Fengqin would undoubtedly report her too. To preempt their counterattack, she had to strike first.

On the way, she’d also realized: Wang Fengqin must have either sent the money to her family or spent it on something shady.

Either way, Shen Daqiang wouldn’t have known.

This was her chance to expose Wang Fengqin’s true colors—and use it as a stepping stone to drag all her dirty secrets into the light.

After a bowl of sesame noodles at the state-run diner, Shen Zhiqiu returned to the compound.

On the way, she ran into Tian Man heading to work. Tian Man handed her a draft from her bag.

“Zhiqiu, take a look.”

“Sis, your writing is amazing!” Shen Zhiqiu gave a thumbs-up after reading it.

“If you’re fine with it and the editor approves, we’ll publish it as is.”

“Sounds good, Sis.” Shen Zhiqiu squeezed her hand. “Thank you so much for this.”

“Zhiqiu, I should be thanking you. Don’t laugh, but… I haven’t written anything in ages.”

Tian Man sighed bitterly. “Our paper’s policy is that whoever finds the story writes it.”

“After I had my second child, my team leader said he was ‘being considerate’ by having me answer phones instead. Really, he was sidelining me.”

Shen Zhiqiu saw right through it. “Sis, he’s jealous of you.”

Tian Man shook her head helplessly. “I offended him when I was younger. Who knew he’d hold a grudge this long?”

“Anyway, I’d better hurry. If I’m late, he’ll glare at me again.”

Watching Tian Man leave, Shen Zhiqiu turned to her bike—only for a car to pull up beside her.

“Zhiqiu.”

Chen Can rolled down the window. “Where’ve you been in this heat?”

Shen Zhiqiu didn’t even glance at him. She kicked the bike stand up and started pedaling away.

Chen Can quickly caught up, matching her speed.

“Zhiqiu, don’t tell me Yue Mingyuan forbade you from talking to me?”

“How petty can he get? Of all people, why’d you marry him?”

“I know I hurt you when we split, but that’s no reason to throw yourself away like this.”

Shen Zhiqiu rolled her eyes, gazing up at the shade of the trees. For the first time, she found the cicadas’ chirping almost pleasant.

Some things only show their worth in comparison.

People especially.

“Zhiqiu… you’re not still hung up on me, are you? Is that why you won’t look at me or speak to me?”

Shen Zhiqiu had had enough. She braced her foot on the curb and turned to him.

“Chen Can, I also avoid looking at shit in toilets and refuse to talk to it. It’s not ‘lingering feelings’—I just find it fucking annoying.”