Chapter 305 - 116: The Green Tea Female Supporting Character in a Period Piece (3)
Chapter 305: Chapter 116: The Green Tea Female Supporting Character in a Period Piece (3)
Although she had lived her past life in a muddle-headed daze, clinging to others like a vine, she was actually extremely clever. Her forgery skills were good enough to pass for genuine, she had a sharp mind for numbers, and she kept immaculate accounts.
In her past life, that scumbag had learned lock-picking. By day, he was a registered locksmith, but by night, he took on plenty of shady, off-the-books jobs.
During the times Chi Yun’er was mentally unstable, the scumbag had exploited her to forge numerous fake certificates, seals, and account books.
However, she was lucid half the time. By feigning madness and being uncooperative, she secretly mastered all of his lock-picking skills. Otherwise, she never would have found the chance to escape, only to fall into a river and drown while being pursued.
Her eyes shifted slightly. ’I will get my money back. I will return to the city. And as for Jiang Zishi... sorry, but that spot at the Industrial and Agricultural University isn’t going to be his!’
’Let him be smug for a few more days. I wonder how he’ll face that greedy bunch from the Bian family when he goes to prepare the lavish betrothal gifts he promised them, only to discover he’s flat broke.’
’And how will he feel when the university spot he so eagerly anticipated—the one he was willing to sacrifice his marriage for—slips through his fingers?’
’He’ll probably explode on the spot when he sees me happily returning to the city, won’t he?’
The mere thought of the look on his face when all his efforts came to nothing—his inevitable collapse—sent a shiver of irrepressible joy through Chi Yun’er.
It was noon on one of the hottest days in June. While the room was still somewhat cool, the food on the table was already stone cold.
She had been born prematurely and had always had a weak stomach, so she couldn’t eat such a meal. Besides, she had caught a chill after the village chief’s wife pushed her into the water. The shock had made her fall ill, and her coughing fits were so bad she could barely breathe. She certainly couldn’t handle anything greasy or salty.
In her past life, because she had never fully recovered, she developed asthma. Whenever she was in a dirty room or smelled pollen, cotton fibers, or dust, she would be wracked with a cough for at least two weeks. Each bout felt like it would take half her life.
When Chi Yun’er woke up, her high fever had broken, but her body still felt sore and weak, and her chest was tight.
The others had worked in the fields all morning and were now fast asleep, exhausted. Who would bother to make another meal just for her?
Even if they had nothing else to do, they would never lift a finger to help her. After all, thanks to Jiang Zishi’s provocations, she had been in conflict with every single person at the educated youth center, not to mention the village officials.
The harsh, impoverished life had worn down the educated youths, and there was no shortage of squabbles among them. Though there were fewer than twenty people, they had managed to form seven or eight different cliques.
On top of that, most people harbored some resentment toward the wealthy, so they ignored her completely. And who could blame them? The old her had been far too ostentatious. While others ate pickled vegetables, she would have fried pancakes with minced pork and scrambled eggs...
Chi Yun’er dragged herself out of bed, moving one slow step at a time. The water in the thermos on the table was from yesterday, and it was now empty.
Her face pale, she made her way to the kitchen. Quietly and methodically, she boiled some water, refilled the thermos, and then retrieved some malted milk powder and crackers from the chest of drawers in her room. She forced down a meager meal, just enough to soothe her stomach, which was nearly cramping with hunger.
Before long, the courtyard stirred with activity as people began to wake up. Amid a CLATTER of banging and slamming, a sharp, shrewish female voice began to curse:
"Look at the delicate young miss from the city! Have you no manners? Making all that noise in the kitchen at high noon just because you’re peckish. Are you trying to keep everyone from getting any rest?"
"Do you think everyone is like you? Just eat, sleep, and play around, with someone else to do your work in the fields for you?"
The others remained silent. They washed up briefly, and seeing the boiled water cooling in the kitchen, they ladled it directly into their glass jars. They took their washed and dried towels, draped them around their necks, lazily put on their straw hats, and slowly shook off their drowsiness, all while enjoying the show.
The woman continued to vent her post-nap grumpiness. "Some people do absolutely nothing, yet they shamelessly consume the fruits of everyone else’s labor..."
"Have you ever gathered a single piece of firewood or carried a single bucket of water? You sure don’t have any qualms about using it all..."
Chi Yun’er had been repressed her entire life. Now, having escaped her suffocating family, the pride and stubbornness buried deep in her bones were making a roaring comeback.
She had long harbored a deep resentment for these so-called educated youths. They bullied the weak and feared the strong, always avoiding trouble. They had sided with the villagers to verbally abuse her, and at critical moments, she knew they would have gladly pushed her off a cliff.
Leaning against the wall for support, she emerged. Her expression was cold and mocking as she said, "Zheng, the sound of me boiling water at noon could hardly have woken someone who sleeps like a log. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to bottle up your anger until just now."
"Are you just throwing a tantrum because you’re still groggy from your nap? Or is it because you see I have no one to protect me now, making me the easiest person to bully?"
"Let’s not even talk about how I used to give all my living expenses to Jiang Zishi. How many resources could one woman possibly use? If he has a share in this youth center, then so do I."