Chapter 26: She Was Getting Her Just Deserts

"Sister," Zhang Qingqing said in a weak, fragile voice, "I'm sorry. It’s all my mother’s fault and mine. We shouldn't have come to the Yan family's home."

Before Yan Ziyue could respond, Miao Lanlan spoke up first, curling her lip in disdain. "Zhang Qingqing, stop using that slutty act of yours to seduce men!"

"You're just like your mother—you can’t live without a man."

"But you’re still far worse than her. You’ve only had two men, while your mother has had countless."

The men who had just begun to feel a flicker of sympathy for Zhang Qingqing felt it vanish instantly, replaced only by the thought that she was utterly base.

"Hahaha, a woman like Zhang Qingqing is fine for a bit of fun, but I heard her skills aren't even as good as Zhang Juhua’s."

"I heard Hu Ergou say that lying in bed with Zhang Qingqing is no different from lying with a dead fish. She hasn't learned a single thing from Zhang Juhua’s bedroom tricks."

For the first time, Zhang Qingqing faced such humiliation that she wished a crack would open in the ground so she could crawl into it. She hated Yan Ziyue even more, convinced that she was the one who had caused this.

Yan Ziyue sighed softly. "Zhang Qingqing, why do you keep repeating things like 'It's all my fault, my mother and I shouldn't have come to the Yan house'?"

"The way you act, it’s as if everyone has been bullying you."

Miao Lanlan sneered, "She’s faking it. She uses this act to gain men's sympathy so she can use these fools to deal with you."

Yan Ziyue looked seemingly enlightened, appearing quite surprised. "Zhang Qingqing is faking it?"

"I always thought she was genuinely that delicate."

"Think about it—every time she had to do something, she was either feeling unwell here or hurting there. Sometimes when I touched her, she would cry out in pain or even faint."

Miao Lanlan said, "It’s all an act."

"If she didn't put on this act, how else could she gain everyone's sympathy? How else could she frame you?"

Yan Ziyue covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes reddening. "How could she?"

Xiao Heshuo rested a hand on her shoulder and said gently, "Don't be sad."

"Seeing this family’s true colors now is a good thing for you."

Village Chief Luo offered comfort, "That's right, Ziyue. Now that you truly see this family for what they are, you won't be calculated against or used by them again."

Yan Ziyue nodded slightly. "The village chief is right."

"Now that I truly see this family’s true colors, I won't be calculated against or used by them anymore."

Out of the corner of her eye, she observed the expressions of her father and the other two, feeling a sense of deep satisfaction.

Scumbag Father, Zhang Juhua, Zhang Qingqing—how does it feel to be reviled by everyone?

This was only the beginning.

There was even more pain and suffering in store for you.

Village Chief Luo looked at the three of them with disgust. "I will no longer intervene in the affairs between your family and these people from the other village."

"But I will not allow you to sell Ziyue."

"If you dare to plot against Ziyue again, get out of Damu Village!"

He planned to discuss with the clan elders about banishing Yan Zhuangshi and the others from Damu Village.

Following this, Village Chief Luo left the outsiders behind and led Yan Ziyue and the other villagers out of the Yan residence.

Yan Ziyue hadn't gone far when she heard the sounds of beating and shouting from the outsiders behind her.

"You lot, either pay us back or give us your second daughter!"

"Your village chief said he wouldn't get involved. If you don't do as we say, we'll make you regret it!"

The corners of Yan Ziyue’s mouth lifted, her mood soaring.

After this incident, those three would have endless "good days" ahead of them in the village.

Meanwhile, the three of them were being beaten severely.

"No money! There is no money!" Zhang Juhua, unwilling to part with the money in her pocket, hurriedly said, "I will give you Yan Ziyue instead... ouch!"

The only woman among the outsiders slapped her face until it swelled. "We were fools once, that’s enough. We won’t be fooled a second time."

"You have two choices: pay us back, or hand over your second daughter!"

Zhang Qingqing hid behind Zhang Juhua and her father, trembling. "Dad, Mom, please pay them back! Pay them back!"

"I don't want to be taken into the mountains to be someone's wife!"

She had heard that women taken into the mountains as wives were treated like slaves and were required to bear sons—several of them. If they couldn't produce a son, or if they weren't diligent enough in their chores, they would be beaten to the brink of death.

Zhang Juhua glared at her. "Qingqing, be quiet!"

This money was meant for their family’s life in the city; there was no way she would give it up.

The more Zhang Juhua refused to pay, the more ruthless the outsiders became.

The two sides were in complete chaos.

When Yan Ziyue heard the aftermath from Miao Lanlan later, she was incredulous. "Sister Miao, are you saying those men from the other village are living in the same room as Zhang Qingqing?"

Miao Lanlan handed her some melon seeds. As she snacked on them, she said, "That’s right. They dragged Zhang Qingqing into the room by force, saying she needs to carry on their family line."

"Sister-in-law Xiao, you don't know this, but when they take wives in the mountains, it's usually several brothers sharing one wife; the children born belong to all the brothers."

She looked on with malicious glee. "It's extremely difficult to find wives in the mountains, and they don't like daughters. Many are killed at birth. Only a very few are raised to fifteen or sixteen, only to be married off in exchange for money."

Yan Ziyue truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

She laughed abruptly. But as she laughed, she began to cry.

"Sister-in-law Xiao, why are you crying?" Before Miao Lanlan could finish, she saw Xiao Heshuo rushing over from not far away. "Xiao Heshuo, look at your wife—what's the matter with her?"

"Is the wound on her arm hurting?"

Yan Ziyue wiped the tears from her eyes and waved her hand to show she was fine. "I’m not sad; I’m happy."

"Happy for my mother and myself."

She let out a long breath. "My mother suffered for so many years and died without ever knowing that scumbag was keeping a mistress."

"I was bullied and schemed against for over a year."

"Now, it’s finally this family’s turn to suffer."

Miao Lanlan laughed. "It’s all because you finally woke up."

If she hadn't, there wouldn't have been this plan of using their own tactics against them. Thinking back to how they had helped beat those outsiders and forcibly shoved Zhang Qingqing into their hands, it had been incredibly satisfying.

Yan Ziyue smiled again. "I really want to thank you, Sister Miao."

"If you hadn't followed me, it wouldn't have been so easy to teach that family a lesson."

As soon as she had quietly left, Sister Miao had understood and brought several strong women to follow her.

Miao Lanlan gave a heavy snort. "I’ve long been disgusted by Yan Zhuangshi and the others. They’re such sickening things."

"Alright, alright, I’m going back to cook. We’ll talk another day."

With that, she walked quickly toward her home.

Yan Ziyue closed the gate. She pulled Xiao Heshuo over to sit on a low stool and said softly, "I really am fine."

"Why did you do that?" Xiao Heshuo asked, his face stern as he stared at her.