The elderly couple busied themselves killing the chicken. The two children, rarely free from chores, squatted in the yard eating candy and playing. Xu Ziyan wandered around with nothing to do, so she went back inside, got a fan, and sat under the eaves, fanning herself slowly.
To be honest, suddenly going from a wealthy heiress to such a poor peasant woman was quite an adjustment for her, but perhaps because it was all new, it still felt rather fresh. Right now, looking at the blue sky and white clouds, she actually felt a sense of leisurely comfort.
She was just thinking of finding a poem to match the scene when she saw her original host’s biological parents peeking in from outside the gate. Meeting her gaze, they looked somewhat awkward. “Yanyan, there were too many people earlier, we didn’t get a chance to talk. On the way back, your grandmother had your younger brother call us home, so we’re only coming over now. So, uh, the kids weren’t scared, right?”
Seeing their demeanor, Xu Ziyan knew they were used to being looked down upon and scolded by the original host. They always seemed unable to hold their heads up in front of their daughter, acting overly cautious. But their love for their daughter was genuine. In her previous life, Xu Ziyan had seen too many people; she was quite accurate about this.
Xu Ziyan silently complained to 001: 『They themselves lack backbone, to put it bluntly, they’re spineless. Their daughter was too competitive, even using increasingly underhanded methods, and they didn’t know how to guide or discipline her. In the end, the daughter sabotaged her in-laws’ family and ran off, indirectly causing their ruin. They felt guilty and anxious but didn’t know what to do, eventually dying of depression.
Pitiful and tragic. Sympathize with them? They made a complete mess of their lives and failed to raise their daughter properly. Say they deserved it? Their personalities were just like that, they couldn’t help it.』
Fang Father and Fang Mother heard the inner thoughts again and hurried to the front yard to look. They were still a bit nervous. The Great Immortal seemed unaware her thoughts could be heard, and they couldn’t explain it either. This must be something Heaven wanted kept secret. But would the in-laws panic if they heard their own daughter was gone? Would they fight the Great Immortal?
When they reached the front yard, they saw Xu Father and Xu Mother’s expressions hadn’t changed. Could it be they couldn’t hear?
Xu Ziyan stood up. “Come sit in the shade for a bit. You helped search for a long time earlier too. The kids are fine, don’t let yourselves get heatstroke.”
Xu Father and Xu Mother were delighted. Although Xu Ziyan’s tone wasn’t particularly polite, the meaning behind her words showed concern for them. The two of them greeted Fang Father and Fang Mother somewhat stiffly and sighed in relief upon seeing the two children playing happily.
Xu Ziyan thought for a moment. In this world, she was the villainess, her in-laws were the tragic cannon fodder, and her natal family was basically set dressing. The only plot point requiring a visit to her natal home was in two days for her grandmother’s birthday. The original host and her cousin both went back. The original host brought relatively expensive gifts like malt cream, pastries, and canned food, while the cousin brought a self-made blouse.
The grandmother put on the blouse on the spot, praising it over and over, holding the cousin’s hand and commending her for her filial piety, while treating the original host somewhat coldly. The original host, feeling confident as an officer’s wife, couldn’t take this insult. She directly flipped out, accusing the old lady of favoritism. On her birthday, being pointed at and scolded by a junior, the old lady trembled with rage and told the original host not to come back if she was so capable. Later, the original host truly never went back, cutting off contact even with her own parents.
So the old lady still had a bit of a role, but the biological parents were truly just background.
This made Xu Ziyan feel a bit sorry for them. It seemed their character setting doomed them to a lifetime of tragedy, from childhood to death, without a hint of happiness. Now she had replaced their daughter. Even though their daughter had always treated them poorly, they surely wouldn’t wish for their daughter to disappear. Xu Ziyan felt an uncharacteristic sense of awkwardness.
The silence was too heavy. Xu Ziyan made conversation. “What did the old lady call you back to say? Let me guess, it wasn’t to ask about my kids, was it? She heard I made Xu Xiuyun lose face and wasn’t happy, right? She didn’t send you here to chastise me, did she?”
The two looked flustered again. Xu Father rubbed his hands. “Your grandmother, she… she thinks family matters should be settled within the family. Making a scene for the whole village to see is too embarrassing. Others will say our Xu family doesn’t know how to raise daughters…”
His voice trailed off. Xu Mother quickly added, “But we’re not here to chastise you. We were genuinely concerned about the child and worried you were upset.”
Xu Ziyan saw this as an opportunity to change her image and immediately smiled. “It’s good you’re not here to scold me on her behalf. If you were still on her side, I’d have to kick you out. You should understand what happened today, right? Don’t go around saying Xu Xiuyun is kind and good anymore. With your lack of guile, you’d get sold down the river and still thank her for it.”
Xu Father and Xu Mother did understand. Although Xu Xiuyun’s image of kindness was deeply ingrained since childhood, her words and actions today were too outrageous and nearly damaged their daughter’s reputation. Of course, they leaned toward their daughter’s side. But they were still family, and the two sisters were neighbors. If they could support each other, life would surely be better. This was their deeply held belief. They looked at Xu Ziyan, wanting to say something but hesitating.
『Judging by their looks, they want to advise me that family harmony brings prosperity. That’s just how it was in this era—trivial matters, constant bickering. I can’t stand that. Back then, I could cut ties with my own birth parents and younger brother, making sure they never dared bother me again. Let alone these relatives from a mission—I won’t tolerate it for a second. But the old lady’s birthday is in two days. No point wasting a plot point. I can have the falling-out then.』
Fang Father and Fang Mother listened, utterly confused. Did the Great Immortal have birth parents and a younger brother? Did she live a family life? They’d never heard that. But thankfully, she’d cut ties. If her whole family showed up, wouldn’t that scare them to death?
Fang Mother, afraid the in-laws might say something offensive, quickly smoothed things over. “In-laws, why don’t you stay for dinner today? Xiao Yan said we’re having stewed chicken with mushrooms and white rice tonight. You can eat before going back.”
Xu Father and Xu Mother were startled and hurriedly declined. “No, no, we’ll just say a few words and leave. We have things to do at home.” Then they whispered to Xu Ziyan, “Yanyan, Li Hai is out there serving as a soldier, it’s not easy. You should be a bit more frugal.”
Xu Ziyan waved her fan. “I’m already thinking about how to make money. My in-laws haven’t said anything, so don’t you worry needlessly. You go back and think about it too—which side are you on, me or the Xu family? When you’re old, are you relying on me to support you, or can the Xu family support you? If you’re on my side, listen to me from now on. First, separate from the main family. Then we can still visit. If you don’t separate, I have no interest in dealing with that muddle-headed old lady. We’ll have less contact in the future.”
Xu Father was speechless. “But she’s your grandmother…”
Xu Ziyan said, “She’s my cousins’ and younger brother’s grandmother. She certainly doesn’t treat me as a real granddaughter. Didn’t she curse me plenty in front of you today? When Xu Xiuyun was the one scheming against me, why didn’t she scold Xu Xiuyun instead of me? You two go back and think about it.”
Xu Father couldn’t say anything more. The old lady had indeed called them back and given them an earful, cursing not only Xu Ziyan but also berating them until they couldn’t lift their heads.
The two left dejectedly. Fang Father hesitantly said, “Why not keep them for the meal?”
Xu Ziyan smiled. “Even if they ate meat here, they wouldn’t be comfortable. Better to let them go back and think properly. By the way, the old lady’s birthday is in two days. I’m going into town to buy some gifts. Do you need me to bring anything?”
They both shook their heads simultaneously. Xu Ziyan put on a straw hat to shade herself and called to the two children. “Come on, I’ll take you to the city park and buy some treats.”
Fang Nan and Fang Bei were stunned, immediately dropping their little sticks and standing up, though a bit hesitant. Would Second Aunt take them out somewhere to abandon them?
Then they heard Xu Ziyan’s inner thoughts again. 『These two kids are quite sensible. Usually, no one takes them out to play. Considering they cooperated perfectly today, I’ll take them for a trip. Right, bring more money and ration coupons. Buying things with all sorts of tickets is such a hassle. Luckily, that’ll be abolished in a couple of years.』
The two children, now sure she really meant to take them to play, instantly broke into smiles and obediently ran to the bicycle. Xu Ziyan had the younger one sit on the front crossbar and the older one on the rear rack, then rode off. She wobbled a bit at first but quickly got the hang of it. Spotting a slope, she laughed, “Hold on tight, we’re going to pick up speed!”
The two children gripped the bicycle tightly. Feeling the bike fly down the slope, they excitedly shouted, “So fun! Hahaha!”
Some villagers who saw them remarked in puzzlement, “Who was it that said Xu Ziyan was a bad stepmother? Don’t the two kids get along fine with her? Look at them laughing.”
Someone nearby said, “Then it seems what Xu Ziyan said today was true. Xu Xiuyun has been ruining her reputation to make herself look better.”
“Who would’ve thought that young woman had so many schemes? Really scary.”
“I wonder what Song Dongbo will think when he comes back and finds out. Oh right, Xu Xiuyun is a stepmother too. She always seems so good to Song Dongbo’s daughter. Could that be an act too?”
“Truly, you can know a person’s face but not their heart. Let’s ask around carefully later, see if we can find out the truth.”
Xu Ziyan, carrying the two children, played her way along, and in just one trip through the village, she mostly cleared her reputation as a vicious stepmother. After all, if she was tormenting the kids, why would they laugh so happily with her? But she felt these kids were quite easy to please. She just gave them some candy and took them out to play, and they forgot how tired they were from working before.
In town, Xu Ziyan bought three ice pops, and the three of them strolled through the park while eating. The park was actually quite simple—just stone carvings of the twelve zodiac animals, a small lotus pond, some pretty flowers, not even any animals. But even with simple attractions, the two children were captivated, extremely happy.
Xu Ziyan saw a small photo booth by the lake where you could take pictures. She smiled and took one standing in front of the lotus flowers, then had the two children take pictures with their respective zodiac animal statues.
Fang Bei suddenly said, “Second Aunt, take a picture with the two of us, okay? To show Second Uncle!”
Xu Ziyan was surprised, thinking this kid was quite clever, knowing to let her cheap husband see a photo of the three of them. Actually, Fang Bei’s thinking was simple. He felt Xu Ziyan was now a fairy possessing someone, and since Second Uncle wasn’t home to see the fairy, a photo would let him see.
Xu Ziyan held one child’s hand in each of hers, smiled and said, “Look at the camera, say ‘cheese’ with me!”
The two children mumbled along, then discovered that saying “cheese” made you smile. Amazed, they held hands, looked at each other, and said “cheese” several more times. They also tried “tomato,” “table,” “chair,” substituting every word they knew, playing happily.
Xu Ziyan paid and arranged the time to pick up the photos, then went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy gifts. The old lady’s plot was easy to handle—a falling-out, cutting ties. She was familiar with that. This plot had to happen!