"Where has your good-for-nothing gone? Doesn't he know everyone at home is waiting to eat?"
Yu Dazhuang's booming voice rang out, and Xiang Wan silently shivered. There was no way around it; the original owner's body memories were too deeply ingrained, something that couldn't be overcome with reason alone.
The skinny Xiang Wan pouted and walked back with her short legs.
The original owner's home was extremely simple, practically bare. Mud walls, a mud stove, and a mud-brick bed; a worn-out wardrobe stood next to a dilapidated cupboard. They dressed exactly like people in rural movies from the 1970s and 80s. Watching it on TV before, it didn't seem like much. But seeing it on herself, Xiang Wan always felt a little shabby. The physical and psychological disparity plunged Xiang Wan into utter despair.
Back in the day, or rather, in the last world, although we were occasionally eaten alive, at least we had people to take care of our every need, and we could even practice our shooting skills in our spare time. Thanks to Hei Kang, Xiang Wan's marksmanship was second only to his, as shown on her attribute panel. But it's completely useless in the current situation; with these skinny arms and legs, she probably can't even lift a gun.
Sigh, I've been overthinking things again. I'm afraid she won't even be able to touch the gun.
Medical skills? Where am I supposed to find herbs? I'd be dragged back to do housework the moment I step out the door.
Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? Forget it, they're luxuries and don't fit the persona.
Sigh, filling our stomachs is the most important thing first.
Xiang Wan silently followed her body's instincts, washing rice and vegetables, and starting a fire to cook. The original owner's younger brother was named Yu Xiaoguang, a little boy, but much fatter than the original owner, clearly the kind who was well-fed and healthy.
Yu Xiaoguang loved to cause trouble, especially with the original owner of this body. He would either put stones in the rice she was washing or pour water on it to put out the fire. The original owner silently endured all of this, but Xiang Wan had no intention of doing so.
When Yu Xiaoguang tried to secretly put the stone into the already washed rice again, Xiang Wan handed the pot directly to him.
"Hurry up and put it in, so I can cook rice."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaoguang hesitated. That's how kids are; the more they're forbidden to do something, the more they want to do it, but once they're actually allowed to do it, they chicken out.
"Hey, what are you doing...?"
"So you let me release it, huh?" Xiang Wan rolled her eyes. "Isn't this what you like? Even if you release it, I won't pick it out again. I'll just cook it like this and give it to you to eat."
"Hmph, Daddy will beat you to death."
"Then let me ask you, does he expect me to do whatever you say?"
Yes, yes.
"Since you want to eat stones, then I'll let you eat them. Does that count as obeying you?"
"Who, who wants to eat stones?"
"What are you putting in the rice if you're not going to eat it?"
"I...I'll let it go!"
Yu Xiaoguang had never seen Xiang Wan so eloquent, and his face turned slightly red as he was spoken to.
Seeing that he spoke fluently but dared not put his hands into the pot again, Xiang Wan rolled her eyes and turned to start a fire to cook.
Ugh, what a brat, I hate him the most.
Although Xiang Wan doesn't dislike children, she despises unruly children, especially those whose parents let them do whatever they want and even make excuses for them. In such cases, if the parents don't discipline them, there are plenty of others who will.
Seeing that Xiang Wan ignored him, Yu Xiaoguang's eyes darted around, and he tried to use the same trick again. Xiang Wan wasn't about to let him have his way, and she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Yu Xiaoguang, you're on fire! Come quick, save him!"
Yu Dazhuang was the first to rush into the kitchen, where he saw Yu Xiaoguang remove the pot lid, flick his wrist, and throw the stone inside.
"Xiao Guang, what are you doing?"
"I'm watching to see how well she washes the rice. Look, there are still stones in the rice; she didn't wash it clean enough."
Yu Xiaoguang falsely accused Xiang Wan of being the villain; she was truly speechless.
"You brat, you good-for-nothing! You can't even wash rice properly, all you do is freeload, and you even dare to curse your brother! I'll beat you to death!"
Without saying a word, Yu Dazhuang raised his hand, intending to slap Xiang Wan across the face.
When you encounter such an unreasonable person, there's no way to communicate with them, and you can't even fight them. It's incredibly frustrating.
"Fine, just kill me then. That way I won't have to eat for free, and I won't have to get up before dawn every day to cut pig feed, feed the pigs and raise the ducks, do laundry, cook, or clean the house. I won't have to look after Yu Xiaoguang anymore. I won't have to grow up, and I won't have to get married and ask for a dowry. It would be best if you just killed me once and for all, so I don't end up with missing limbs or disfigured, and I won't have to stay at my parents' house to be raised."
"You little brat, you've got a sharp tongue." Yu Dazhuang hesitated to raise his hand when Xiang Wan mentioned the bride price. "Get to work, can't you see we're all hungry?"
"Then you might as well kill me. There are so many things to do, and I still have to clean up Yu Xiaoguang's mess. If we can't eat, everyone will go hungry. Anyway, we won't starve to death if we miss a meal."
"You've gone too far! Believe me or not, I'll beat you to death!"
"If he gets sick, let Yu Xiaoguang take care of this whole family. He has the energy to play around, so this little bit of work is nothing to him."
"This is outrageous! If you don't beat them up, they'll forget who they are."
Yu Dazhuang searched the whole house for a stick, while Yu Xiaoguang was so frightened that he hid to the side.
That brat, he's the one who caused all this, yet he has the nerve to hide.
Xiang Wan ran over, grabbed Yu Xiaoguang's wrist, and said she would never let go.
Yu Dazhuang found a wooden stick and swung it hard at Xiang Wan, but Xiang Wan dodged it every time. On the contrary, Yu Xiaoguang was beaten quite badly.
Hearing the commotion, Zhou Xiaoya put down her work and ran over, quickly pulling Yu Dazhuang back.
"What's wrong? Why are you so angry? Calm down, okay?"
Seeing that he couldn't hit Xiang Wan, Yu Dazhuang had nowhere to vent his anger, so he threw down his stick and slapped Zhou Xiaoya across the face with a "smack".
"It's all your fault! You gave birth to such a money-losing brat, humph!"
Yu Dazhuang turned around and stormed out of the room, leaving Zhou Xiaoya looking aggrieved, tears welling up in her eyes.
Yu Xiaoguang knew he had caused trouble, so he lowered his head and remained silent.
“Yu Xiaoguang, how old are you? You’re still playing these childish tricks. Today someone will take the blame for you, but tomorrow someone will make you apologize. If you dare to put stones in the rice or extinguish the fire again, I’ll take a beating and won’t let you eat. At worst, none of us will eat.”
Xiang Wan's firmness made Yu Xiaoguang's opinion change a little. He only wanted to tease this older sister who never played with him, and it had escalated to this point. Seeing his mother being beaten for him, and knowing that he wouldn't have lunch, Yu Xiaoguang felt regret for the first time.
Xiang Wan held Zhou Xiaoya in somewhat disdain. This woman, clearly capable of supporting herself, chose to live under Yu Dazhuang's tyranny, causing the original owner of this body to suffer as well. She lacked the ability to protect herself and her daughter; or rather, she lacked any sense of maternal responsibility, only knowing how to blindly obey. The original owner of this body probably looked down on her.
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