Di bawah penguasaan Liu Fengying, Mo Xiao Zhi, Mo Xiaoneng, dan Mo Xiaohua—meski merasa jijik dan menolak Wu Qin—hanya berani menatapnya dengan mata yang penuh ancaman. Mereka tak berani menyerangnya secara terbuka.
Saat makan malam, tiga saudara itu saling memandang, diam-diam merencanakan cara untuk meneror Wu Qin. Wu Qin sudah siap menghadapi mereka. Ia tak memakai mangkuk atau garpu sendiri keluarga. Justru ia meminta Liu Fengying mengeluarkan secara pribadi segelas kopi enamel, bekal, dan sendok dari kopernya. Hanya setelah ia sendiri menyaksikan Liu Fengying menyajikan nasi dan sopnya pun ia akhirnya berani makan.
Susunan tempat tidur yang disiapkan Liu Fengying pas-pasan saja. Setelah ujian-uhan beberapa tahun terakhir, Wu Qin terpaksa melepaskan sebagian kebiasaan 'young miss' yang ia miliki sejak kecil. Lingkungan desa sempit ini; selama ia tetap bisa menjaga keselamatan dan kebersihan dasar, itu sudah cukup. Ia tak berniat tinggal di sini secara permanen—paling tidak setengah bulan saja.
Orang klan Gongsun telah menjanjikan padanya: selama ia berhasil mendapatkan ramuan, mereka akan mengantarkannya ke sebuah kota besar, setidaknya setingkat kota provinsi. Ia bahkan bisa masuk ke kelas les ekstra SMA dan mengikuti kembali ujian masuk perguruan tinggi tahun depan.
u201cTang Manman, jangan pernah berpikir kamu bisa menghancilkan aku. Aku takkan pernah menyerah! Suatu hari, aku akan mengalahkanmu dan membuatmu menatapmuku dari bawah!"
u201cSemua yang pernah meremehkan aku, tunggu saja kalian!"
Wu Qin menggenggam tinjunya erat dan mengucapkan sumpah diam-diam, mendorong dirinya dengan ambisi. Ia melampaui lingkungan yang semrawut dan, dengan bantuan Liu Fengying, mandi. Setelah itu, ia kembali ke kamarnya dan mengunci pintu. Ia begitu lelah bahwa baunya tempat tidur yang basah tidak bisa membuatnya terjaga. Tak lama kemudian, ia tertidur dalam peluk sarungnya.
Di tengah-tengah malam, Wu Qin dibangunkan kejutan oleh serangkaian dentang dari pintu yang ditendang. Ia mendengar orang dan perempuan berteriak di luar, dan seseorang bahkan mencoba membuka pintu pakai pisau.
Takut, ia tersembunyi di dalam tempat tidur, menekukutukan tubuhnya ke arah dinding. Ia mengutuk Liu Fengying di dalam hatinya.
u201cKenapa dia tak keluar untuk melihat apa yang terjadi? Bisinguangan sepert ini pasti bukan hanya Mo Xiao Zhi dan teman-temannya. Apa yang sedang terjadi? Apakah ada orang yang datang untuk mencuri? Aku pernah dengar desa ini tidak aman, bahwa warganya barbar dan tidak menghormati hukum...u201nO Tuhan, pintu kayu ini tebel, ya? Bagaimana jika pintu ini hancur dikick, lalu mereka mencuri buku tabungan dan pakaianku yang berharga di dalam koper, bahkan menyakiti aku? Akhirnya kudapon, apa yang akan kupakai?u201d
Panik dan ketakutan, Wu Qin menekukuhkan diri di sebelah dinding tanah, gemetar tak konsisten. Air mata menyelimuti matanya, bibirnya tergigit hampir sampai mengeluarkan darah, dan keringat mengalir seperti hujan.
Para pemuda yang dengan kejam menendang pintu dan melayat lewat dengan kata-kata kotor itu justru adalah Mo Xiaosu dan sekelompok nongkrongan lokal yang ia kumpulkan.
Mo Xiaosu tidak pulang selama beberapa hari terakhir. Yang terakhir, ia ditendang ke kolam ikan oleh Xiao Man. Luka di kakinya— Huang Baoshan—belum benar-benar sembuh, sehingga ia tidak bisa nongkrong bersamanya. Namun, luka-lukanya sendiri masih mengobarkan rasa perasa. Ia tidak tahan dengan ketenangan, jadi selama beberapa hari terakhir ia terus bersorak di luar seperti biasa.
Setelah mengalami penganiayaan dari Xiao Man, ia tentu saja dipenuhi rasa dendam yang mengamet2, tetapi ia sadar jika ia kalah. Ia mencoba memprovokasi dan mengganggu anak-anak Mo Jiabao tetapi tidak membuahkan hasil. Xiao Man hari ini bukanlah orang yang bisa ia hadapi.
Untuk saat ini, ia belum bisa mem balas dendam. Frustrasi dan marah, ia bersama sekelompok preman muda dari pabrik dan tambang terdekat. Malam ini, usai menonton film di luar ruangan, tiba-tiba dia ingin pulang. Seperangkain 'saudara' suamanya mengantarkannya pulang.
Kelompok tujuh atau delapan orang itu, mereka menyelinruknya ke ruang belakang, membuat keonaran sekaligus menuntut makanan dan minuman.
Bibi Kedua Mo terjaga dan merasa betapa mereka mengganggu. Enjit ingin menghibur mereka yang hina ini, namun tiba-tibanya terpikir.
u201cKenyelamian, apa yang bisa kudapatkan?u201d
Itulah saat ia teringat pada "Xuanxuan", gadis yang Liu Fengying bawa pulang hari ini. Ia memberi tahu putri perempuannya yang tertua bahwa "Xuanxuan" berasal dari kota, berpakaian mewah, dan membawa banyak barang indah pulang.
u201cDia punya uang dan makanan. Apa pun yang kamu dapatkan darinya pasti enak.u201d
u201cKenyelamian, apa pun yang bisa kudapatkan?u201d
u201cTang Manman, jangan pernah berpikir kamu bisa menghancilkan aku. Aku takkan pernah menyerah! Suatu hari, aku akan mengalahkanmu dan membuatmu menatapmuku dari bawah!
u201cSemua yang pernah meremehkan aku, tunggu saja kalian!"
u201d
Wu Qin menggenggam tinjunya yang erat dan mengucapkan sumpah diam-dia, mendorong dirinya dengan ambisi. Ia melampaui lingkungan yang semrawut dan, dengan bantuan Liu Fengying, mandi.
Setelah itu, ia kembali ke kamarnya dan mengunci pintu. Ia begitu lelah bahwa aromanya tempat tidur yang tidak nyaman tidak bisa membuatnya terjaga. Tak lama kemudian, ia tertidur.
Di tengah-tengah malam, dentakan yang bersuai dari pintu yang dikick dengan kemalaman menyedotnya. Di luar, terdengar suara kumandan dan teriak perempuan, bahkan ada orang yang mencoba membuka pintu pakai pisau.
Takut, ia bersembunyi dalam lantangannya, menekukuhkan tubuhnya ke arah dinding.
u201cKenapa tidak ada yang keluar untuk menyelidiki? Bisinguangan tak biasu ini pasti bukan hanya Mo Xiao Zhi dan teman-temannya. Ada apa sebenarnya? Apakah ada orang yang mencuri di sini? Aku dulunya mendengar desa ini tidak aman, bahwa para warganya barbar dan tidak menghormati hukum...
Oh Tuhan, pintu kayu ini kuat tidak ya? Bagaimana jika pintu ini hancur dikick, lalu mereka mencuri buku tabungan dan pakaianku yang berharga di dalam koper, bahkan menyakiti aku? Kudapon, apa yang akan kudilakukan?
u201d
Panik dan ketakutan, Wu Qin menyimpul tubuhnya di samping dinding tanah, gemetar tak henti. Air mata menggenang, bibirnya digigit hingga hampir bermakna, dan keringat mengalir seperti curah hujan.
Orang yang menendak-nendak pintu dengan dahsyat dan menyatsekannya adalah Mo Xiaosu dan sekelompok nongkrongan lokal yang dikumpulkannya.
Mo Xiaosu belum pulang selama beberapa hari terakhir. Yang terakhir, ia ditendang ke kolam ikan oleh Xiao Man. Luka di kakinya— Huang Baoshan—belum sama sekali sembuh, sehingga ia tidak bisa nongkrong bersamanya. Tapi, luka-luka yang ia alami sendiri masih membentangkan rasa amarah. Ia tidak tahan dengan ketenangan-ketenangan ini, jadi dalam beberapa hari terakhir, ia kembali kebiasaannya bersorak di luar.
Setelah ia dan Xiao Man saling tidak bisa bertemu, ia dipenuhi amarah yang mengamet2, namun ia sadar jika ia jelas-jelas kalah.
Ia mencoba memprovokasi dan meremehkan anak-anak Mo Jiabao tetapi tidak mendapatkan apa pun.
Xiao Man yang ada pada hari ini bukanlah lawan yang bisa ia hadapi.
Untuk saat ini, ia belum bisa membalas dendam. Frustrasi dan marah, ia bersama sekelompok preman muda dari pabrik dan tambang terdekat.
Malik ini, setelah menonton film di luar ruangan, tiba-tiba dia ingin pulang. Seperangkain 'saudara' suamanya pun mengantarkannya pulang.
Kelompok tujuh atau delapan orang itu, mereka menyelinruknan ke ruangan belakang, membuat keonaran sekaligus memaksa untuk makan dan minum.
Bibi Kedua Mo terbangun dan merasa betapa mereka mengganggu. Enjit ingin menghibur mereka yang hina ini, namun tiba-tibanya terpikir.
Ia teringat pada "Xuanxuan", gadis yang Liu Fengying bawa pulang hari ini. Ia memberi tahu putri perempuannya yang tertua bahwa "Xuanxuan" berasal dari kota, berpakaian mewah, dan membawa banyak barang indah—
"Dia punya uang dan makanan, kalian pasti tidak akan rugi jika kalian menuju ke sana!"
u201cSungguh tidak beruntung bagi gadis yang seharusnya tak bertuhan, malah nekat berusaha jadi orang kota. Selama bertahun-tahun di kota, akhirnya pun terbongkar dan 'dikembalikan'. Apa yang kuinggap sebagai kebodohan yang tiada tandingannya! Jika bukan aku, Mo Xiaosu, yang begitu beruntung, apa pun yang bisa kudapatkan?
u201cKeluarga kejam itu bukan hanya bodoh; mereka juga menarik aku ke dalamnya. Mo Guoqiang dan Liu Fengying bahkan biarkan Mo Xiaoman mendengar bahwa ia bukan anak kandung mereka. Lalu, dengan cep
Under Liu Fengying’s thumb, Mo Xiao Zhi, Mo Xiaoneng, and Mo Xiaohua, despite hating and rejecting Wu Qin, only dared to glare at her with hostile eyes. They couldn’t openly target her. At the dinner table, the three siblings exchanged glances, secretly plotting how to prank Wu Qin. Wu Qin was already on her guard against this. She didn’t even use the family’s bowls or chopsticks. Instead, she had Liu Fengying take her personal enamel cup, lunchbox, and spoon out of her travel bag. Only after personally watching Liu Fengying serve her rice and soup did she dare to eat.
The sleeping arrangements Liu Fengying made for her were passable. After the trials of the past few years, Wu Qin had been forced to shed some of the "young miss" habits she’d had since childhood. The rural environment was poor; as long as she could maintain a basic level of safety and cleanliness, it was enough. She wasn’t planning to live here long-term—half a month at most. The people from the Gongsun Clan had promised her: as long as she successfully obtained the herbs, they would bring her to a major city, at least the size of the provincial city. She could even make it into a high school cram class and retake the college entrance exam next year.
’Tang Manman, don’t even think you can crush me. I will never give in! One day, I will defeat you and make you look up at me from the ground!’
’All of you who ever looked down on me, just you wait!’
Wu Qin clenched her fists and swore a silent oath, motivating herself with ambition. She overcame the squalid environment and, with Liu Fengying’s help, took a bath. Afterward, she returned to her room and bolted the door. She was simply too exhausted to be bothered by the musty smell of the bedding as she crawled into bed and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, Wu Qin was startled awake by a series of BANGS from someone kicking her door. She heard men and women cursing outside, and someone was even trying to pry the door open with a knife. Terrified, she shrank to the inside of the bed, pressing herself against the wall. She cursed Liu Fengying in her heart. ’Why isn’t she coming out to see what’s happening? This much noise can’t possibly be just Mo Xiao Zhi and the others. What is going on? Is someone here to rob the place? I’ve heard the countryside is unsafe, that the villagers are barbaric and have no respect for the law... Oh god, is this wooden door even sturdy? What if they kick it down, steal my bankbook and the valuable clothes in my travel bag, and then hurt me? What will I do?’
Frantic and afraid, Wu Qin huddled against the earthen wall, trembling uncontrollably. Tears welled in her eyes, she was biting her lip nearly hard enough to draw blood, and sweat poured down her like rain.
The ones violently kicking the door and shouting obscenities were none other than Mo Xiaosu and a group of local punks she had gathered.
Mo Xiaosu hadn’t been home for the past few days. The last time, she had been kicked into the fishpond by Xiao Man. Huang Baoshan’s foot hadn’t fully healed, so he couldn’t hang out with her, and her own cuts had left scars. But she couldn’t stand the peace and quiet, so she had spent the last few days fooling around outside as usual.
Having suffered at Xiao Man’s hands, she was naturally filled with a festering rage, but she knew she was outmatched. She had tried to provoke and bully Mo Jiabao’s children but hadn’t gotten anywhere. The Xiao Man of today was not someone she could afford to cross. For now, she couldn’t get her revenge. Frustrated and angry, she could only run with some delinquents from the nearby factories and mines. Tonight, after watching an outdoor movie, she suddenly felt like going home. Her "brothers and sisters" kindly escorted her back. A group of seven or eight people, they stormed into the courtyard, making a racket as they demanded food and drinks. Second Aunt Mo was woken up and found them incredibly annoying. Unwilling to entertain this gang of hooligans, she had a flash of inspiration. She thought of "Xuanxuan," the girl Liu Fengying had brought back today, and told her eldest daughter that "Xuanxuan" was from the city, dressed in fine clothes, and had brought back lots of nice things. "She’s got money and food. You can’t go wrong if you go to her!"
’She wasn’t fated for it, yet she tried to be a city person. After all those years in the city, she still managed to get found out and "returned." She’s so stupid it’s indescribable! If I, Mo Xiaosu, had been that lucky, would I ever have allowed such a ridiculous thing to happen?’
’That hateful family wasn’t just stupid; they dragged me down with them. Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying actually let Mo Xiaoman overhear that she wasn’t their biological daughter. Then she had the guts to run away and cling to that blind old hag, forcing Grandpa to take her in. Otherwise, when Grandpa bought the Knowledge Youth House, he definitely would have chosen me to stay by his side. Then Grandpa would have raised me just like he raised Xiao Man—well-fed, well-clothed, and sent to the county seat to study. A clever person like me would have surely kept Grandpa and Grandma wrapped around my little finger, and there’d be no place for Mo Jiabao! That beautiful, thriving Knowledge Youth House, the herb plantation on the hill, and the herb cultivation base by the reservoir—it all would have been mine!’
’Grandpa would have done everything I said. That old hag wouldn’t have meant a thing. Mo Xiaoman would’ve never had the chance to go to the city, so how could she have found her biological parents? I would’ve ground her into the dirt so she could never hold her head up again, made her a servant like when we were children, as worthless as the mud on the bottom of my shoe. Let’s see how much backbone she’d have then! What the hell would she have to be so damn smug about?!’
’But now, everything’s been ruined by the idiotic Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying, and that moron Xuanxuan! The wonderful future and immense wealth that should have been mine—it’s all gone!’
Mo Xiaosu’s teeth were grinding with hatred. The day had finally come. If she didn’t teach that stupid woman, Mo Xuanxuan, a harsh lesson, she would be letting herself down!
Mo Xiaosu led her gang to the back room off the main hall, kicking the door while spewing curses. Because it was connected to the family’s incense hall for ancestral worship, the door was generally made of thick, high-quality wood and was set firmly in its frame. Despite kicking it for a long time, they couldn’t break it down. Meanwhile, on the other side of an earthen wall, Liu Fengying, who had been dead asleep from the day’s exhausting travels, was finally roused. She rushed out, grabbed a wooden club, and began swinging and striking wildly while letting loose a torrent of curses. As tough as the young punks were, they were still intimidated by a seemingly deranged village shrew. They scattered and fled back toward Mo Xiaosu’s part of the house.
Liu Fengying vaguely heard her biological daughter crying inside the room and couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. She stood outside the door and coaxed her for a good while before Wu Qin finally, reluctantly, opened it. When Liu Fengying reached out to steady her, she jumped in shock: Wu Qin was completely drenched in sweat, without a single dry spot on her, as if she had just been pulled out of a river.
The fright had been severe. Before dawn, Wu Qin came down with a high fever, falling unconscious and muttering deliriously. Without a moment’s hesitation, Liu Fengying searched her and took her bankbook. She took advantage of Wu Qin’s delirium to coax the PIN out of her. Then, she carried Wu Qin on her back, gathered Mo Xiao Zhi, Mo Xiaoneng, and Mo Xiaohua, and the family took a car to Wancheng. She dropped Wu Qin off at the hospital for an injection and some medicine, then led the other three children around town to eat, drink, and shop to their hearts’ content. Afterward, she went to the bank and withdrew all the money from Wu Qin’s account. She kept a thousand yuan on her person as "activity funds" and deposited the rest into a new account she opened in her own name.
When Wu Qin’s fever broke and she regained consciousness, she discovered what her own mother had done and fainted from rage. Once money went into Liu Fengying’s pocket, it was impossible to get it back. Wu Qin was devastated. A minor illness dragged on, with her condition repeatedly worsening. She ended up staying in Wancheng Hospital for three or four days before finally returning to the village.
Meanwhile, Xiao Man had already said goodbye to her relatives in Gongdao Village and left for Beijing. She wasn’t worried about Liu Fengying and Wu Qin stealing the herbs; she had long since put multiple layers of protection in place. Both Grandpa and Mo Jiabao were on high alert. The mother-daughter duo wouldn’t be able to get their hands on a single twig from Grandpa’s herb collection, not even by using other people.
She was, however, rather looking forward to seeing Wu Qin return to the countryside and have a "happy reunion" with her birth mother and siblings. In her past life, Liu Fengying and Wu Qin had ultimately given her the chance to go to Beijing and meet Tang Qingyun, Wu Xiaowen, and Tang Haocheng. In this life, she had deliberately chosen not to make things difficult for Wu Qin in Beijing, thinking of it as giving Wu Qin a gift in return: the opportunity to reunite and live lovingly with her blood relatives. She certainly hoped Wu Qin would enjoy it.
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