Chapter 2: Broke

“Hmm? Isn’t that Ning girl? Why does she look like she just came down from the back mountain?”

“Yes, Aunt Chunxing,” Hua Ning replied shyly and quietly. “It’s just that my mother said it’s been a long time since we had meat at home, so she wanted me to... to try going to the back mountain...”

There was no need to say more; Aunt Chunxing immediately guessed the truth.

After all, her sharp eyes were practically glued to the plump rabbit hanging from Hua Ning’s hand.

Sensing Aunt Chunxing’s burning gaze, Hua Ning shrank her neck and clutched the rabbit tighter as she hurried toward the Hua family home.

But it seemed she was running too fast. Suddenly, she stepped on a clod of earth and tumbled to the ground.

Aunt Chunxing, who was just about to turn back home, quickened her pace to help Hua Ning up.

“How could you be so careless...”

“Ouch!”

Just as Aunt Chunxing wrapped her arm around Hua Ning’s shoulder, complaining, she heard Hua Ning’s instinctive low cry.

“What’s wrong? I didn’t push hard at all!”

Aunt Chunxing hesitated, puzzled as she tried to steady Hua Ning’s arm.

Hua Ning looked up, revealing clear, glistening eyes tinged with red, and explained to her with a guilty expression:

“Auntie, it’s not your fault. I accidentally fell while catching the rabbit on the back mountain, that’s why...”

She left the explanation halfway, allowing more room for imagination.

This was a carefully considered plan Hua Ning had made before coming down from the back mountain.

The times were different from the future, and she also wanted to drive out the wolves and tigers in her family.

If she used force too harshly, it would only cause more rumors to spread about her in the village.

After all, she and the original owner’s mother were the weaker party. If used properly, her goals could be achieved.

But letting those beasts in the Hua family off the hook? Impossible.

Lowering her head, Hua Ning concealed the rage swirling in her eyes, staggered to her feet, picked up the wild rabbit she had dropped, and carefully hugged it in her arms.

She repeatedly thanked Aunt Chunxing.

“Thank you, Auntie Chunxing. I must hurry home now. I hope that because I caught this wild rabbit with great effort, my mother can finally go to the clinic for treatment...”

Bowing to Aunt Chunxing, Hua Ning then quickly ran off.

Aunt Chunxing, left standing, caught the choking tone in Hua Ning’s words and her eyes gleamed with gossiping curiosity.

By the time Hua Ning returned, Granny Hua was already awake.

Yesterday, she had promised the second son and his wife that once Hua Ning—the money-losing burden—was sold off, the bride price money would be used to help the second son find work in the city.

So early in the morning, she sat in the main room waiting eagerly.

Just thinking about her youngest son soon becoming a worker in the city brought a thrilled, excited look to Granny Hua’s withered, chrysanthemum-like face.

“Bang!”

Hua Ning locked the courtyard gate behind her and strode toward the main room.

Granny Hua was eagerly awaiting the second son and his wife to bring back the money. But when she looked up and saw the very girl they were supposed to have sold returning instead, the joy on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a harsh glare from her sharp, slanted eyes that cut like knives.

“You shameless girl, why are you back?”

After speaking, Granny Hua glanced behind Hua Ning into the courtyard.

Seeing no one followed, her face darkened as she questioned, “Where are your second uncle and aunt?”

Since entering the main room, Hua Ning remained silent, her eyes calmly scanning the space.

Despite having the original owner’s memories, seeing the surroundings with her own eyes deepened her understanding.

This era was truly impoverished beyond words!

Looking around the main room, aside from a somewhat decent Eight Immortals table and two blackened benches worn nearly beyond recognition, the place was utterly empty.

Hua Ning withdrew her gaze, her eyes cold and indifferent as they landed on Granny Hua’s scowling face.

“You fool, are you dumb? I’m talking to you!”

Seeing Hua Ning standing there dumbfounded and silent, Granny Hua’s anger flared, and she stomped forward with her short legs.

Her raised palm looked ready to land on Hua Ning’s face, but Hua Ning gave a cold glare and grabbed Granny Hua’s wrist.

“What are you doing? Let go right now, or don’t blame me for beating you dead, you worthless burden... ah!”

Granny Hua never expected that her usually submissive granddaughter would suddenly resist.

Hua Ning squeezed Granny Hua’s wrist hard and pushed her aside.

Watching Granny Hua fall to the ground in disbelief, Hua Ning sneered coldly, “Ha! Either you want to beat me to death or sell me off—you really are my grandmother!”

“However,” Hua Ning stepped closer and bent slightly to glare at her, “if you can maintain some dignity as an elder from now on, I might be willing to put on a show for appearances.”

“But if you keep being obstinate and causing trouble like before, don’t blame me for being ruthless and heartless.”

“You little wretch Hua Ning! How dare you bully your grandmother! I’ll beat you to death!”

Just over ten years old, Hua Hao rubbed his eyes as he came out of his room and saw Hua Ning standing coldly in front of Granny Hua, who was sitting on the ground, threatening her.

His round, plump body looked like a little firecracker as he charged fiercely at Hua Ning.

Hua Ning had already noticed him coming out.

She deliberately stepped closer to Granny Hua so that from Hua Hao’s angle, it looked like she was pushing Granny Hua down and about to continue attacking.

So when Hua Hao rushed at her, Hua Ning endured the pain and nimbly dodged to the side.

Without her blocking him, Hua Hao had no chance to stop in time.

He ran straight toward Granny Hua but tripped over her foot and fell hard, his sturdy body landing heavily on Granny Hua’s frail frame.

“Ah!”

A piercing scream came from Granny Hua.

I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.