Chapter 16: Taking Stock of the Family Fortune

Xu Lin slid the peachwood sword into her belt, shot Father Xu and the other two a wicked grin, and, without another word, charged at them. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three lay side by side in the main hall, blank expressions on their faces, staring up at the ceiling with looks of agony.

Heavens, what kind of monster was this? Not afraid of exorcism talismans, not fazed by a peachwood sword—was she really something unclean? The three began to doubt everything, regret flooding their hearts. Why had they brought this upon themselves tonight?

Xu Lin glanced at the dishes on the table; none were to her liking. So, she stormed into Old Madam Xu's room and gave Xu Nuan a beating to vent her frustration. Only afterward did she recall that the family favored sons over daughters—hitting Xu Nuan wouldn’t pain the old woman. If she really wanted to make them suffer, she should target Xu Kun.

Soon enough, Xu Kun, who had been hiding in his room, was dragged out into the hall. In front of Old Madam Xu and the others, Xu Lin gave their precious son and golden grandson a thorough thrashing. The three watched, eyes brimming with tears, their hearts shattering.

Catching Old Madam Xu's murderous glare, Xu Lin remembered how superstitious the old woman was. She decided to send her some ghostly company. With a wave, Xu Lin traced a summoning talisman in the air and sent it straight into Old Madam Xu’s body.

Her business concluded, Xu Lin strode out, not deigning to discuss the matter of swapping children. This left Father Xu completely at a loss. He had hoped Xu Lin would state her terms or at least ask about her birth parents. This refusal to speak or inquire left him frustrated; all his prepared excuses and explanations were useless.

Returning to her room, Xu Lin slipped into her private space. There, she unpacked the food she’d taken from the state-run restaurant and ate to her heart’s content.

After her meal, she went to the main warehouse to organize her spoils. The jewelry and precious stones filled six large crates—worth millions at current prices. She arranged all the gold, silver, and jewels neatly on one shelf. Fourteen crates of ancient books and paintings were set on another, with special care taken for the ancient texts, most of which turned out to be medical books.

This most beleaguered of professions had lost countless invaluable medical texts overseas—a devastating loss. Now that these books were in her hands, Xu Lin resolved to read them all and, when the time was right, pass them to someone worthy. In any case, she couldn’t let these treasures remain buried, nor let the efforts of those before her be in vain.

Five crates of large yellow croaker, two of the smaller kind, two crates of silver dollars, and one of silver ingots—these hard currencies were placed in plain sight for easy access when needed.

There were fifteen crates of porcelain, plus a heap of poorly preserved plates and bowls, all of which Xu Lin cleaned and arranged on shelves. Words failed to capture the exquisite beauty of these porcelains; the wave of culture they exuded moved her deeply.

Though there were only a few bronze artifacts, Xu Lin placed them in the safest spot after meticulous care. No matter how she rummaged through the warehouse in the future, she would never disturb the bronzes. These were treasures of the nation—meant only for her homeland, never to be taken elsewhere.

Next, she carefully organized jade artifacts and other relics, giving each piece individual attention. By the time everything was in place, the night was half gone. Surveying her work, Xu Lin smiled with satisfaction, vowing to care for any future finds just as diligently.

These relics might have been acquired by dubious means, but Xu Lin had no regrets. She would never auction them off in secret. Only when her homeland prospered and its people valued their heritage would she anonymously donate them. Xu Lin believed nowhere was safer for these treasures than her own private space.

After sorting the artifacts, she tallied her cash. Although she’d spent some of what she’d taken from the Xu family on the black market, she’d received far more in return. When all was counted, she had eighty-six thousand, nine hundred and thirty-one yuan—enough to buy several properties in the capital. Unfortunately, private real estate transactions were still prohibited; she’d have to wait for the market to open.

She also counted her US dollars—over thirty thousand, combined from the Xu family and Brother Tiger. With the exchange rate at 1.3 to one, that was more than fifty thousand yuan.

Xu Lin grinned from ear to ear, hugging her little stash. Even without counting the gold and silver, she was already a bona fide little rich woman. With so much money, why bother recognizing her birth parents? Why invite a set of ancestors to loom over her?

With this thought, all the frustrations she’d endured at the Qin family dissolved. She was confident she could live just fine on her own. After traversing and enduring a thousand different worlds, this life she wished to live freely and at ease. Career and fame paled in comparison to contentment and independence.

She’d had enough of a life spent endlessly striving; if she could be a slacker, so be it. With money in hand and peace of mind, Xu Lin left the warehouse in high spirits, drank deeply from the spiritual spring, and went to the courtyard to cultivate. What could be more satisfying than growing stronger?

While Xu Lin was enjoying herself, others were not. Old Madam Xu, battered and bruised, returned to her room and tried to sleep, but the pain kept her awake. When she finally drifted off, she was tormented by spirits, waking with a jolt and a cold sweat.

Seeing Xu Nuan sleeping soundly, Old Madam Xu slapped her awake. Xu Nuan sat up with a wail, instinctively shielding her head and pleading, “Sis, I was wrong, I was wrong! Please don’t hit me again, I beg you!” This automatic response only infuriated Old Madam Xu further—who was she calling 'sis'?

Thus, Xu Nuan suffered another round of retribution, her cries echoing through the night and soon alarming Father and Mother Xu. They hurried over to see what was wrong. Xu Nuan, aggrieved, immediately complained, but in this male-dominated household, her tears won no sympathy—only a scolding from Mother Xu to be good and keep the old lady company, and not to make a fuss.

Utterly wronged, Xu Nuan could only swallow her grievances and remember every injustice. From then on, her life became a living hell.

The spirits summoned by the talisman haunted Old Madam Xu, who dragged Xu Nuan along to share the torment. The two of them suffered together.

Meanwhile, in the Qin family’s study, Father and Mother Qin listened to the old man's account and turned green with anger. This daughter, not yet acknowledged, was tyrannical and selfish. Why should Qin Fang be driven out just because she returned? Did that unfilial girl know how much effort they’d invested in raising Qin Fang all these years? If they simply sent Qin Fang back, neither she nor they would accept it.

“She said our family has only two choices: acknowledge her, or sever ties. If we acknowledge her, it must be complete; if we cut ties, it must be clean. What do you think?” the old man asked, eyes lowered.