Chapter 5: She Was Truly Done in by Her Own Foolishness

Xu Lin sprang from the bed, ablaze with anger, and strode briskly into the kitchen. She fixed her mother with a dark, piercing gaze, watching as her mother cursed and grumbled. The intensity of her stare unsettled her mother, who nervously swallowed and furrowed her brow, timidly asking, "What are you looking at?"

"I'm looking at how ugly you are, how sly you play, how your brain connects straight to your guts, how you spew filth first thing in the morning. I'm looking at how dark your heart is and how pale your face, at how much smoke your ancestors must have churned out to produce a creature like you. I'm looking at your nasty hide—it itches if you go a day without a beating, and after two, you go mad. I'm looking at—"

Xu Lin finished her tirade, stepped forward, grabbed her mother's hair, and gave her a sound beating. When she was done, she tossed out a final remark, "I want boiled eggs—ten. Miss one, I'll beat your son; miss two, I'll drag your son and his father in for a beating; miss three, I'll thrash the whole family."

With that, she strode out, head held high and chest out, her graceful retreat making her mother's eyes blaze with fury, teeth gnashing. If only she were strong enough, she would teach that little wretch why flowers are so red.

Now fully awake, Xu Lin decided to get up. The commune office would send someone at noon; before heading down to the countryside, she had to settle matters with her biological parents.

Xu Lin wanted to know what her real parents thought. If they had no wish to acknowledge her, better to sever the connection early—lest, when she becomes prosperous, that family shamelessly clings to her. She had no intention of giving them the chance to disgust her in the future.

Moreover, Xu Lin wondered, since her leg was not crippled in this life, would the Qin family recognize her? Or was their adopted daughter truly the apple of their eye, so much so that, regardless of her own circumstances, they would never claim her? These questions gnawed at her.

Because Xu Lin had beaten her mother the moment she woke, the old lady and the others ate breakfast in fearful silence. They hardly dared to breathe, terrified that a single misstep would earn them a thrashing—and worst of all, there was nowhere to complain. Last night’s beating was so severe, their bodies ached terribly, yet not a mark was left on their skin: no bruises, no swelling, nothing. Their bones still hurt, but their skin was untouched. This money-losing girl was truly uncanny; they needed time to regroup before acting again. They weren’t about to go looking for another beating.

Breakfast finished, Xu Lin flung her chopsticks down, stretched out her small hand, and said coldly, "Give me ten yuan. Short a cent, someone gets beaten."

She hadn’t specified who, but everyone present understood. The old lady shrank back, hurriedly slipped from her seat, and scurried to her room, even bolting the door—leaving her mother rolling her eyes.

Damn old hag, usually so bold, why run now? Bah, cowardly thing.

Xu Lin’s mother ignored her outstretched hand, shifting her gaze to her husband. In this household, the man made the decisions.

Xu Lin’s gaze also fell upon her father. He had a square face, a hooked nose, and triangular eyes inherited from the old lady. His lips were thin, giving him a sinister, ruthless air. He was the most cunning and ruthless in the family. It was his idea to switch the children, but smart enough never to do it himself; instead, he encouraged his wife and mother to carry it out. After the swap, he hid behind the scenes, egging them on to mistreat the child, occasionally emerging to play the good guy. Even when Xu Lin’s leg was broken, he could twist black into white, claiming it was for her own good, that he couldn’t bear to let her suffer in the countryside, and everything he did was for her sake. He would beg for her forgiveness, eyes red, asking her not to hate him. He was just a father, a father who wanted to keep his child close and protect her.

Xu Lin recalled her past life, where she actually believed him, gazing at him with tearful gratitude...

Disgusting. The memory made her want to gouge out her own eyes—she had been both blind and foolish, utterly destroyed by her own stupidity.

Her fists clenched, itching to smash that hypocritical face.

Sensing the murderous energy radiating from Xu Lin, her father—ever pragmatic—immediately barked at her mother, "Give it to her."

After that outburst, he turned to Xu Lin, softening his tone: "Linlin, you’ve worked hard all these years. Everything you've done for this family, I remember it well. Rest assured, when you marry, I’ll prepare a generous dowry for you—you won’t be shortchanged. Take this money and go buy yourself some snacks at the supply store."

When he saw Xu Lin’s eyes narrow, he felt his skin tighten. He remembered yesterday, when she had straddled him and beaten him mercilessly. Her eyes were just as narrowed, her fists raining down, each blow landing hard. He had not recovered; his whole body still hurt.

He swallowed uneasily and quickly called out, "Woman, fetch a cloth coupon as well—let the child get herself a new dress."

At his words, Xu Nuan, who had been watching the drama from the sidelines, immediately turned red-eyed. Why should this money-losing girl get new clothes? She herself hadn’t gotten any this year.

Xu Kun was equally displeased, opening his mouth to protest, only to be silenced by a glare from Xu Lin.

Xu Lin’s mother, pained at the loss of money, lingered, reluctant, until her husband’s sharp look sent her scurrying to the bedroom.

Observing her parents’ little gestures, Xu Lin arched a delicate brow—these were details she had overlooked in her previous life. Back then, she thought her father was hen-pecked, a pushover; now she saw otherwise. Truly, she had been blind.

Soon, her mother rushed back, hastily handing over the money and coupon to Xu Lin, as if afraid to be late even by a second.

Xu Lin pocketed the money and ticket, gave her father a cold, mocking laugh, and left.

Her father’s triangular eyes glinted with poison as he watched her disappear. Only after she was gone did he grit his teeth and curse, "That little wretch’s wings are hard now—she thinks she can turn the world upside down!"

His wife fretted, "What are we going to do? Even the whole family together can’t beat her. Do you think—could that little wretch be possessed by something foul?"

She rubbed her arms, frightened by the thought.

Her husband didn’t reply, staring at Xu Lin’s retreating figure until she vanished at the gate. Only then did he withdraw his gaze and mutter darkly, "Whether she’s human or ghost, I won’t let her have it easy."

He beckoned, and his wife hurried to listen; Xu Nuan and Xu Kun crowded in, curious. But they heard nothing—he sent them off to school.

After leaving the family compound, Xu Lin glanced back, thoughtful. Both her parents were ordinary workers—by rights, they had no claim to a house with a courtyard at the machinery factory. Yet somehow, they had secured one.