Rebirth of a Village Girl Chapter 4 - 4 003: Aunt Ashu_1

003: Aunt Ashu

The commotion occurring outside was incredibly loud.

Ni Yang approached the window to observe the scene, a freezing smirk spreading across her face.

Her expression was as piercing as the depths of winter, enough to make anyone tremble with an icy dread.

Even if that person were reduced to cinders, Ni Yang would still recognize her.

It was Li Shu!

She was Mu Jinbao’s secret lover—the very woman who had maliciously orchestrated a plan to marry Ni Yang off to a lonely old bachelor.

In the memories of her previous life, Ni Yang recalled that Li Shu did indeed have a son.

This boy, whom Lady Mu and Mu Jinbao practically worshipped, was named Mu Yaozu.

However, how could a woman like Li Shu ever raise a decent human being?

Mu Yaozu was a monster through and through.

When he was only five, he caused Ni Cuihua to suffer a miscarriage. By the age of sixteen, his crimes of rape had landed him in a prison cell.

He was nothing more than a blight on the world.

Li Shu wore a mask of false kindness, saying, "Sister Cuihua, it’s a pleasure. I am Li Shu, but you can just call me Ashu. I’ll be depending on your care from now on."

Technically, if Li Shu truly were Lady Mu’s niece, she ought to have addressed Ni Cuihua as "Sister-in-law" to respect their seniority.

She chose not to.

This was a deliberate insult to Ni Cuihua. After all, Li Shu was the one carrying Mu Jinbao’s true heir!

In her eyes, Ni Cuihua was merely an infertile hen incapable of producing a son.

To Li Shu, such a woman was only fit to be a beast of burden.

Li Shu’s hidden malice was obvious, yet the honest and simple-minded Ni Cuihua failed to notice the strangeness in her behavior or her words.

With a gentle smile, Ni Cuihua replied, "Of course, as long as you can tolerate our humble home."

What a mindless fool!

Li Shu looked at Ni Cuihua with pure contempt, thinking it was no wonder the woman couldn't bear a male heir.

Lady Mu turned toward Ni Cuihua and barked, "Go and prepare a room for Ashu immediately! She is pregnant, and you had better not mistreat her!"

Lady Mu barked orders at Ni Cuihua as if she were a common maid.

In reality, Lady Mu viewed Ni Cuihua as something even lower than a servant; she was like an animal meant to be trampled upon at will.

From the window, Ni Yang watched the courtyard drama with a detached chill, a faint smile touching her crimson lips.

Ni Cuihua suggested, "Then perhaps Ashu can share a room with Yangyang. The bed is large enough, and since Ashu is expecting, someone will be there to assist her during the night."

Ni Cuihua was far too virtuous, always considering the needs of others. Unfortunately, she was surrounded by predators.

Such kindness would only lead to a tragic end.

Upon hearing this, Lady Mu nearly exploded with rage. "You vile woman! I knew you were plotting something. Are you trying to hurt Ashu? How dare you suggest she sleep in the same room as that piece of trash!"

If Li Shu stayed with a useless girl like Ni Yang, Lady Mu feared the unborn child might also turn out to be a "good-for-nothing."

She refused to take that chance!

Terrified, Ni Cuihua turned pale. "Mother, we simply don't have any other spare rooms..."

While the Mu family was relatively well-off by village standards, it was still a rural setting with limited space.

Lady Mu glared at her. "Obviously, Ashu will take that piece of trash’s room for herself!"

To her, a worthless girl didn't deserve a proper room anyway.

"But what about Yangyang?" Ni Cuihua inquired anxiously.

"Let the brat sleep in the woodshed! Or even the sheepfold!" Lady Mu spat out with venom.

Ni Cuihua looked at her mother-in-law in disbelief. "Mother, how can a person live in a woodshed?"

Besides, Ni Yang was a grown girl; living in such a place would be entirely inappropriate and difficult.

Shocked by this rare defiance, Lady Mu began to scream, "You barren old hen, have you lost your mind? You actually dare to talk back to me? If I tell you to move her, you move her!"

Mu Jinbao stepped forward. Without saying a single word, he resorted to violence.

He kicked Ni Cuihua to the ground, shouting, "You useless woman! How dare you argue with my mother! You clearly need to be taught a lesson."

"Please stop, Jinbao! Don't hit me anymore! I won't do it again!" Ni Cuihua cried out, begging for mercy.

Rolling up his sleeves, Mu Jinbao growled, "Stop wasting time! Get up and clean that room now!"

Silently, Ni Cuihua dragged herself up and went to clear out Ni Yang’s belongings.

Watching this from inside, Ni Yang felt a burning fury erupt within her soul!

She wanted nothing more than to rush out and slaughter them all.

However, logic held her back.

She couldn't act impulsively yet.

Her priority was to ensure that she, her mother, and her sister could all escape this hellhole safely.

Very soon!

The time to leave was fast approaching.

She just had to endure a little longer.

Mu Jinbao escorted Li Shu to rest. While he was a brutal tyrant toward Ni Cuihua, he acted as though he would give his very heart to Li Shu.

Ni Yang’s hatred for her father reached its peak.

Suddenly, footsteps approached the kitchen area.

Suppressing her anger, Ni Yang turned around and forced a submissive smile. "Grandmother."

Lady Mu slammed some items onto the stove, her face grim. "You useless girl, stew this chicken! If I find that you’ve stolen even a bite, I’ll rip your mouth open!"

In an era where most people struggled just to stay fed, meat was a rare luxury.

Especially a whole chicken.

It was shocking that the notoriously stingy Lady Mu would buy an entire bird just for her unborn great-grandson.

Taking the chicken, Ni Yang lowered her head in her usual timid fashion. "I understand, Grandmother."

Lady Mu nodded, satisfied with the girl's obedience.

This was how a "piece of trash" was supposed to act.

After preparing the bird, Ni Yang placed it in the pot to simmer. She kept the chicken whole; if she cut it into pieces, Lady Mu would surely accuse her of theft.

As the pot bubbled, a dark thought crossed Ni Yang’s mind, and a small smile played on her lips.

Since Li Shu was an "old acquaintance," it was only right to give her a parting gift before leaving.

In the previous life, Mu Yaozu had been a violent criminal. In this life, she would ensure that the "scourge" was born a fool instead.

She would make it impossible for him to ever harm anyone.

To Ni Yang, neutralizing this future predator was an act of mercy for society.

She walked to a large tree in the yard where a specific type of orchid with purple blossoms grew.

The petals were harmless, but the stamen contained a potent toxin.

It was a poison that lacked color and taste, leaving no evidence behind. In a time without modern medical scans, no one would ever suspect the cause.

Ni Yang had only learned the scientific properties of this plant after studying medicine in her past life.

She plucked a few flowers and slipped back into the kitchen.

Once the broth was finished, Ni Cuihua entered. "Yangyang, step aside. I need to take this chicken soup to your Aunt Ashu."

The rich, savory scent of the soup filled the room.

Ni Cuihua couldn't help but salivate; she had never smelled anything so delicious in her life.

Ni Yang checked to make sure no one was watching, then pulled out a bowl of the fatty broth. "Mom, I secretly poured a bowl for you. No one will know. Drink it while it’s hot."

The nourishment was exactly what Ni Cuihua needed after recently giving birth.

But the ever-subservient Ni Cuihua was terrified of taking what belonged to a guest.

"I can't drink that! My health is fine. Put it back immediately before I have to deliver the rest to Ashu!"

Instead of arguing, Ni Yang raised the bowl and drained the soup in a single gulp.

She refused to let a woman like Li Shu enjoy such a luxury.

"Yangyang! How could you do that?" Ni Cuihua frowned in worry.

Ni Yang looked at her mother with intense, emotional eyes. "Mom, that Li Shu is a snake! That child she’s carrying belongs to my father! They are playing you for a fool! Mom, you have to open your eyes!"