Rebirth of a Village Girl Chapter 5 - 5 004: There is a Conspiracy_1

Ni Yang’s arguments were perfectly logical and well-founded.

Li Shu was merely a pregnant woman. Would the two members of the Mu Family, who had heartlessly abandoned their own flesh and blood to the wolves, really slaughter livestock just to host another man's pregnant wife?

However, Ni Cuihua was fundamentally soft-hearted. Because of her own nature, she assumed the rest of the world shared her kindness.

She refused to believe that the old Mu Lady and Mu Jinbao were capable of such malice.

Furthermore, she carried the heavy burden of shame for failing to produce a male heir for the Mu Family. In her current state, how could she possibly find the nerve to challenge her husband or her mother-in-law?

Ni Cuihua quickly reached out to cover Ni Yang’s mouth. "Yangyang, you must not speak such nonsense! They are your elders and your father! As a daughter, how can you speak of them with such disrespect? It’s only a chicken, isn't it? Since Aunt Ashu is expecting, it is only right that your grandmother prepared a meal for her. You must never say these things again. If your father or grandmother overheard you, they would surely beat you! Do you understand?"

Ni Yang let out another heavy sigh.

How naive!

Ni Cuihua was truly beyond foolish!

It was no mystery why she had been tormented to death in her previous life.

Ni Yang sighed, "Li Shu is only pregnant, yet Grandmother has prepared chicken soup for her and commanded you to serve her. Mom, you have just given birth to my younger sister. Your body is currently much weaker than Li Shu’s, yet has Grandmother ever made soup for you? Have you never stopped to ask yourself why?"

Why was she unable to see the truth?

Ni Yang shut her eyes, feeling a tightness in her chest that made it difficult to breathe.

Ni Cuihua sighed as well, "It is my own failing for not giving you a brother. Perhaps if I had birthed a son, things would be different..."

She shouldered all the blame herself.

Ni Yang pressed on, "It isn't your fault that there is no son! You haven't made a mistake! A child’s gender is determined by the father; it has nothing to do with you! Besides, in this day and age, everyone is equal. What is the actual difference between a boy and a girl?"

"But the difference is vast! Boys carry on the lineage, but what can girls achieve? Have you never heard the proverb that a married daughter is like a bucket of spilled water? Once thrown out, she is gone." The concept of male superiority was so deeply rooted in Ni Cuihua’s mind that it seemed impossible to pull out.

Ni Yang’s gaze turned icy. "Mom, you are a woman yourself. You cannot degrade your own gender. If you hold yourself in such low regard, who will ever show you respect?"

Ni Cuihua argued back, "Regardless of what you say, girls are lesser than boys. Just look at our village—isn't every household led by a man? Yangyang, you are young, so it’s only natural that you don't grasp these realities. You will understand once you marry and start your own family."

Ni Yang closed her eyes. "The one being stubborn right now is you!"

"What paper?" Ni Cuihua asked, looking confused.

Being uneducated and illiterate, she didn't even recognize the term for stubbornness.

Ni Yang sighed, "Never mind..."

In any case, reality would soon slap Ni Cuihua in the face.

There was no use in further debate at this moment.

Noticing Ni Yang had gone quiet, Ni Cuihua spoke up, "Yangyang, I am so sorry. Your grandmother ordered that your room be given to your Aunt Ashu. You will have to sleep in the woodshed for the time being... I am sorry I couldn't protect you. Your mother is truly useless..."

Ni Yang reached out to brush the tears from Ni Cuihua’s cheeks, her voice devoid of emotion. "It’s fine, Mom. I’m not afraid. Don't cry."

It was merely a woodshed; it didn't frighten her.

After all, her stay there would be brief.

Ni Cuihua looked at her daughter. "Yangyang, try not to hold a grudge against your grandmother. We simply don't have enough rooms in this house. This is also my fault. If I had provided a brother for you, you wouldn't have to endure such humiliation or have been forced to quit school..."

Ni Yang, though only seventeen, had already been pulled out of her studies.

It wasn't a matter of the family lacking funds.

It was the old Lady Mu who had forbidden her from continuing.

To the old Lady Mu, Ni Yang was a "losing bet."

Why would she pour money into a girl who would eventually belong to another family?

Ni Cuihua believed that if a son existed, the old woman’s heart would not be so cold...

Alas.

She blamed her own inadequacy.

It broke her heart that her daughter had to suffer by her side.

Ni Yang insisted, "It isn't your fault, Mom. Truly, it isn't!"

Ni Cuihua dried her eyes and picked up the pot of finished chicken soup. "I’ll go give this to your Aunt Ashu now. Make sure you wipe your mouth well; don't let your grandmother suspect you’ve had any of the broth."

If the old Lady Mu discovered that Ni Yang had taken even a sip, she would likely beat the girl senseless!

Ni Cuihua vividly recalled a previous occasion where Madame Mu had beaten Ni Yang nearly to death.

When Ni Cuihua delivered the soup to the bedroom, Li Shu smiled broadly. "Sister Cuihua, I won't be modest then. Thank you."

Ni Cuihua forced a smile. "We are family; there is no need for such formalities."

Despite it being a whole chicken and a massive bowl of broth, Li Shu devoured every bit of it with ease.

In this era, food was scarce, so people generally possessed hearty appetites.

Once she had finished her meal, Li Shu stepped out for a stroll through the village, eventually finding herself at the village office.

She had a specific reason for going there.

The village office housed a telephone!

However, making a call was expensive during those times—five cents per minute!

Li Shu paid for a five-minute window.

She lifted the receiver and whispered into it, "Xianxian, I’ve successfully moved into Mu Jinbao’s house."

The person on the other end was Li Shu’s own daughter, Li Xianxian.

Li Xianxian sounded delighted. "That’s perfect, Mom. You must ensure my little brother is born into the Mu Family. By the way, is Mu Jinbao’s daughter called Ni Yang?"

"Ni Yang?" Li Shu knit her brows. "No, her name is Mu Yang!"

On the other end, Li Xianxian’s expression darkened. "Then she must have changed it!"

Li Shu asked curiously, "Xianxian, why are you asking about her?"

Li Xianxian replied sharply, "Mom, listen to me. This Mu Yang is my sworn enemy. She is the one who will block my path to wealth and success. You have to help me get rid of her! Once she is out of the picture, I will finally have the chance to thrive!"

Li Shu was stunned. "What? Xianxian, what are you talking about?"

"Don't ask questions! Just do it!" Li Xianxian snapped. "Mom, you have to help me. Your daughter’s entire future is in your hands!"

Li Shu hung up the phone, her face clouded with worry.

How was she supposed to eliminate Ni Yang?

Murder was a capital crime!

What path should she take?

She sighed, lost in thought as she walked.

Suddenly!

An idea flashed in her mind.

She recalled an old bachelor cousin from her mother's side of the family who had moved to this area. He was in his fifties and quite wealthy, but he remained unmarried due to poor health.

She could marry Ni Yang off to that old bachelor!

The man had been desperate for a wife for years.

He would be overjoyed, and she might even receive a kickback for the arrangement...

It was the perfect plan!

The more she considered it, the more satisfied she became. A predatory smile spread across her face as she hurried toward the old bachelor’s residence.

By the time she left his house, her triumphant grin had not faded.

At the dinner table that evening, Li Shu tried to engage Ni Yang. "My goodness! Yangyang really is a stunning girl!"

Ni Yang was indeed exceptionally beautiful.

One look into her captivating peach blossom eyes was enough to make anyone lose their heart.

No other girl in the village could compare to her.

She was so lovely that it naturally stirred up envy in others.

Ni Yang continued to chew on her steamed bun, acting as though she hadn't heard a word Li Shu said.

Thud!

Suddenly, the sound of a hand slamming against the table rang out. "You useless brat! Are you deaf? Your Aunt Ashu is speaking to you. Have you no manners? Answer her!"