Chapter 18: Bound by Life and Death?

Because of Hua Ning’s performance yesterday, far fewer people approached her today. However, Deng Zicong was an exception. He came up to Hua Ning again, seeking attention.

“Comrade Hua Ning, I thought carefully about what you said yesterday, and I think you’re right,” Deng Zicong said earnestly, his eyes filled with a devotion that seemed almost pitiful as he looked at her. “I’ve decided to learn more from you, Comrade Hua Ning. That’s why I specifically asked the team leader to assign me to the task field right beside yours, so we can progress together.”

Hua Ning: … Where did this idiot come from? Doesn’t he understand human language?

“Deng Zhiqing, do you know what you look like right now?” Hua Ning exhaled in irritation, curling her lips into a smile as she asked him.

Deng Zicong looked puzzled. “Like what?”

“Like an annoying mangy dog that you just can’t get rid of!” Hua Ning sneered and turned around to continue the monotonous work she had been doing since yesterday.

“You! Comrade Hua Ning, you’ve gone too far! How can you speak of Deng Zhiqing like that? A rustic girl like you with coarse language—Deng Zhiqing even said he wanted to work alongside you…” Before Deng Zicong could finish, a woman’s voice suddenly appeared, scolding Hua Ning.

Throwing the grass she held onto the edge of the ground, Hua Ning turned to face the girl defending Deng Zicong, asking coldly, “Who are you?”

“I—I’m Fang Miaohan from the educated youth camp,” Fang Miaohan replied, blushing as she glanced at Deng Zicong beside her, whose eyes were filled with hurt and sadness.

“Fang Zhiqing, may I ask if you are Deng Zhiqing’s girlfriend?” Hua Ning’s gaze flicked between Deng Zicong and Fang Miaohan, a hint of contempt flashing in her eyes.

“Of course not!” Deng Zicong was the one to answer this time. “Comrade Hua Ning, I don’t have a girlfriend.” His eyes briefly showed disdain for Fang Miaohan before he stepped back and spoke firmly.

His strong denial left Fang Miaohan looking embarrassed, but soon her eyes turned hot and obsessive.

Seeing this, Hua Ning suddenly had an idea. Whether it would work out, she would have to see after learning more.

“All right, Deng Zhiqing, Fang Zhiqing, whatever your relationship is, just don’t bother me anymore. My family depends on me to earn work points for food!” Hua Ning left a cold and resolute refusal before walking toward the other villagers.

She did not want to constantly face Deng Zicong’s scheming, pale face.

Once Hua Ning was out of sight, Deng Zicong’s expression darkened as he looked at Fang Miaohan.

“Fang Miaohan! Can you stop pestering me? I told you, there’s no chance between us! Give it up!”

Hearing Deng Zicong’s ruthless words, Fang Miaohan’s eyes reddened, her voice trembling as she said, “Brother Zicong, why? After all these years growing up together, how can you just cut it off like that?”

“Hah! What nonsense about feelings! I said I only see you as a sister, never romantically! Please, Fang Miaohan, just leave me alone, okay?”

After two years in the countryside, Deng Zicong’s once-proud spirit had long been worn down. His words naturally carried the rustic coarseness of the villagers.

Fang Miaohan was not unattractive—she had a refined, delicate beauty typical of a gentle young woman. At this moment, her tear-streaked, frail appearance stirred pity in others.

But Deng Zicong, fully aware of her true nature, only found her persistence more detestable.

Seeing Deng Zicong avoid her like a venomous snake, Fang Miaohan’s eyes flashed with hatred.

Deng Zicong, you’re forcing me!

Unaware of Fang Miaohan’s thoughts, Hua Ning had already switched to a different task field with the villagers.

If she knew, she would surely applaud.

After all, Fang Miaohan and she were thinking along the same lines.

“Hua Ning, girl, you should come home quickly! Your aunts are back!” Just as Hua Ning had finally distanced herself from the annoying scoundrel Deng Zicong and was feeling better, more trouble came rushing in.

She shyly responded to the villager calling her, then turned toward home. Yet, in a moment unseen by others, a cold gleam flashed in her eyes.

At the hospital last time, she hadn’t made a fuss to spare Hua Xiaogu’s dignity.

Several days had passed, and now she had come with company. Tsk tsk, Hua Ning silently cursed Hua Xiaogu.

From last night until this morning, her mood had plunged further and further.

Since free punching bags are not to be wasted, Hua Ning had just reached her doorstep when she overheard Hua Xiaogu’s malicious and cutting words from inside.

“Fine, Su Qiuxin, you heartless wretched woman, is this how you care for my mother? Back then, a disobedient daughter-in-law like you deserved to be beaten to death!”

“Now that mother is paralyzed, as her daughter, I’ll make sure to teach you, the vicious daughter-in-law, a lesson!”

“How can you speak of sister-in-law like that, Ding Yun?” came a somewhat uneasy voice, trying to reason with Hua Xiaogu.

In the original memory, Hua Xiaogu was called Hua Ding Yun.

The one trying to stop her was likely Hua Dagu, Hua Ning guessed.

Thinking of this, she wasn’t in a hurry to enter.

“Big sister, the third sister isn’t wrong! Look at mother—she cries every time she sees the three of us. It’s obvious sister-in-law has been abusing her! The third sister only scolded her a few times; isn’t that justified?”

Hua Ergu, Hua Ding Yun, sneered at the collapsed Su Qiuxin, her restless eyes scanning the room.

“If you ask me, even if second brother and his wife are gone, there must be money hidden somewhere in this house! If mother isn’t hiding it, then sister-in-law is sneaking it away. Besides, our old Hua family only has Haozi as the sole male now. This unruly sister-in-law might marry off Hua Ning anytime, so the money mother and second brother left should belong equally to the three of us! Otherwise, don’t expect me to support my maternal family in the future!”

Spitting disdainfully at Su Qiuxin, Hua Ding Yun boldly pushed open the door of Su Qiuxin’s room and began rummaging through it.

Seeing this, Hua Dingyue, fearing her second sister would beat her to it, followed closely and started searching as well.

The eldest, Hua Dingxiang, watched her two younger sisters’ greedy behavior, fully aware of their purpose in returning home today.

A bitter smile appeared on her weathered face as she bent down to help the silently weeping Su Qiuxin up.

“Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. I didn’t know Ding Yun and Ding Yue came back for this...” Hua Dingxiang said with regret.

Su Qiuxin shook her head, glancing inside her room with downcast eyes, choking back tears. “It’s not your fault.”

“When mother and I were hospitalized, the house was robbed. As for money, there really wasn’t a cent left.”

Grasping Hua Dingxiang’s rough hand, Su Qiuxin’s tears fell relentlessly.

“Dingxiang, why is your brother so heartless? If it weren’t for Ningning, I would’ve…”

“Would’ve what? Died together?” Hua Ning asked coldly as she closed the door behind her and entered the main room, her eyes fixed on Su Qiuxin.