~ heya I'm back with a new exciting Transmigration story, After reading it for the past few days I find it very interesting So I upload it here so everyone can share the experience with me. Plz note this note my original work.

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 1

What is the happiest thing in the world?

Answer: Winning a five-million-dollar lottery jackpot!

And what is the most painful thing?

Answer: Just after hitting the jackpot, before spending a single cent, you suddenly receive a time-travel package. Yep, that’s the kind of terrible luck I have—me, Nan Sheng!

As the saying goes, extreme joy often leads to sorrow; I’ve now experienced that firsthand!

Oh, and don’t get me wrong—I’m not some flawless, perfect heroine from a novel, a shining white lotus in a prosperous world. No, I’m the cold-hearted, ruthless stepmother!

The system told Nan Sheng that as long as she unlocks the entire storyline of this book, she can choose to stay or leave. Thinking about the countless zeros in her bank account, Nan Sheng was filled with determination.

Back! I absolutely have to go back!

To help her get into the groove quickly, the system generously unlocked the first three chapters for free. After just browsing through them, a dirty little girl suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

“Mom, I dug up some vegetables. Can we have an egg for dinner tonight?”

Siqi looked up at her stepmother, her big eyes glistening with tears. She held a small basket filled with wild greens—she must have spent quite some time gathering them.

Nan Sheng, a grown woman who had never married, used to only drool over kids through a screen. Now, seeing such a well-behaved child, her eyes instantly gleamed green with excitement.

“Of course! Mom will fry you an egg right away!”

Nan Sheng turned and headed to the kitchen, ready to work hard. But when she scooped out the porridge, she realized it wasn’t porridge at all—more like corn mush so bad that even a fly would slip and slide in it.

Is this even food?

Lin Sizhe, the stepson, also came back from work. The system prompted Nan Sheng that he was the key person she needed to win over to unlock new chapters.

Sizhe had just turned ten and had already started earning work points for the commune. Seeing his little sister so filthy, he immediately called her over to take care of her.

“Siqi, don’t put away those wild greens just yet. I’ll take you to wash your face.”

In his heart, he swore that once his father came home, he would definitely kick the stepmother out!

Nan Sheng was unaware of what was going on outside. She was about to pour the porridge back into the pot and add some cornmeal to cook, but got stuck at the first step—how the heck do you light a fire under this old rural kang bed?

She asked the system, but it was useless!

No wonder intelligent technology can never replace humans; sometimes this thing is just downright useless.

Sizhe washed his sister’s face in the courtyard and braided her hair. The siblings went inside together, expecting a meal that was already prepared—but it was just plain broth, thin and tasteless.

But when they entered the room, the table was completely empty. What was this? Did someone just save them the trouble of going to the bathroom?

Sizhe thought to himself, even if he was going to get beaten, today he had to make sure his sister ate her fill. Just as he was bracing himself, he heard Nan Sheng call him over.

“Big one, come help me with something.”

Suddenly, she sounded polite!

Sizhe didn’t respond but walked over directly. Seeing Nan Sheng’s face, a flash of hatred crossed his eyes. Was she about to hit him?

“Here? Hurry up and light the fire. I’ll cook the porridge and fry the dishes.”

Nan Sheng didn’t bother being polite to her stepson. Kids are kids; when it’s time to boss them around, you can’t be soft-hearted. If you raise someone clueless about farming, you’ll suffer in the end.

Starting a fire is definitely better than getting beaten, Si Zhe silently crouched down and lit the firewood.

Nan Sheng kept watching him, feeling that she had finally learned how to do it, then began cooking the porridge. Her mistake was adding too much firewood right after lighting the fire, which almost smothered the flames.

Nan Sheng continued issuing orders, “Big one, you get the other pot going too. Then go to the vegetable garden and pick a few cucumbers, wash them clean. I’ll use them later to stir-fry some eggs.”

Nan Sheng gave an order, and Si Zhe followed it exactly. When he returned with the cucumbers, he kept staring at his stepmother.

His unusual behavior made him suspect that Nan Sheng wanted to poison him and his sister so she could run away.

As Nan Sheng cooked, she recalled the events of the previous three chapters with a sense of disbelief. The original protagonist and the male lead in the book had been dating, but to save money, they starved themselves and their children until they looked like walking skeletons.

When people are this hungry, tempers flare. So the two kids got beaten even though they hadn’t eaten enough. Maybe adding a couple of eggs at noon would help them recover a bit...

The meals were simple and didn’t take long to prepare.

When Nan Sheng finally brought the food to the table, her daughter Mei said, “Mom, you really did fry eggs! Qi Qi still has to go to the field this afternoon to dig up more wild vegetables!”

Wow, this daughter of hers looked quite handsome after washing up.

“So capable! When the New Year comes, I’ll kill a chicken for you to eat!”

Nan Sheng praised her generously, shaking her head in admiration at the child’s beauty.

Siqi was still very young. After sitting down at the table, despite the porridge just coming off the stove, she bent down to eat immediately. Seeing this, Nan Sheng flicked her arm with a chopstick.

She instantly regretted it, sure she had hurt the child. Damn muscle memory—she quickly tried to make up for it.

“Siqi, be good. The porridge just came off the stove; it’s too hot. Let it cool down a bit before eating.”

Siqi nodded vaguely, wiping away tears and obediently sitting back in her chair to wait.

Si Zhe touched the edge of his bowl to check the temperature but said nothing. Instead, he quietly took his sister’s bowl and stirred it quickly with his chopsticks.

The porridge, made from cornmeal, was thick and creamy. The plate of cucumber stir-fried with eggs was piled high. Si Zhe glanced at it—at least six eggs had been used.

What kind of shock did their stepmother take to be willing to spare food for them?

Once the porridge cooled, Si Zhe fed his sister spoonful by spoonful. He didn’t dare just give her eggs; he fed her mostly cucumber.

After Siqi finished eating, she rubbed her round belly and tilted her face to one side. “Tummy’s full!”

Nan Sheng, who had been starved for a long time, couldn’t eat much herself. She only drank a bowl of porridge, letting Si Zhe eat the rest.

Later, he even felt a bit guilty, wondering why he hadn’t fed his sister a few more bites of eggs.

In the afternoon, Si Zhe still had to go to work. After Nan Sheng washed the dishes, she sat on the kang bed, lost in thought. Next to her, Qi Qi was sleeping soundly.

She summoned her system, and a book slowly opened in front of her, but only the first three chapters were unlocked.

Chapter One: The male lead actively seduces the female supporting character Nan Sheng, and she falls in love at first sight.

Chapter Two: The male lead, a sly playboy, deliberately plays the victim. The supporting female character sells herself to raise money to help him return to the city and marries the wealthy, two-kid father Lin Han.

Chapter Three is even more heart-wrenching—throughout the whole chapter, it’s all about how the children are being mistreated. Watching it made her feel deeply sorry for the two kids; this kind of romance is really tough on them.

After finishing a hearty meal, Nan Sheng checked the affection meter. It was pitch black—so touching in its own way. She sighed deeply; this was truly a difficult task to complete.

Sizhe was busy working, weeding at a speed that rivaled adult women, yet because of his young age, he could only earn six work points.

The villagers saw such a small child having to work and cursed Nan Sheng silently for not sparing the kids.

Grandpa Lin, worried about his grandson, sent his eldest grandson, Lin Sizhong, over to bring some steamed buns made from cornmeal to his younger brother. But Sizhe refused, saying, “Big brother, please take the buns back.”

Every family was struggling to get by, and those buns were saved from the mouths of Grandpa and Grandma. He didn’t want them, and besides, his eldest aunt would scold him if she found out.

“Just take it for now. My mother is talkative, but she means no harm.”

Lin Sizhong was eighteen this year, old enough to marry. His family was living frugally to save a bride price for him, so much so that they hadn’t eaten meat for months.

Sizhe was proud. Once, when he was starving, he went to Grandpa’s house for a meal but was pushed away by his eldest aunt. He would rather go hungry than go there again.

“Big brother, please take it back. I really don’t want it. I ate well at noon.”

Sizhe was stubborn. After saying this, he bent down and continued working. Lin Sizhong had no choice but to leave. He had been out too long, and the villagers working alongside him would start to complain.

As the sun set, everyone rushed toward the scorekeeper when they heard a whistle.

Sizhe wore a cold expression. If it weren’t for his little sister still being young, he wouldn’t want to go home at all.

Lately, every time it rained, he prayed for a thunderbolt to strike and kill his stepmother.

When he got home, the meal was already prepared, and Nan Sheng’s tone was gentle.

“Big boy’s back? Wipe yourself off and get ready to eat.”

Sizhe said nothing, suspecting that his stepmother might be ill.

Nan Sheng placed the dishes on the table. Besides a large plate of steamed buns, there was a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Each bowl was thoughtfully filled with cool boiled water, in case anyone choked while eating.

Seeing Sizhe standing still by the table, Siqi, who had already taken a bite of a bun, called out to him.

Her eyes sparkled. “Brother, come eat!”

Chapter 2

Sizhe sat at the table, tentatively reaching for a steamed bun. Good—his stepmother wasn’t watching, so he could eat. The sweet and sour stir-fried tomatoes and eggs were appetizing, pairing perfectly with the buns. Siqi’s bowl had also been thoughtfully filled with half a portion, allowing her to scoop the food into her mouth with a spoon.

Even though his stepmother had changed, Sizhe still didn’t dare eat too much. After two buns, he set down his chopsticks. Nan Sheng, unsure of his appetite, cautiously asked, “We’re out of alkali noodles, so the buns taste a bit sour. Do you not like them, Sizhe?”

Sizhe frowned and glanced at her. In these times, having enough to eat was already a blessing—who cared if the food was sour? He was just afraid that if he ate too much, his stepmother would start beating them again.

When her son didn’t respond, Nan Sheng didn’t press further. Instead, she pushed the remaining two buns toward him. “Eat up. It’s hot out, and leaving them overnight will spoil them.”

Her reasoning was simple: a full stomach meant a better mood, and a better mood would surely boost their affection for her.

Seeing her sincerity, Sizhe finally dug in, devouring the buns and even wiping the plate clean with the last one to soak up every bit of the tomato and egg sauce.

Lin Han had joined the military at fourteen, back when his family was poor and he needed a way out. Before marriage, he had saved up money, which Father Lin and Mother Lin used to build three rooms—the very ones they lived in now.

The eastern and western rooms were for sleeping, while the middle one served as the kitchen and a small living area.

Nan Sheng stayed in the eastern room. She retrieved the small box where the original owner had hidden money, unlocked it, and found a pile of cash and ration tickets inside. After counting, it totaled over 800 yuan—all hers now!

Five hundred of it was Lin Han’s savings, given to her before he returned to the military. As a soldier, he wasn’t one for schemes. Since the original owner had agreed to care for his children, he had entrusted her with everything.

The remaining 300 yuan was the betrothal gift from the Lin Family to the Nan Family, also paid by Lin Han himself, meant for buying a sewing machine and a watch. But the original owner had refused to purchase anything, so her parents gave the money back to her as a dowry. They had been deeply unhappy about her marriage to Lin Han, nearly cutting ties over it.

The rest was a mix of Nan Sheng’s frugal savings, Lin Han’s military stipend from the past two months, and the money she made from selling eggs.

The male lead was a schemer—he didn’t like the original owner and only wanted to swindle her out of her money, even pretending to be in a relationship to deceive her.

Nan Sheng was amused. Seriously, were toxic male leads trending these days?

“Dreaming of returning to the city? Keep dreaming!”

That night, Nan Sheng slept deeply. Her body was still weak and needed recovery. By the time she woke up, Sizhe had already left for work, but Siqi was rubbing her empty stomach, whimpering.

“Mom, I’m so hungry!”

Nan Sheng smiled. Kids were easier to win over—just a little kindness, and they’d start acting sweet. How adorable!

She fetched a basin of water, washed up, then cleaned Siqi’s face and hair. The little girl stayed still, sensing that her stepmother was different today.

With only cornmeal and coarse grains at home, Nan Sheng couldn’t whip up anything fancy. She made a simple porridge and stir-fried greens, making do with Siqi for the meal.

Since she had chores to do, Nan Sheng sent Siqi out to play. The girl hesitated. “Mom, don’t I need to gather wild vegetables?”

Nan Sheng patted her head. “There’s enough for the chicks. Take the day off and go play, okay?”

“Yay!”

Siqi was thrilled—she loved playing with her cousin at Third Uncle’s house.

Nan Sheng reminded her, “Stay away from the mountains and the river. And if you visit a friend’s house, don’t take their food. Got it?”

Siqi nodded. She understood—food was precious, and she shouldn’t impose. “I won’t wander, Mom. I’ll just go to Third Uncle’s to play with my cousin.”

Nan Sheng was naturally tidy, and since the original owner had neglected the kids, she had to step up.

She cleaned the siblings’ room, washed their dirty clothes, and only remembered the lack of alkali noodles for buns when it was almost time to cook.

That wouldn’t do. After some thought, she headed to a neighbor’s house. “Granny Zhang, are you home?”

The system was reliable when it came to simple social interactions—as long as it didn’t involve major plot points, it would remind her how to address people.

The Zhang family was out working in the fields, leaving only the frail Granny Zhang at home to handle chores. Hearing the call, she opened the door and was visibly surprised to see Nan Sheng.

“Oh, Lin Han’s wife! Come in, come in!”

The villagers whispered that Lin Han’s wife mistreated the children, but Granny Zhang believed she was just young and inexperienced—time would help her bond with them.

“Granny Zhang, I’ve run out of alkali noodles. Could I borrow some? I’ll return them after I buy more in town.”

Kind-hearted, Granny Zhang led her to the kitchen. “No need to talk about borrowing among neighbors. Take what you need.”

Nan Sheng had brought a small bowl, and Granny Zhang poured half a bowl’s worth from her alkali noodle bag. “Sizhe’s gone to work again? That boy should be in school—he’d have a brighter future.”

Sizhe was a top student, always scoring first in exams, well-known in Xiangyang Village. Granny Zhang wanted to persuade Nan Sheng to let him return to school.

“He dropped out on his own, stubborn as he is. But after working these days, he’s probably regretting it. I’ll send him back to class in a day or two.”

Nan Sheng mixed truth with lies to salvage her reputation. Sizhe had indeed quit school—afraid his stepmother would starve Siqi if he wasn’t around.

The original owner, seeing him idle, had forced him to work for extra rations.

Granny Zhang was delighted for Sizhe and warmed up to Nan Sheng. “Good, good! We’re close neighbors—come to me if you need anything.”

Back home, Nan Sheng started kneading dough. In this heat, the buns would be ready to steam in under an hour after adding the alkali noodles.

With time to spare, she also made porridge and stir-fried green beans. But Sizhe had already returned from work—where was Siqi?

Assuming his stepmother had sent her to gather vegetables again, Sizhe turned to leave, but Nan Sheng stopped him.

“Check Third Uncle’s place. Siqi said she was going to play with her cousin.”

At this hour, if she wasn’t back yet, Third Aunt might assume she was there for a free meal.

Relieved to hear Siqi was at Third Uncle’s, Sizhe left—but he didn’t return either. Nan Sheng figured they must have stayed for dinner.

As she ate, a boy rushed in—Lin Sicheng, Eldest Brother Lin’s second son.

“Auntie, it’s bad! Sizhe got beaten by Third Uncle, and Siqi was slapped twice by Third Aunt. You’d better go see!”

Nan Sheng’s blood boiled. “What happened? Why did Third Brother hit my kids?”

She grabbed a thick stick from the firewood pile on her way out.

Lin Sicheng said, “I don’t know. Maybe Third Aunt hit Siqi first, then Sizhe went to reason with Third Uncle and got beaten too.”

Xiangyang Village had over 300 households. Third Brother Lin Jianshe lived about 200 meters away—a short sprint.

A small crowd had gathered outside Lin Jianshe’s house. Inside, Eldest Brother Lin’s family stood protectively in front of the children.

When Nan Sheng arrived, Third Brother Lin and his wife barely paid her any attention—they all knew the second sister-in-law wasn’t particularly invested in her children.

Sizhe was currently shielded between Eldest Brother Lin and his son, with two cane marks on his arm and his clothes covered in dirt. He wasn’t crying, though, instead glaring defiantly at Third Brother Lin.

Siqi was cradled in the arms of her eldest aunt, rubbing her eyes and calling for her mother, clearly having suffered quite a bit of distress.

Before anyone could react, Nan Sheng swung a stick straight at Lin Jianshe. "How dare you lay a hand on my kids? Don’t you have your own? If you’ve forgotten how to act like a decent human being, I might as well send you straight to your next life!"

No one had expected Nan Sheng to react this way, and before Lin Jianshe could dodge, he took several hard blows. As he stumbled back, the stick struck his face. His wife, Sun Qian, snapped out of her shock and lunged forward, ready to fight Nan Sheng.

"You’ve got a death wish! How dare you hit my man!"

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 3

Eldest Brother Lin and his son quickly turned to stop Third Brother Lin, not letting him get into a fight with Nan Sheng. It would be ridiculous for a younger brother-in-law to hit his sister-in-law, and besides, it was their own spouses who had started it all.

Meanwhile, Nan Sheng and her sister-in-law were already tearing into each other. They fought so fiercely that no one dared to step in and separate them for a while.

Third Lin’s wife only knew how to grab hair, but Nan Sheng was taller, which gave her the upper hand. Soon, Third Lin’s wife found herself on the losing side.

Nan Sheng tugged at her hair with her left hand, while her right hand slapped hard across her face.

The sharp smacks echoed loudly, making everyone’s face ache just from hearing them.

“Eldest Brother Lin, you’re one thing, but Siqi is just a kid—how dare you two lay hands on her? Today, I’m going to tear the skin off your face and see just how thick it really is.”

By the time they were pulled apart, Third Lin’s wife looked a mess—her hair was tangled and wild, her face swollen high, and there were numerous scratches from fingernails bleeding all over.

Nan Sheng had also taken a beating; her scalp throbbed painfully. But when it came to fighting, she was still the authority and definitely wouldn’t admit defeat.

Father Lin and Mother Lin were slower on their feet. The elderly couple cared a lot about face and immediately started scolding as soon as they walked in.

“Are you bored out of your minds? What’s the point of fighting for no reason? Anyone who doesn’t behave can just get out of Xiangyang Village! The Lin family doesn’t want troublemakers like you!”

Father Lin, Lin Guozheng, was the village chief. His words carried weight, and no one in Xiangyang Village dared to cross him—not even the Lin family. Seeing their father, Third Lin and his wife immediately cowered.

Sun Qian covered her face, crying out, “Father, you have to control Second Sister-in-law! She started hitting people as soon as she came in. Look at what she did to me and Third Brother!”

Father Lin shot her a glare, telling her to shut up, then turned to Nan Sheng with a look of deep disgust. “Go back to your own home. Isn’t that shameful enough already?”

What kind of curse had he brought upon himself, marrying one daughter-in-law worse than the next?

Nan Sheng refused to back down. “Why should I leave? I was married into this family by your son. I’m stuck taking care of two kids, and on top of that, I get bullied by my younger brother-in-law. What kind of justice is that?

Today, their couple dared to hit my child. Tomorrow, will they come after my life? Grandpa of the child, if you don’t stand up for me, I’ll hang myself right here in this yard. Let’s see if your Lin family can still find a daughter-in-law after that!”

Nan Sheng was sharp-tongued. She’d experienced the coldness of the world from a young age and knew that kindness often invited exploitation.

Today, she wouldn’t give anyone face. She had to take back control of the situation.

Father Lin didn’t trust her words and instead shifted his gaze to his eldest son, where he noticed Sizhe was injured. He thought to himself, could it really have been Third Brother who started all this trouble?

Eldest Brother Lin nodded. Third Brother was simply inhuman. It was one thing to scold the kids for misbehaving, but how could he lay hands on them?

Besides, Second Brother had already done plenty to help both families.

A neighbor with a sense of justice also spoke up, “Chief, today it’s not Lin Han’s wife’s fault. It was Eldest Brother Lin and Qiqi who were beaten by Third Brother and his wife. Lin Han’s wife was just angry.”

Sizhe silently nodded. It was true that his stepmother liked to fight, but today’s incident wasn’t her fault.

Father Lin felt a pang of guilt for having wronged his daughter-in-law. He apologized to the neighbors, “Sorry for troubling everyone. Please go back home and have your meals; we still have work this afternoon.”

The neighbors, understanding the situation, offered a few words of comfort and then headed back to their own homes. The Lin family members also went inside.

Inside the house, Father Lin and Mother Lin sat on the kang (heated brick bed). Lin Guozheng waved over the eldest son, “Big Boy, come here and explain to Grandpa what happened today.”

Nan Sheng had just finished a fight and was feeling weak. While others might have stood, she plopped down heavily onto a stool, listening as Big Boy began to speak.

“Grandpa, when I got off work, I came home and saw my sister wasn’t there. So, I went to Third Uncle’s house to bring her back for dinner. But as soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard my sister crying. Third Aunt was scolding her, calling her greedy and accusing her of stealing Siyu’s biscuits. When I went inside, I saw her face was red and swollen from being hit.”

Father Lin clenched his anger but listened quietly as his grandson continued.

“I got upset and pushed Third Aunt away, trying to pick up Qiqi. But then Third Uncle came back, saw what was happening, and without asking for any explanation, picked up a rattan cane and started whipping me.”

Big Boy took off his shirt to show Father Lin the marks—over ten welts, all struck with force.

That was the last straw for Nan Sheng. She stormed over to Third Brother Lin and slapped him twice.

“I’m a stepmother, and I’ve never hit him that hard. Who the hell do you think you are, calling yourself his real uncle? Consider our ties severed—completely severed!”

Third Brother Lin was holding back his anger too. Seeing his wife being bullied was unbearable, and now, after being slapped, he dared not say a word or even look up at his father’s stern face.

He bowed his head and apologized to Lin Guozheng, “Father, I know I was wrong. I won’t be foolish like this again.”

His wife remained silent, clearly feeling wronged.

Mother Lin, who was the village teacher and always spoke with reason, said firmly, “This whole mess is the fault of Third Brother and his wife. How old is Qiqi? Even if she ate a little something, what harm is there? Do you think she could eat you all into poverty?

And Third Brother, I don’t know how you could raise your hand to hit her. Look at Sizhe—he’s already so skinny. Aren’t you afraid you might break his spine? Both of you, apologize to the children right now!”

Third Brother Lin agreed, but his agreement wasn’t enough, especially with Nan Sheng being such a stubborn thorn in the side.

“I don’t agree. Saying sorry and ‘it’s okay’ won’t just erase what happened. He hit our Big Boy so many times, and he deserves to be hit back the same number of times. Otherwise, this isn’t over!”

Big Boy felt wronged too. Seeing his stepmother stand up for him, he even felt a bit touched by her support. Third Brother’s wife joined in the shouting.

“No way! Second Sister-in-law just hit us that many times, and she went all out. She already paid for it. If we get hit again, our family’s the one who’ll suffer!”

Nan Sheng thought to herself, “You’re good at keeping score, huh? Fine, let’s settle this properly then.”

Both sides refused to back down. Mother Lin was caught in the middle, hoping as the elder that the family could live together in harmony.

Nan Sheng glanced around, looking for Third Brother’s daughter. Not seeing her in this room, she turned and headed to another.

Before anyone else could react, the sound of Lin Siyu’s crying drifted over.

Third Brother Lin and his wife exchanged worried glances. Their second sister-in-law really lacked virtue—how could she even lay a hand on a little child? Siyu was barely three years old!

When everyone arrived at the west room, they saw Nan Sheng holding the child in one arm. As Third Brother Lin and his wife approached, she made a show of trying to slam the child to the ground.

“Don’t drop her, Second Sister-in-law, let’s talk this through!”

Sun Qian’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Her precious little one was literally in someone else’s hands—how could she just stand by?

The others looked tense as well. “Second brother’s family, put the child down first. If you want to fight, fight Lin Jianshe and his wife—they’re tough and can take it.”

“Feeling sorry now, are you?” Nan Sheng sneered. “Our child is only five years old. When you bullied her, did you ever think she was just a kid? And Sizhe is only ten, yet Third Brother Lin actually whipped him with a cane! I’m making this clear—Lin Jianshe will get a beating he can’t dodge. If you don’t agree, I’ll take it out on his daughter. Nobody’s getting the better of anyone here!”

With that, Nan Sheng gave the child a light smack on the bottom, barely any force, but it scared Siyu into a crying fit. Pretending to be impatient, she warned, “Shut up. Cry again and I’ll hit you!”

Siyu covered her mouth with both hands, tears streaming down her face as she looked at her parents. She looked even more pitiful than Siqi had before.

“I agree! Dad, come hit me now!”

He only had this one daughter. Seeing her cry was worse than death to him.

Father Lin sent the eldest son outside to fetch a thick vine. Third Brother Lin was especially eager, stripping off his shirt without hesitation. He took a full thirty lashes from his older brother, no mercy given.

This time, Nan Sheng was finally satisfied. She put the child down on the kang (heated brick bed) and called her two children, “Come on, let’s go home and eat!”

The others: ……

Your nerve is really something!

Chapter 4

Sizhe twitched his lips and picked up his little sister, who was staring at her stepmother with adoring eyes and an open mouth, carrying her as he stood behind Nan Sheng.

"Uncle, Auntie, we’ll head back first."

The eldest child felt somewhat wronged by his grandparents' attempts to smooth things over, but since the elderly couple had always treated him and his sister well, he couldn’t bring himself to criticize them.

Better to just go home and eat—he was pretty hungry anyway.

Father Lin and Mother Lin also called for Eldest Brother Lin’s family to return with them, as the elderly couple lived in the same courtyard as their eldest son.

Auntie Zhou Wei, being straightforward, couldn’t help but remark after what had just happened, "The second wife has a bad temper, but she’s quite protective of the kids outside."

Eldest Brother Lin shot a glance at his parents, signaling his wife to keep quiet, though he, too, had begun to see his sister-in-law in a new light.

After Nan Sheng brought the two children home, the corn porridge on the table had already congealed. She poured hot water over it and stirred, and the three of them—one adult and two children—sat together to eat, an inexplicable warmth filling the moment.

They still had work to do in the afternoon, so Sizhe ate quickly, taking big bites of steamed bun and gulps of porridge whenever he choked. Siqi, however, ate absentmindedly, stealing glances at Nan Sheng between bites. She thought her mother looked so impressive when she stood up for them.

She liked it!

Though it would be even better if she didn’t scold her too!

Noticing her gaze, Nan Sheng tapped the table with her chopsticks. "No distractions during meals." She was counting on the eldest to finish off the remaining food.

Siqi obediently straightened up and focused on eating, her sweet mouth piping up, "Mom, your cooking is so delicious!"

Nan Sheng couldn’t help but smile. With enough oil, how could the food not taste good?

Still, she was a meat lover, and going a few meals without it left her craving it.

"Sit properly. In a few days, I’ll go to town to withdraw some money and buy a couple of pounds of meat for us to eat."

"Yay! Mom’s the best!"

Watching Siqi beam at such a simple promise, Sizhe began to wonder if his sister was really their father’s biological child. After being fooled for months, she still dared to believe their stepmother’s words—truly admirable courage.

Once he finished eating, he wasted no time heading out. "I’m off to work!"

In the afternoon, Nan Sheng stripped the bedding from both children’s beds to wash. Unable to sit still, Siqi grabbed a small basket and ran out to forage for wild greens.

Nan Sheng didn’t stop her. Once the bedding dried, she’d have to sew the covers back on, and the messy house needed reorganizing—there was too much to do.

When Sizhe returned in the evening, he carried a net bag. Siqi excitedly rushed over. "Brother, did you catch any shrimp?"

In the past, he would’ve just roasted whatever he caught over a fire. Why bring it home today?

Sizhe glanced at his stepmother before pouring the contents of the net into a basin. "Not just shrimp—two crucian carp, too."

Nan Sheng, who was stir-frying vegetables, chimed in, "Want shrimp for dinner? Clean them, and I’ll fry them once the dishes are done."

Siqi was thrilled, and Sizhe silently began cleaning the shrimp, occasionally stealing glances toward the kitchen, as if puzzled by his stepmother’s sudden change.

Nan Sheng was stir-frying eggplant and green beans, sliced into strips with green and red peppers for flavor—perfect with rice. Considering her daughter’s age, she set aside a portion before adding the spice.

Sizhe placed the cleaned shrimp on the stove—nearly half a basin’s worth. Nan Sheng was pleased. "So many? And they’re big ones! Sizhe, go wash up and change before dinner."

Though he didn’t reply, he nodded. Nan Sheng chuckled to herself. Kids will be kids.

She quickly sliced some scallions and ginger, then fetched a small bottle of liquor from her room to remove the fishy smell. Siqi, meanwhile, nestled by the stove, tending the fire—such an adorable little helper.

"Mom, are you using that much oil?"

Her auntie always cooked with just a small spoonful. Her stepmother didn’t seem very thrifty.

Nan Sheng patted her daughter’s head. "You think shrimp will taste good with less oil? Mind your own business, little one."

Siqi was an interesting child—fearless, it seemed. Even when scolded, she never held a grudge. A kind word, and she’d sweetly call her "Mom" again, utterly endearing.

That afternoon, after being bullied by the third uncle’s family, she had cried for a bit, then forgotten all about it after a nap—remarkably resilient.

Once the shrimp were fried to a crisp, Nan Sheng set them aside, leaving just a bit of oil in the wok to sauté the scallions, ginger, and seasonings before tossing the shrimp back in to coat them in sauce.

There were enough shrimp to fill a small basin, with an extra plate set aside.

"Sizhe, are you done washing up? Take this plate of shrimp to your grandparents before dinner."

Some social niceties were unavoidable—a woman raising two kids alone might need help someday.

Sizhe had already finished washing. He’d been scrubbing his dirty clothes in the yard but rinsed his hands and came inside when called.

The aroma of the fried shrimp, glazed in sauce, was irresistible even before tasting.

Siqi, unable to resist, sucked on her fingers—only to get a light smack from her stepmother. "Brother, hurry back!"

The little glutton couldn’t wait to dig in. Sizhe gave a quiet "Mm," though he almost said they didn’t need to wait for him—but that might’ve been presumptuous.

By then, every household in the village was preparing dinner. At his grandparents’ place, the meal had just been laid out.

Lin Jianguo waved his nephew over. "Come eat with us, Sizhe. Your auntie steamed mixed-grain buns today."

"Mixed-grain" meant wheat flour blended with cornmeal—common during busy farming seasons when the two families often shared meals.

Auntie Zhou Wei glanced at Sizhe but didn’t shoo him away, figuring the kids had had a rough day.

Sicheng scooted over to make space, urging Sizhe to sit beside him. The whole way, Sizhe had shielded the shrimp with the small basin to keep dust off.

"Uncle, we made shrimp for dinner. She asked me to bring some for you and Grandma. I won’t stay long."

Sicheng’s eyes lit up at the sight of the shrimp, and he popped one into his mouth before the adults could react. The rest of the table was stunned.

"Your mother really sent this?" Grandma Lin asked in disbelief.

Today was full of surprises.

Sizhe bristled at the word "mother" but nodded anyway before turning to leave. Behind him, Sicheng’s voice carried, praising how delicious the shrimp were.

Only after Sizhe returned home did the three of them start eating. They polished off the entire basin of shrimp, and once off the table, Siqi begged her brother, "Catch more shrimp tomorrow! I want to eat this every day!"

"No!"

The amount of oil used for one small basin could last other families days. This stepmother was bizarre—stingy before, now extravagantly generous. Was she trying to spend all their money?

Seeing Nan Sheng still seated, Sizhe took the initiative to wash the dishes. Just as he thought he could finally rest, his stepmother called him into the east room.

"Are your injuries okay? Let me know if you're feeling unwell anywhere. Also, starting tomorrow, you don’t have to go to work anymore—go back to school instead. If you’re worried about your little sister, she can go to school with you."

Children in rural areas start school late, often not learning to read until seven or eight. Sending Siqi now would just mean spending the money two years earlier, and besides, Nan Sheng wasn’t exactly skilled at childcare.

The suggestion stirred something in Sizhe. His grandmother often told him knowledge could change one’s destiny, and Father Lin had always hoped he’d rise above their circumstances. If his sister went to school with him, he wouldn’t have to worry about her being beaten anymore.

The word "okay" had barely formed in his throat when Siqi broke down first. "I don’t want to go to school! I don’t want to go! I don’t want to get my hands smacked!"

The noise gave Nan Sheng a headache, and she pulled the girl over, manually shutting her up.

"As long as you behave in school and finish your homework on time, the teacher won’t smack your hands."

So stop wailing already!

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 5

Siqi pushed Nan Sheng's hand away and instead clung to her stepmother's leg, wailing loudly.

"I just don’t want to go to school, Mom. I can dig wild vegetables for you every day at home. I’m really capable—please don’t send me to school."

Nan Sheng couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Even Wang Baochuan, the legendary diligent woman, couldn’t out-dig you. She was impressed!

"Alright, alright, no school then. But if you keep crying, your mom’s ears will go deaf."

Sizhe’s dream of attending school was ruthlessly crushed by his little sister. He sighed and had no choice but to reject his stepmother’s suggestion. As always, he couldn’t bring himself to leave Siqi alone with her.

"Then I won’t go to school either. Earning work points is just fine."

Nan Sheng was so annoyed she nearly laughed. Were these two kids testing her patience now, daring to talk back? She raised her hand threateningly at Sizhe. "Say that again?"

Sizhe: "..."

The memory of her slaps instantly flooded back. He used to be such a cheerful, lively boy—now he was practically depressed from all the beatings.

"I think—"

Slap! His left cheek flushed red.

"I—"

Slap! His right cheek swelled up.

Sizhe covered his face with both hands. "Fine! I’ll go tomorrow!!!"

Satisfied, Nan Sheng lowered her hand, thinking to herself, Does this kid have some kind of disorder? He only listens after a beating.

Just as she was about to send Siqi and her brother back to the west room to sleep, the little girl copied her brother, covering her face with her hands, clearly afraid of getting slapped too.

Nan Sheng clicked her tongue and continued her threat. "After New Year’s, you’ll be six years old. You have to go to school then. If you don’t obey, I’ll spank you too, understand?"

Siqi nodded frantically. Fine, I’ll go. But New Year’s is still far away.

Before bed, Nan Sheng checked her system. As expected, the affection points hadn’t increased—probably because those last two slaps had hurt quite a bit...

The next morning, Nan Sheng finished cooking, but neither child had gotten up. Worried that Sizhe had gone back on his word, she marched into their room, hand raised for another slap.

Inside, she found both siblings still fast asleep, looking perfectly content. She yanked the blanket off and pinched their noses one by one. "Sizhe, Qiqi, time to eat."

School required students to arrive by 7 a.m. With no clock at home, Nan Sheng could only guess the time. Siqi woke up first, blinking drowsily and calling out, "Mom..." But Sizhe didn’t stir at all.

Nan Sheng sensed something wrong. She touched his forehead—it was burning. Lifting his clothes, she saw the welts on his body had swollen. The wounds were likely infected, causing the fever.

"Sizhe? Sizhe, can you hear me?"

She rushed to the kitchen for a basin of warm water, soaked a cloth, and wiped him down. Then she instructed her daughter,

"Qiqi, your brother’s sick. Stay here and keep him company, okay? Mom’s going to fetch Uncle Li to check on him."

Siqi nodded obediently and even mimicked her stepmother, gently wiping her brother’s face.

Li Min was Xiangyang Village’s barefoot doctor, stocking basic medicines and even giving injections. Villagers usually went to him for minor illnesses.

Country folk rose early. When Nan Sheng arrived at the Li household, the family was eating breakfast. Li Min’s wife greeted her, "Oh, Lin Han’s wife! Join us for a bite?"

It was just polite small talk—Nan Sheng knew better than to take it seriously. "No, thank you, sister. It’s urgent. Sizhe’s running a fever. I need Big Brother Li to take a look."

Li Min immediately set down his bowl and began packing his medical kit. "Big Brother Li, Sizhe was whipped with a bamboo stick yesterday. The wounds are swollen now. Do you have any ointment to bring along?"

"Got it!" Li Min ducked into another room to fetch the medicine. His wife muttered angrily, "That Third Brother Lin is a real piece of work. How could he hit a child so hard? He made the poor boy sick!"

Nan Sheng’s face darkened with worry. In these times, a high fever was no joke—many children ended up brain-damaged from it. She had no idea how long Sizhe had been burning up.

"You’re absolutely right, sister. I’ve got a quick temper too—I’ll smack them when they misbehave—but I’d never use a stick or bamboo on them. What kind of uncle does that?"

Once Li Min had everything ready, he hurried out with Nan Sheng, both walking briskly.

His wife watched them go and murmured to herself, Huh. Maybe Lin Han’s wife isn’t as bad as everyone says. She’s frantic over that sick kid.

Sizhe’s fever was severe. Li Min prepared an injection first, jabbing it into his backside, then left behind fever-reducing pills and an ointment for the wounds.

"Give him the pills when he wakes up. If the fever hasn’t broken by noon, I’ll come back for another injection. This boy’s constitution is too weak."

Nan Sheng felt the subtle jab at her parenting. She forced an awkward smile and went to fetch money. The visit cost her one yuan and fifty cents—proof of how illness could bankrupt the poor.

After applying the ointment, Nan Sheng fed Siqi breakfast and wiped Sizhe down twice more to cool him.

About two hours later, Sizhe finally stirred. His temperature had dropped, though he still spoke weakly.

Knowing he’d have no appetite, Nan Sheng brought him only a thin porridge. "Sizhe, you’ve got a fever. Rest well. Sleep if you’re tired—you’ll feel better when you wake up."

Sizhe closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. He’d heard his stepmother’s voice earlier but couldn’t open his eyes. He’d felt her wiping him down, calling the doctor, applying medicine... He remembered everything.

Before he knew it, his eyes grew damp. If only she’d treated me like this from the start...

Li Min’s medicine worked wonders. By noon, the swelling had subsided, and though Sizhe was still warm, the worst of the fever had passed.

Li Min stopped by to check and smiled. "No need for another injection. Just keep taking the pills."

As Nan Sheng walked him out, Lin Guozheng and his wife arrived at the door. Li Min greeted them, "Uncle, Auntie! Don’t worry—Lin Han’s wife took good care of him. The boy’s fever is down."

Lin Guozheng sighed in relief. "Thank you, Min. If not for you, the poor child might’ve been ruined by that fever."

Li Min waved it off and left to finish his meal.

An awkward silence fell between the three. The elderly couple had never liked Nan Sheng, and she didn’t push it. "Go see Sizhe. He’s feeling miserable from the illness."

Her mother-in-law, Fan Shuting, asked quietly, "We just got back and heard Sizhe was sick. Did his uncle do this yesterday?"

Nan Sheng didn’t sugarcoat it. "Hard to say. This morning, the whip marks were swollen, and he was burning up. I should’ve taken it seriously sooner."

They entered the room to find Sizhe trying to sit up for his grandparents. Fan Shuting pressed him back down. "Rest while you’re sick. No need to get up. You’ve suffered enough."

Oh, he’s suffered alright—your grandson even cried in secret, Nan Sheng thought.

Before leaving, the couple tried to give her five yuan. Nan Sheng refused. "Lin Han left me money before he went away. Keep yours. If I need funds, I’ll demand it from Third Brother—he’s the one who beat my child half to death."

The logic was sound. Lin Guozheng and his wife exchanged a glance and took the money back.

They were just afraid the third son's wife wouldn't agree, and the two families would end up fighting again!

Chapter 6

It’s unclear how the old couple managed to persuade her, but before long, Third Lin’s Wife personally came over to hand over five yuan, her face sullen with displeasure.

"We’re giving you the money, but from now on, stop telling everyone that Third Lin beat your eldest son."

Nan Sheng snorted, refusing to give her a friendly look either. "If you’re afraid of being gossiped about, then do something decent. This money is for the child’s medical expenses, not to buy my silence. I’ll say whatever I want."

Before marriage, Third Lin’s Wife had been a notorious spitfire. The only reason she was behaving so meekly now was because Nan Sheng had beaten her into submission the day before.

Her sharp tongue hadn’t dulled, though. "As if you’ve never laid a hand on the boy yourself! If you were such a good stepmother, would those kids have been starved to skin and bones? Stop pretending to be the saint now!"

What infuriated her most was how her in-laws always took Second Brother’s side. Nan Sheng had no intention of denying her past mistakes—with the original host’s behavior as a benchmark, she saw no need to grovel, and frankly, it felt liberating.

"Of course I hit them. Are they my biological children? Do I have any bond with them? Let me make this clear—if they misbehave in the future, I’ll beat them again!

But you two, their own uncle and aunt—didn’t you used to rely on Lin Han’s help? How is it that the moment their father was gone, not only did you refuse to lend a hand, but you treated them even worse than I did?"

The eldest boy’s lips twitched. His stepmother had no virtues to speak of, except for her brutal honesty. Hearing her words made his entire body ache, especially his face.

Clearly, even Sun Qian was left speechless by her shamelessness. Since she couldn’t win in a fight or an argument, she might as well go home and nap—she still had to work in the afternoon.

The couple had their own grievances too. The last time Second Brother returned, they had hoped to borrow some money to fix their leaky roof—no one could endure the constant dripping during rain.

But Lin Han refused, saying the money was for his wedding, which naturally bred resentment.

Now, not only had they become the village laughingstock, but they’d also lost five yuan. Third Lin wasn’t pleased with her either.

Sizhe was still weak, so Nan Sheng wasn’t in a hurry to send him to school. Instead, she planned to go to town to buy some nourishing food for the family.

Early the next morning, she cooked breakfast and kept it warm in the pot. Hearing movement from the west room, she peeked in and saw Sizhe had woken up.

Nan Sheng checked his temperature with her hand. "Good, no fever. I’m heading to town to buy some things. Food’s in the pot—eat whenever you’re hungry."

Sizhe’s throat was too sore to speak, so he just nodded. She didn’t mind, adding, "If you’re not feeling well, just stay in bed. I’ll try to come back early!"

After fetching money and ration coupons from her room, Nan Sheng set off. Today, she planned to buy a wristwatch and a bicycle—otherwise, she’d have no way to carry the rice and flour back.

Sizhe, after getting up, noticed the chickens hadn’t been fed. Resigned, he chopped up some wild greens, mixed them with corn bran, and poured it into the feeding trough. The two hens fluttered over eagerly.

Only then did he leisurely wash his face and eat. Nan Sheng, worried he might have no appetite, had specially prepared a cucumber salad—sweet and sour, perfect for whetting his hunger.

After the meal, he sat on a bamboo chair in the yard, staring blankly into the distance until Siqi’s voice called him back inside.

The ointment worked well—his bruises no longer hurt.

The nearest town to Xiangyang Village was Huaishan Town, over ten kilometers away. Without transportation, Nan Sheng had to walk the entire way. It was the hottest season of the year, and within minutes, her clothes were drenched in sweat.

Her luck was rotten—not a single oxcart or horse-drawn carriage passed by on the road.

Upon reaching town, Nan Sheng headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative. Rice, flour, meat, and daily necessities—everything had to be bought here.

Since her marriage, Nan Sheng had scrimped and saved to the point of destitution, even selling off her decent clothes for cheap. Now, she looked utterly unremarkable.

With grain coupons in hand, she wasn’t in a rush to buy staples. First, she wanted to secure the bicycle and wristwatch—it’d make transporting the groceries easier.

At the bicycle section, her face darkened further. Why were they all "28-inch bar" models?

With her short legs, mounting wouldn’t be an issue, but dismounting? Forget it. She couldn’t rely on her face to brake, could she?

"Comrade, do you have any bicycles without the crossbar? I’m buying it for myself."

The salesclerk, surprisingly polite despite Nan Sheng’s shabby appearance, replied, "Comrade, our town only stocks this type. The women’s bicycles you’re looking for are only available in the county."

In rural areas, the crossbar models were preferred—they could carry more cargo and made it easier to transport people.

Defeated, Nan Sheng wondered if she’d have to push the bike all the way home. Or should she test her luck?

"Fine. How much for this one? I’ll take it!"

Seeing her determination, the clerk explained in detail, "We only have two models here. The Feige brand is stylish but expensive—200 yuan plus a bicycle coupon.

The Phoenix brand is sturdier and more affordable—150 yuan plus the coupon. Which would you like?"

Without hesitation, Nan Sheng pulled out a bicycle coupon and 150 yuan. A pretty but impractical thing? Not for her.

The clerk was startled by her decisiveness. In these times, buying a bicycle was cause for celebration—firecrackers and all. Yet this customer didn’t even blink. So wealthy!

"Please wait, Comrade. I’ll get your receipt right away!"

With the bicycle purchased, Nan Sheng moved on to the wristwatch counter. The salesperson, noticing her shiny new bike, became exceptionally enthusiastic.

"Comrade, are you looking for a men’s or women’s watch?"

"Women’s!"

The designs were similar—the women’s version was just slightly smaller. Ironically, they cost more because they were considered essential wedding gifts, making them more sought-after.

After browsing, Nan Sheng winced. The cheapest women’s watch still cost 100 yuan. Too expensive—she couldn’t bring herself to spend that much.

Then she spotted a few dull-looking watches in the men’s section. Pointing, she asked, "Are these older models? Do they require coupons?"

Assuming she was just curious, the clerk explained, "These are secondhand—very cheap, no coupons needed."

Nan Sheng’s eyes lit up. She didn’t care about appearances; telling time was enough. "Tell me about these. I’ll take one."

Under the clerk’s disdainful gaze, she picked a used watch for just 60 yuan—no coupon required. The only hitch was the oversized strap, which the clerk had to shorten by removing a few links.

Before she’d even walked away, the clerk muttered to a coworker, "Buying a secondhand watch for her wedding… tsk."

Nan Sheng bought ten pounds each of rice and flour, along with brown sugar, rock sugar, and White Rabbit milk candies. She restocked other household essentials too. The only disappointment was the meat stall—the good cuts were long gone, leaving only ribs and trotters.

Undaunted, she used her meat coupons to buy two pounds of ribs and four pig’s feet. Meat was meat—she and the kids needed it. Finally, she grabbed a jar of snowflake cream before leaving.

His face was so dark that she felt like calling the police, afraid his gleaming teeth might scare someone to death in the middle of the night!

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 7

Afraid that her purchases might attract attention, Nan Sheng deliberately covered them with a woven plastic bag to hide what was tied inside.

Thinking of the two children at home, she grew anxious and hurried back, pushing the cart. Though their time together had been short, she genuinely cared for them.

Having been an orphan herself, she knew what it was like to grow up without anyone to shield her from life’s hardships. Even if it was just to make up for her own past, she wanted to be a dependable figure for these two children.

After finishing her shopping, she stopped by the vehicle registration office to get her license stamped—now she officially owned a bicycle.

At this time of year, most villagers were busy working in the fields, so the roads were quiet. Whenever she passed hillsides or overgrown paths, Nan Sheng’s heart raced, fearing she might run into bandits.

After pushing the cart for about half an hour, she was too exhausted to go on and had to stop to rest.

She checked her watch—it was already 11:30. She wondered if the two little ones at home had anything to eat.

Nan Sheng had a simple mindset: since she couldn’t leave the Lin family due to her obligations, and since she’d be living with the children for a long time, she would take on the responsibility of being their guardian for as long as she stayed.

As for Lin Han, he was stationed at the military base year-round, so their paths rarely crossed. She considered him more like an employer—after all, he paid her wages, and in return, she raised his children. Neither of them was at a disadvantage.

Just as she was lost in thought, an ox cart approached from the direction of the town. A kind-hearted elderly woman called out from a distance, "Comrade, which village are you from? Do you need a ride?"

When they got closer, the woman noticed the bicycle and chuckled awkwardly. "Girl, why aren’t you riding your bike?"

Nan Sheng felt a little embarrassed, but the couple seemed honest, so she admitted, "This is the family’s bicycle, but I’m too short to get on it properly."

Riding the ox cart wouldn’t be so bad—slow, but at least it would save her energy.

Hearing this, the old woman immediately guided the cart closer. "Quick, girl! Step on the cart’s edge—you’ll be able to mount the bike from there."

Nan Sheng: ?

Before she could react, the woman had already helped her onto the bicycle, looking pleased with herself. Luckily, Nan Sheng’s feet could reach the pedals, so riding wasn’t too difficult.

The old man watched as Nan Sheng wobbled ahead and muttered to his wife, "Wouldn’t it have been better to let her ride the ox cart? What if she falls?"

His wife swatted his arm. "Just drive the cart. Riding a bicycle is faster and looks more impressive."

Another good deed done—she’d surely earn some merit for this!

Meanwhile, Nan Sheng was struggling. The road was bumpy, with large stones jutting out in places, making the ride uncomfortable. After a while, she managed to pick up speed and estimated she’d be home in another half-hour.

Back at the house, Sizhe and Siqi had finished breakfast long ago and were now starving. Siqi clutched her stomach and whined, "Brother, can’t you make us something to eat?"

Sizhe shot her an exasperated look. Had she already forgotten their stepmother’s temper after just two days of decent meals?

If he dared touch the food supplies, she’d throw a fit when she returned.

"Just bear with it. We used to survive on three bowls of water a day—we’ll manage. I’ll go check the riverbank and see if I can find any duck eggs."

Siqi pouted. That wasn’t the same!

Even if they didn’t always have enough at home, their grandparents and brother would sneak her food. Besides, after eating well these past few days, skipping a meal felt even worse.

She whimpered, "Then hurry back, okay?"

Just as Sizhe stepped outside, he spotted someone on a bicycle approaching from a distance, swaying so precariously it looked like they might topple any second. He sidestepped to avoid being hit.

"Is that you, big kid?" Nan Sheng called out cheerfully.

Sizhe froze. Was that his stepmother on the bicycle?

Before he could respond, Nan Sheng urged him to open the gate—otherwise, she might crash into it. "Stay back! I can’t steer very well."

But Sizhe didn’t move. Afraid she’d ride straight into the house, he followed closely behind her. "Just pull the brakes slowly, and the bike will stop."

Was the problem that Nan Sheng didn’t know how to brake?

No—the real issue was that even if the bike stopped, she couldn’t get off. So she kept circling the yard until even Sizhe couldn’t help but laugh.

"Slow down, pull the brakes, and I’ll hold the front wheel steady so you can step off."

Nan Sheng hesitated, worried he might get hurt, but before she could protest, Sizhe had already positioned himself in front of the bike. She slammed on the brakes—the bike stopped, but she ended up with an unfortunate crotch collision.

The pain was… unforgettable.

Luckily, Sizhe was strong enough to tilt the bike gently to the left, allowing her to dismount safely without either of them falling.

"Big kid, take the things from the bike to the kitchen. I’ll sort them out later."

Sizhe watched as his stepmother hobbled inside, her face twisted in discomfort. He bit back a laugh—this was probably the happiest he’d felt in months.

He parked the bicycle by the door and began unloading the groceries: rice, flour, assorted candies, seasonings, and most importantly—meat!

Though it was just the less desirable cuts like ribs and pig’s feet.

As soon as he finished, he heard Siqi’s excited chatter from the east room. "Mom, you’re back! Did you really buy meat? Can we have some tonight?"

"Sweetheart, please let me lie down for a bit. You can even cook my flesh tonight if you want!" came the exhausted reply.

"Uh… never mind."

Siqi pouted again. She definitely wasn’t eating human meat.

Meanwhile, Sizhe, like any boy his age, was fascinated by the bicycle. His eyes sparkled as he circled it, itching to try riding it himself.

Nan Sheng, drained from exhaustion, hunger, and her recent ordeal, took a long time to recover. Siqi brought her a bowl of cold water, which she gulped down gratefully.

"Come on, let me show you what I bought."

In the kitchen, the rice and flour had already been neatly stored, and the seasonings and baking soda were in their proper places. Sizhe had even placed the meat in cold water to keep it fresh—she was impressed by his diligence.

She took the three types of candy and a jar of moisturizing cream to her room, then handed Siqi two pieces of White Rabbit milk candy. "I bought sweets today. From now on, you can have one piece every day, okay?"

Siqi nodded eagerly, already popping one into her mouth.

Only after arriving home did Nan Sheng realize she’d forgotten something crucial—she’d bought the bike but not a lock. What if a thief sneaked in at night and stole it?

She called out, "Big kid, bring the bike into my room. I forgot to buy a lock."

Sizhe obeyed immediately, wheeling the bicycle inside. As he turned to leave, she grabbed his arm and pressed two pieces of White Rabbit candy into his palm.

His stepmother smiled. "These are for you. Don’t secretly save them for your sister—too much candy will rot her teeth!"

Chapter 8

The weather was scorching, and the meat she bought couldn’t be finished in one meal, so Nan Sheng decided to salt the ribs and save them for tomorrow.

At noon, since no one in the family had eaten, Nan Sheng asked Sizhe to pick two tomatoes from the garden. She stir-fried them in oil until the juices came out, then added water and eggs to make a simple flour dumpling soup.

Her little shadow didn’t mind the heat in the kitchen, sitting on a small stool by the stove to tend the fire for her stepmother. The poor child had lost her birth mother at the age of three, and despite Nan Sheng’s past neglect, she remained clingy.

"Mom, it smells so good!"

"Then eat as much as you like. Next time I go to town, I’ll buy some pork fat to render lard for cooking."

The two children hadn’t had wheat flour in a long time, so they devoured the dumpling soup ravenously. Nan Sheng, who didn’t do heavy labor, didn’t have a big appetite and set her spoon down after one bowl.

"Sizhe, we have enough food at home now. Eat as much as you want, but don’t overdo it and hurt your stomach."

Sizhe glanced up at his stepmother. At his age, he had a hearty appetite, and he wasn’t sure if her words were out of concern or annoyance at how much he was eating.

"I’m not full yet!"

Nan Sheng: "…So she hadn’t been letting her son eat his fill before? No wonder his favorability hadn’t gone up."

"Alright, next time I’ll make this much. If you’re still hungry, just tell me."

Sizhe nodded and went back to slurping his soup.

After the meal, Sizhe took the initiative to teach his little sister how to wash the dishes. The two of them cleaned up the kitchen noisily, giving Nan Sheng a chance to take a proper nap.

When she woke up, the yard was bustling with noise. She washed her face in the kitchen and stepped outside to see who had arrived.

Quite a crowd had gathered—her mother-in-law, Granny Zhang from next door, and a few other neighbors. "Come inside, everyone! Sizhe, why didn’t you wake me when your grandma arrived?"

Her mother-in-law shielded her grandson. "I told him not to. I heard you went to town today—must’ve been tiring, walking back and forth."

Granny Zhang chimed in, "Nan Sheng, did you buy a bicycle?"

The news had come from Liu Dahua, the village gossip. The moment she caught wind of anything new, the whole village would know within minutes.

When Nan Sheng rode back on the bike, Liu Dahua had spotted her and even rushed to her mother-in-law’s place to report.

Nan Sheng hadn’t planned to hide it. She asked Sizhe to bring the bike out for everyone to see.

"Before Lin Han left, he gave me money to buy a sewing machine. But since I don’t know how to use one, I thought it’d be a waste. Instead, I bought a bicycle—much more convenient for getting around!"

Hearing this, the neighbors understood why Nan Sheng’s wedding had been so modest—she just hadn’t decided what to buy yet.

Her mother-in-law was pleased. Before, Nan Sheng had clung tightly to the betrothal gifts, making her fear her daughter-in-law might run off with the money. Now, it seemed she had settled down.

Aunt Li added, "Take your time furnishing the house. No point wasting money on things you won’t use. A bicycle is a good choice—it’s not even an hour’s ride to town."

Sizhe wheeled the bike out, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. In a village of 300 households, fewer than 20 families owned bicycles—let alone a brand-new one like this, which looked downright impressive.

"Oh, this is a fine bike! Sizhe, step aside—let me take it for a spin!"

The speaker was Aunt Guihua, about the same age as Nan Sheng’s mother-in-law but far too forward, often coming off as rude.

Sizhe didn’t like her and blocked the bike. "It’s too tall for you, Aunt Guihua. You might fall. Better not try."

Nan Sheng backed him up. "Honestly, I’m taller than Aunt Guihua, and even I struggled with it. If Sizhe hadn’t steadied the bike when I got home, I’d have taken a spill."

The crowd burst into laughter, agreeing that a bike this tall was better suited for men.

Rebuffed twice, Aunt Guihua dropped the idea but kept running her hands over the bike, praising its looks. Before leaving, she couldn’t resist trying to get the last word.

"Nan Sheng, next time my family needs to borrow it, don’t be stingy!"

The others exchanged glances, thinking Aunt Guihua had some nerve. Who’d dare ask to borrow something so expensive? What if it got scratched?

But Nan Sheng matched her audacity. "Of course, Aunt Guihua! Borrow it anytime. I was just wondering how to earn back the cost."

Aunt Guihua balked. "What? You’d charge me? No one in this village does that!"

Nan Sheng raised her voice. "What, Aunt Guihua? You wouldn’t actually expect to use my brand-new bike for free, would you?"

Speechless, Aunt Guihua turned on her heel and left, grumbling to anyone who’d listen that Nan Sheng had gotten too big for her britches after buying a bicycle.

Granny Zhang and the others didn’t linger either, not wanting Nan Sheng to think they were there to freeload.

"Granny Zhang, wait!" Nan Sheng called out, then ducked into the kitchen to fetch a small bag of baking soda and a handful of candies. "I bought the soda you lent me. Here’s some for you, plus a few sweets for your grandkids."

Granny Zhang hesitated at the full bag. "You’re too generous! I only gave you a little."

Nan Sheng smiled sweetly. "Please take it. What you gave me was at least half a bag. If you refuse now, I’ll be too shy to borrow anything in the future."

After a glance at Nan Sheng’s mother-in-law, Granny Zhang accepted with an embarrassed chuckle. "Alright, I’ll take it. But what’s with the candy?"

Nan Sheng: "I bought a pound for the kids. Here’s some for your grandson to enjoy!"

Once the neighbors had left, Nan Sheng ushered her mother-in-law inside, noticing Sizhe still eyeing the bike.

"Sizhe, if you want to ride it, go ahead—just stay in the yard. Put it back inside when you’re done."

"Okay!" Sizhe replied, unable to hide his excitement.

Her mother-in-law’s opinion of Nan Sheng had improved lately. Not seeing her granddaughter, she asked, "Where’s Siqi? Out playing?"

"No, she’s napping in the other room." Nan Sheng took a cloth bag, filled it with two handfuls of milk candies and a small packet of rock sugar, then handed it over.

"Use the rock sugar to make mung bean soup—it’s too hot these days, easy to get heatstroke. The milk candies are for your eldest son’s kids."

Her mother-in-law pushed it away. "Don’t worry about us. Just focus on taking care of yourselves."

"Take it—it’s not expensive! Besides, I’ve saved some for Sizhe and Siqi." Nan Sheng insisted until her mother-in-law relented.

"Come for dinner tonight. I meant to buy fatty pork in town but only got pig’s feet. If you don’t come, I’ll have to send Sizhe to deliver it."

That settled it. "Fine, your father and I will come. No need to send anything!"

With no classes at the school today, she’d only meant to check on the kids—never expected a free meal!

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 9

Seeing her daughter-in-law making progress, the mother-in-law seized the opportunity to discuss the children's schooling with her.

"Second daughter-in-law, marrying Lin Han has put you through hardship. He's older than you and left you to raise his two children."

Nan Sheng knew what her mother-in-law was hinting at and answered honestly, "It’s not hardship—he paid a high bride price."

The mother-in-law continued, "Here’s what I think: the older boy is doing well in school. If he can get into university, he’ll surely take care of you in the future. Why not let him go back to studying?"

Nan Sheng thought to herself how different it was having an educated mother-in-law—she knew how to speak and act with grace. "Alright, I actually told him a couple of days ago to return to school. He just got delayed because he fell sick."

The mother-in-law hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Her face crinkled into a smile. "Good, then he’ll go tomorrow. Don’t worry—if the boy grows up ungrateful, I’ll stand up for you!"

That wasn’t necessary. Nan Sheng figured even biological children weren’t guaranteed to be filial, let alone stepchildren. Doing her duty was enough.

"Grandma, you don’t need to worry. At first, the kids weren’t close to me, and it upset me, so I might’ve acted out of line. But I won’t do that anymore.

Sizhe and Siqi are good kids. I’ll treat them as my own, but if they misbehave, I’ll still discipline them."

Back then, parents believed in the saying, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." As long as Nan Sheng fed and clothed them, no one would interfere if she gave them a few smacks.

"Of course! You’re their mother now—washing their clothes, cooking their meals—you have every right to discipline them."

With their agreement settled, the conversation flowed even more smoothly. The mother-in-law stayed for a long while before leaving. Outside the window, Sizhe was lost in thought again.

Would his stepmother really treat him and his sister as her own?

Pork trotters needed to be stewed until tender and flavorful. Nan Sheng had her son start a fire outside to singe off the hairs. Sizhe burned them off one by one while she rinsed each piece clean. They worked in perfect sync.

Siqi watched eagerly, practically drooling. Nan Sheng found her in the way and assigned her a task—picking some greens for a mixed stew.

Excited by her mission, Siqi scampered off to work. The three of them looked like a harmonious family.

"It’s too hot. I wish we could move the stove outside."

Nan Sheng muttered to herself, but to her surprise, Sizhe responded, "Should I ask Uncle to help?"

A wave of warmth washed over her. Her son seemed hard to approach, but after just a few days of proper meals, his attitude had softened.

Children were more forgiving than adults—better at letting go.

"Never mind. We only have two stoves indoors, and we’d have to move them back when it gets cold. Are you feeling better? Can you go to school tomorrow?"

"Yes!"

Nan Sheng didn’t push further. Once the pork trotters were ready, she brought them inside to stew. Just then, a cry came from the garden—"Brother, help! I can’t carry it!"

Sizhe shook his head and went to fetch the vegetable basket, dragging his sister back with him.

"Little sister, you only have two sets of clothes. Try not to ruin them, okay?"

He was tired of washing them!

Siqi covered her ears, pretending not to hear, and happily ran inside to tend the fire for her stepmother.

Nan Sheng found the little girl adorable and fetched two pieces of rock sugar, giving one to each child. Siqi ate hers happily, but Sizhe hesitated.

He still felt awkward around his stepmother, unused to such gestures. Nan Sheng noticed but pretended not to.

After an hour of stewing, Nan Sheng lifted the lid and added soaked soybeans. She shifted the fire to the side, scooped out the rice, and started on the stew.

The elderly couple arrived just as the food was ready. Nan Sheng also prepared a cucumber salad to cut through the richness.

Dinner was a mix of rice and crushed corn, cooked with a few drops of oil—fragrant and inviting.

Lin Guozheng, her father-in-law, was surprised by the feast. "Rice is so precious. You should save it for yourself and the kids. We old folks can eat anything."

Nan Sheng smiled without replying and filled everyone’s bowls. Her in-laws didn’t live with her—it would be petty to nitpick over an occasional meal.

Besides, she had no one else in the village to rely on. A few meals were a small price for their support.

Siqi pouted. "Mom, why is my bowl so small?"

Nan Sheng dropped a pork trotter into her bowl and warned sternly, "Use your hands if the chopsticks are hard. One more word, and I’ll spank you."

The grandparents chuckled and picked up their chopsticks. The stewed pork trotters with soybeans filled two large plates, accompanied by a pot of mixed vegetables and a small dish of salad.

The meal was absolutely divine!

After dinner, the mother-in-law helped Nan Sheng clean up. "You’re quite the cook. It’s been ages since we had meat at home."

Nan Sheng felt a pang of sadness—even the leftover stew broth had been mixed into rice by Sizhe and his grandfather. Times were tough.

With the summer sun still lingering, Lin Guozheng and his wife boasted to everyone about their daughter-in-law’s cooking and kindness toward the children.

Some neighbors smiled in agreement, while others scoffed in disbelief. But it was none of their business.

Back home, the eldest daughter-in-law, Zhou Wei, frowned when she saw them return empty-handed. "Dad, Mom, didn’t the second daughter-in-law send any pork trotters back? We have kids too!"

Her husband, the eldest Lin son, scolded her. "What kids? Our youngest is fifteen! And how much meat could they have bought? Must you be so greedy?"

He was content that his brother’s wife had invited their parents. His own wife was just petty and quarrelsome.

"Of course I must! We’ve helped raise those two kids. If she had any sense, she’d have invited all of us!"

Hearing the neighbors stir, the eldest Lin didn’t want to argue. Thankfully, his sons were reasonable.

Sizhong: "Mom, Second Aunt sent rock sugar and milk candies with Grandma. She did think of us. Don’t hold it against her."

Sicheng: "Yeah, Mom! I’ll get you a piece of rock sugar. Sweet things make you happy."

Pacified by her sons, Zhou Wei finally quieted down. The elderly couple exchanged a weary glance.

They still worked hard, sharing their earnings and work points with the eldest and third sons. Yet the eldest daughter-in-law begrudged a few meals for the second son’s children.

What would happen when they could no longer work?

Chapter 10

Before going to bed, Nan Sheng opened the system as usual and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly when she saw the glaring number "1" in the favorability column.

Would she even be able to complete this mission in her lifetime?

Sizhe returning to school was no small matter—it required a parent’s accompaniment. Seeing her son carrying a worn-out little bag, Nan Sheng realized she had overlooked something.

"Tomorrow, I’ll make you a new backpack. And if you’re missing any pens or notebooks, just let me know."

"Mom, I want one too!"

Nan Sheng pushed her bicycle and brought Siqi along, afraid the little girl might run around unsupervised at home. Now, she was even learning to compete for attention.

"Alright, you can go to school with your brother today. I’ll go to town to buy pens and notebooks for both of you."

Siqi wasn’t as resistant to school now, but after glancing at her brother and then at her stepmother, she decided to stay home a little longer. "I’ll go after the New Year!"

The topic of whether Sizhe needed anything was cut short, and no one brought it up again.

The elementary school was built in the center of several nearby villages, requiring at least a twenty-minute walk from Xiangyang Village. Her mother-in-law also taught there, handling fifth and sixth grades, while Sizhe was in fourth grade.

"Big Kid, it’s normal to fall behind after missing two months of classes. Don’t stress too much. If you don’t understand the textbooks, you can always ask Grandma at home."

"Got it!"

Sizhe wanted to say he had been reviewing the textbooks at home and that Grandma had been tutoring him, so he could keep up.

Nan Sheng had thought sending a child to school would be simple, but she hadn’t expected to run into a meddlesome teacher like Tang Jing.

"You’re Lin Sizhe’s guardian, right? He’s such a bright student, and his grandmother teaches here. Why did you make him drop out?"

Nan Sheng hated trouble. Back then, it was the child himself who told the teacher he wouldn’t be attending anymore. The tuition hadn’t been refunded, but that was common—many families did the same, and children could return if they wanted to resume their studies.

Why was she being interrogated like this?

"Teacher Tang, never mind the reason. Just tell me if he can come back to school or not."

Tang Jing, an educated youth sent to the countryside, had always admired Lin Sizhe for his intelligence and diligence. Hearing rumors about his stepmother’s poor character, she couldn’t help but speak up.

But Nan Sheng’s temper was worse than her reputation. She didn’t bother with polite words, which only fueled Tang Jing’s anger.

"If you don’t explain clearly, I won’t allow him back."

"Fine, then refund the tuition. My kid dropped out shortly after the term started—you know how much should be returned!"

Nan Sheng had no patience to argue with the young teacher. She planned to have her mother-in-law take Sizhe back to re-enroll tomorrow.

"What? Dropping out again! I knew you, as a stepmother, had ill intentions. Are you trying to ruin Sizhe’s future?"

Tang Jing’s voice grew louder, drawing curious glances from other teachers in the office.

Nan Sheng grew even more impatient. Covering her daughter’s ears to shield her from the commotion, she snapped, "Teacher Tang, either let my kid return to class or give us our money back. You’re just a teacher—my family matters are none of your business."

Other teachers chimed in, "Teacher Tang, don’t push it. Let the student return first."

In the village, educated folks were scarce, and in this era, factory work and farming were more valued. Dropping out of rural elementary schools was common, but at least the family had brought the child back, showing they still cared about education.

Sizhe stood silently nearby. After Tang Jing’s interference, he wasn’t sure if his stepmother had really wanted him to return to school or if she’d just come to demand a refund…

Tang Jing had no choice but to let Sizhe return to class, but she wasn’t done with Nan Sheng. "Wait! We need to settle this today. Neglecting a child and keeping him out of school is wrong!"

Nan Sheng was fed up. She really didn’t want to curse at a teacher, but she couldn’t hold back. Thankfully, the child’s grandmother also taught at the school, so she wasn’t worried about Tang Jing taking it out on Sizhe.

"Teacher Tang, are you out of your mind? I brought my kid here to learn. Your job is to teach him, not judge me.

Sizhe is your student—I’m not. You have no right to decide whether my actions are right or wrong! If you keep blocking my way, I’ll chop your hands off!"

If she couldn’t curse her to death, she’d scare her to death. Nan Sheng turned and walked away.

Tang Jing was left fuming. This stepmother was utterly unreasonable, and she feared Sizhe would suffer for it.

Another teacher consoled her, "Just go back to class. Some things are beyond our control. That parent doesn’t seem uneducated—she even argues in a structured way."

Tang Jing thought, Exactly! She’s even more talkative than I am!

On the way back, Nan Sheng continued pushing her bicycle. Even if she wasn’t afraid of falling, she couldn’t risk the kids getting hurt. As they reached the village, they ran into Uncle Liu, who was driving an oxcart to the town government to fetch farming tools.

"Uncle Liu, could I trouble you with something?"

Uncle Liu stopped the cart and chatted with Nan Sheng. "What is it? That bicycle of yours looks great—new ones are always sturdy."

Nan Sheng said politely, "My eldest is back in school, and we’re running low on pens and notebooks. Could you pick some up from the supply and marketing cooperative for me?"

Uncle Liu, happy to help a fellow villager, agreed. Nan Sheng pulled out a yuan from her pocket, wanting to stock up in case they ran out again.

At noon, mother and child ate steamed buns made from mixed grains and stir-fried vegetables. Just as they finished, Uncle Liu returned with the oxcart.

His booming voice carried from afar, "Is Lin Han’s wife home?"

Not wanting to let him leave empty-handed, Nan Sheng grabbed a bun and went out. "Thank you, Uncle Liu. Here’s a bun I steamed at noon—take it and see how it tastes."

She turned and left before he could refuse, leaving Uncle Liu clutching the bun in bewilderment.

He took a bite, and the aroma of wheat, sweet and fragrant, filled his senses. A bun this good didn’t even need side dishes—he could eat ten in one go.

The old man thought to himself, Lin Han’s wife knows how to handle things. I’d be happy to help her again.

Nan Sheng took out half of the marinated ribs to stew. She had used a lot of salt, so cooking all of them would be wasteful. She also stir-fried some greens and made an egg drop soup.

Siqi had been eagerly waiting for her brother to return. At exactly four o’clock, she carried her little stool to the doorway, her focused silhouette a picture of anticipation.

When the sound of the siblings chatting outside reached her, Nan Sheng checked her watch—it was exactly 4:30.

At the dinner table, Nan Sheng asked about her son’s day at school. "Did Teacher Tang give you any trouble?"

"No!" Not only had she not troubled him, she’d even seemed sympathetic toward him.

Nan Sheng casually picked up a rib for him and reminded Siqi to eat hers with a bun to balance the saltiness.

"Big Kid, what did you eat at noon? Did you get enough?"

"Nothing. The school doesn’t serve meals."

Nan Sheng: "…Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

Seeing his stepmother’s exasperated expression, Sizhe suddenly understood her train of thought. "It’s not just me. A lot of kids go hungry at noon."

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 11

The school had an hour-long lunch break, but these days, food was precious, and the porridge was thinner than water.

Even if students went home to eat, by the time they walked back and forth, it was already time to digest, so few bothered to go back.

Except for a few families who were better off and packed dry food for their kids, most students just went to the water room to drink their fill.

Nan Sheng thought about how hot the weather was now, and bringing cooked meals and dishes really wasn’t practical. She could only steam a few extra steamed buns in the morning for the kids to take to school. Without any dishes, she could pickle some salty vegetables—they were easier to preserve.

After taking a bath, Sizhe went back to his room to do his homework. The village had no electricity, so all his assignments had to be finished before dark.

Seeing the big stack of notebooks and pencils on the cabinet, he finally let go of the pencil that was only a small stub left, about the length of a fingertip. Siqi knew not to disturb her brother, so she ran off to the other room to cling to their stepmother.

Nan Sheng noticed the little girl’s neck was all dirty, so she took her to the kitchen and gave her a bath in the washbasin. After scrubbing three times, she finally got her clean, but ended up drenched in sweat herself.

By the time Sizhe finished his homework, his little sister was already asleep. He carried Siqi back to his own room.

Nan Sheng lay on the kang (heated brick bed) for a long time, unable to fall asleep. The heat was unbearable.

The system wasn’t making things easier for her either—it kept reminding Nan Sheng that her task progress was slow. To motivate her, the system said that for every ten points of increased favorability, it would gift her a random big prize.

Nan Sheng: Can you send me an air conditioner or a fan?

System: I can send you a fan, but do you have electricity?

The system’s words hit hard. Nan Sheng felt discouraged and gloomy. She didn’t know how long it took, but eventually, she finally fell asleep.

The next morning, it started to drizzle outside. Nan Sheng searched the house but couldn’t find an umbrella. When she asked the eldest child, she learned that the family’s only umbrella had been given away—she wasn’t sure to whom.

How awkward. Could it have really been given to that certain someone?

If so, she’d have to find a chance to get it back!

“I’m guessing the rain will get heavier soon. Let’s eat quickly. I’ll ride the bike to take you.”

Sizhe definitely weighed less than a hundred pounds, so carrying a child on a bike wasn’t too hard. He was picking up some food when he glanced at his stepmother and said, “Maybe not.”

He was worried that if no one was around when she got back, he’d just be stuck riding the bike around the yard. If he got unlucky and fell, he might damage the new bicycle.

Nan Sheng ignored him, finished eating, then grabbed a small bag and packed two big steamed buns inside. They were made with a mix of two kinds of flour, but with more cornmeal, giving them a golden-yellow hue.

“Finished eating? Once you’re done, we’ll go!”

She grabbed one of her jackets, pushed the bike outside, and Sizhe saw the rain was falling harder and harder. He had no choice but to agree.

Standing under the eaves, Nan Sheng handed the bag and jacket to her son. “Big kid, put the jacket over your head so the buns don’t get wet. I’ll ride slowly at first, and you can jump on behind me.”

Sizhe paused for a moment when he received the clothes and steamed buns. At that moment, Nan Sheng had already pushed the bike and rushed out to open the main gate. She kicked the pedal up to its highest position, swung her leg over the crossbar, and slowly rode forward.

Snapping back to his senses, Sizhe quickly ran outside, picked up the pace a bit, and leapt onto the back seat. The bicycle wobbled a few times before stabilizing.

Seeing that his stepmother was drenched from the rain, Sizhe leaned forward and pulled the jacket covering his own head over Nan Sheng’s back as well.

The twenty-minute journey could be covered in six or seven minutes by bike.

After jumping off the bike, Sizhe wanted to return the clothes to Nan Sheng, but she refused. “Wear the jacket into the classroom. Don’t catch a cold again. If it’s still raining after school, find a sheltered spot by the door and wait for me to come pick you up.”

Some classmates saw Sizhe being dropped off by his parent and looked on with envy. “You have a bike at home? That’s so nice! I got soaked walking all the way here.”

Sizhe pursed his lips but said nothing. Silently, he wrapped himself in the jacket and ran into the classroom. At that moment, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a booming clap of thunder.

But this time, unlike before, Sizhe seemed to have forgotten to pray to the heavens to strike down his stepmother along with the thunder.

Nan Sheng wasn’t as helpless as Sizhe thought. Not far from home, she spotted a large rock and stepped onto it, then pushed the bike all the way back.

By the time she got home, Siqi had woken up. She still looked a little scared but obediently sat on a small stool in the living room waiting.

“Mom, you’re back?”

Nan Sheng asked her daughter to keep some distance since she was soaked through. Siqi quickly ran to the kitchen to scoop hot water into a basin.

She spilled half of it, but luckily didn’t burn herself. By the time Nan Sheng changed into dry clothes and came out, the hot water was ready for her to freshen up.

There wasn’t much to do on a rainy day, so Nan Sheng went to the west room, grabbed a notebook and a pen, and started making a list of things to do.

First, she needed to replenish the household essentials. Even things like umbrellas and raincoats, which weren’t strictly necessary, had to be bought.

Her family had given her two pieces of fabric as part of her dowry—perfect thickness for making autumn clothes. She would need to find someone to help sew them and also buy some fabric for Sizhe’s clothes.

Once the subsidy and ration coupons arrived in the mail, she planned to visit her natal home. Since marrying into this family a few months ago, she hadn’t contacted her family, nor had they come here. There had to be some problem in between.

When she went back, who knows—maybe that so-called “boyfriend” would pop up on his own. As for the male lead, well, she was curious to see what kind of impressive appearance he could muster!

Lastly, she had to think about work.

Factories or the town’s “iron rice bowl” jobs weren’t an option—they wouldn’t allow her to take care of the child. As for running a business, that was even less realistic given the current environment.

After much thought, she decided to stay in the village. When the time was right, she would ask her father-in-law if he could get her a job as a scorekeeper.

The scorekeeper job only earned five work points a day but was not physically demanding. Since she could read and write, she was confident she could handle it!

After making her plans, Nan Sheng cuddled her daughter and went back to sleep for a while. Compared to the fast pace of modern life, she preferred this leisurely way of living.

School

Lunchtime was the hardest part of the day for the students. After a whole morning of classes, they were already exhausted—and yet there was nothing to eat.

The school didn’t have a cafeteria, and the teachers had to bring their own meals. Fan Shuting only ate twice a day; at noon, she, like the students, just drank water to get by.

Sizhe found the teachers’ office and took a steamed bun from his bag, handing it to his grandmother. He didn’t want to eat alone.

Fan Shuting couldn’t bear to take the child’s food. “Did your mom pack this? Keep it for yourself—Grandma’s not hungry!”

“I have another one. Grandma, you can have this one.”

Sizhe placed the bun on the table and then ran off. When he returned to his classroom to eat his own bun, he discovered there was also a piece of candy in the bag.

Had they treated him like a little sister to coax him?

His classmates cast envious glances at him, but no one dared to come closer. That afternoon, during class, he finally didn’t have to endure an empty stomach…

Chapter 12

The heavens smiled upon them as the sun peeked out in the afternoon, with a rainbow arching high in the sky. The basket for wild vegetables to feed the chickens was empty, so the mother and daughter decided to gather some by the roadside.

"Mom, there are more wild vegetables in the fields!"

Siqi thought her stepmother not only lacked thrift but also knew less than she did.

"Silly Siqi, the fields are still soaked from the rain—it hasn’t drained yet. It’s hard enough to walk there, let alone dig for vegetables!"

As they left the house, villagers were heading out to work. Nan Sheng greeted those she knew with a word and smiled politely at those she didn’t.

Passing by Aunt Li’s house, they heard the sound of a child being scolded and beaten. "Useless glutton! All you do is whine about being hungry. No matter how much grain we have, it’s never enough for you. You might as well just die!"

Siqi tugged at Nan Sheng’s pants, urging her to hurry past and not stop to gawk. Nan Sheng sighed inwardly—who was the adult here, really? Besides, the little brat had quite the grip; her pants were nearly yanked off.

Once they were farther away, Siqi suddenly stopped, pouting as she looked up at her stepmother. "Mom, do all of you prefer raising sons?"

Nan Sheng pinched the girl’s cheek playfully. After a few days under her care, Siqi hadn’t gained much weight, but her complexion had improved, and her big eyes sparkled with liveliness.

"Who says so? Not me! Think about it—doesn’t your brother get beaten more often than you? What does that tell you?"

"What does it tell me?" Siqi echoed.

"It means I prefer my little girl!"

Siqi pondered this and realized her stepmother did indeed discipline her brother more. A pleased smile spread across her face.

"You’re so nice, Mom. Not like Dali’s mom—she always calls Dali a ‘money-loser’ and says she’ll sell her once she has a son."

Dali? What kind of name was that for a girl?

But in these times, farming families relied on labor, so favoring sons was common. In a few years, when medical care improved, pregnant women would be pressured to check the baby’s gender. Girls were often aborted, leading to severe gender imbalances decades later, with sky-high bride prices in some regions.

For now, though, with no family planning policies, children were born as they came. Yet the status of daughters and sons at home remained worlds apart.

"Which family is Dali from?"

"Granny Li’s!"

Nan Sheng understood now why her daughter had pulled her away—she must have witnessed such scenes often. "Her mother is vicious. Anyone who tries to intervene gets cursed out."

Siqi pouted again. She’d been scolded more than once when she tried to play with Dali.

Outside the village, wild greens and vegetables grew thick along the roadside, though they had to be cautious of snakes lurking in the grass.

"Stay by the road when you pick vegetables, understand? No going into the thick grass."

"Got it!"

Assured, Nan Sheng crouched to gather greens, determined to collect enough so Siqi wouldn’t need to wander out daily with her little basket.

The heavy dew from the recent rain soaked Nan Sheng’s clothes, but her efforts paid off—she’d filled nearly half the basket in half an hour.

"Mom!" Siqi whispered.

"What is it?"

"Last time, Brother took me further ahead, and we found lots of wild duck eggs." She wanted to check again—roasted duck eggs were delicious!

Nan Sheng stifled a laugh. This girl couldn’t keep a secret. If her elder brother found out, he’d probably be furious.

Suddenly intrigued, she said, "Let’s go take a look, just the two of us!"

Nan Sheng let herself be dragged forward, but when they arrived, she hesitated. The grass here was taller than her—was this really worth it?

Seeing Siqi’s hopeful eyes, she relented, plunging into the thicket. "Wait here by the road. Don’t follow me."

The weeds were so dense Nan Sheng soon lost her bearings. After a fruitless search, she was about to turn back when she heard the flapping of wings ahead.

Huh? Actual wild ducks?

Following the sound, she noticed patches of flattened grass—likely where the ducks nested. Moving carefully, she discovered nearly twenty small but perfectly good duck eggs.

Like her son, Nan Sheng believed in leaving the ducks be—they could return for more eggs later. Come winter, when meat was scarce, they could set traps for a few.

On her way back, she rearranged the trampled grass so the wind would soon erase any trace of her presence.

Siqi, still crouched by the roadside, brightened when she saw Nan Sheng emerge with something bundled in her clothes. "You found some?"

Nan Sheng motioned for silence, then carefully placed the eggs in the basket, covering them with greens. "Hush, little one! When we get back, I’ll pickle these for you."

Siqi giggled behind her hand. She loved salted duck eggs—they paired perfectly with porridge.

The two resumed their foraging until the basket was full, then headed home.

Liu Dahua, fresh from Aunt Li’s house, spotted Nan Sheng and Siqi walking hand in hand. A notorious gossip, she couldn’t resist stopping anyone for a chat.

Rumor had it she once left a frying pan unattended while chatting with a visitor—the pot burned through, and her husband beat her for it. Yet she never learned.

"Lin Han’s wife! Where’ve you been?"

Nan Sheng held out the basket. "Just gathering greens for the chickens. Where are you off to, Auntie?"

Liu Dahua seized the opening. "Oh, I was at your Aunt Li’s place. Let me tell you, that daughter-in-law of hers is awful—she pulled Dali’s hair so hard it bled! What kind of mother does that? Even a stepmother treats kids better."

Stepmother Nan Sheng: …What a way with words—straight to the heart.

Realizing her blunder, Liu Dahua laughed awkwardly. "Not that I mean you, of course!"

Nan Sheng knew the woman spoke without thinking and let it slide. Still, lingering near someone’s home to gossip felt wrong, so she tried to leave.

"Don’t worry, Auntie, I’m not offended. The chickens are waiting—we’ll chat another time!"

"Wait!" Liu Dahua grabbed her arm. "I haven’t finished!"

Trapped, Nan Sheng listened as Liu Dahua ranted on. "That daughter-in-law doesn’t just hate girls—she can’t stand Granny Li either! Did you hear her? ‘Why don’t you just die already?’ All because Granny Li’s too frail to earn work points! If she were my daughter-in-law, I’d have kicked her out long ago!"

Liu Dahua grew more animated, her spit flying.

The worst part? The very woman she was badmouthing—Aunt Li’s daughter-in-law—had stepped outside unnoticed and now stood right behind her…Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 13

Seeing Aunt Li’s daughter-in-law with her swollen belly, Nan Sheng quickly interrupted Liu Dahua, “Auntie, you must have misunderstood. It’s normal to scold a child when they’re misbehaving. I’m in a hurry to get home, so I’ll be on my way now!”

The young woman didn’t seem like someone to trifle with, especially since she was heavily pregnant. Nan Sheng had no intention of stirring up trouble, but the moment she took a step forward, Liu Dahua yanked her back.

Nan Sheng was exasperated—she had never met someone so determined to court disaster.

“Lin Han’s wife, do you not enjoy chatting with me? Why are you always in such a rush to go home?” Liu Dahua frowned, then immediately resumed her gossip. “You’re new here, so you don’t know what kind of person she is. If you ask me, with a heart that black, she’s delusional if she thinks she’ll give birth to a son!”

Oh no. Aunt Li’s daughter-in-law’s face darkened.

Nan Sheng swiftly freed her arm from Liu Dahua’s grip and forced a smile at the woman behind them. “Sister-in-law, you’re out? I just took the kids to pick wild vegetables, so I won’t keep you. I’ll be going now!”

Shen Cui couldn’t be bothered with Nan Sheng—what kind of decent young woman marries a divorced man? She couldn’t fathom the appeal. Right now, she only wanted to settle the score with Liu Dahua. This wasn’t the first time the woman had badmouthed her in public.

Liu Dahua was still wondering who this “sister-in-law” was when she turned around and nearly had a heart attack. But she was no stranger to being caught red-handed and brushed it off without a care.

“Oh, it’s you, Cuicui! Why didn’t you say anything?”

Shen Cui sneered. If she had announced herself, she wouldn’t have heard such an enlightening conversation. She could tolerate being accused of hitting her child, but cursing her unborn son? That was worth fighting over.

Nan Sheng hurried home with her daughter in tow, both of them panting from the sprint. At least they had dodged the brewing storm.

After changing out of their dirty clothes, Nan Sheng washed them right away, then set about cooking. She steamed the leftover marinated pork ribs and rinsed the rice for the pot.

Siqi carefully collected the duck eggs into a small basket and brought them to the kitchen. Nan Sheng washed them, dipped each one in a bowl of liquor, then placed them into a clean lard jar.

All that was left was to pour in the saturated saltwater. With the sweltering weather, the eggs would likely be rich and oily in less than a month.

When Sizhe returned from school, he found only his little sister in the kitchen. “You’re here alone?”

Siqi swallowed hard at the aroma wafting from the pot. “Mom went to weed the vegetable garden. She said the grass was too tall and might attract pests. Brother, we’re having ribs tonight!”

Sizhe soaked his stepmother’s coat in water before joining her in the garden. Nan Sheng looked up at the sound of footsteps and smiled when she saw her eldest.

“You’re back, Da Wa? Don’t worry about helping—go finish your homework. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Sizhe ignored her and crouched down to pull weeds. “I don’t have much homework today. I can write it after we eat.”

His grandmother once said that admitting one’s mistakes was the greatest virtue.

While chewing on steamed buns at lunch, Sizhe had decided to give his stepmother a chance to change. If she could be a good mother, he would be a dutiful son in return.

When the food was nearly done, Nan Sheng called her son back inside. She served the steamed ribs first, then dished out the vegetables. Sizhe wasn’t idle either—he scooped out the rice from the other pot.

A couple of days ago, he wouldn’t have cared what was on the table as long as he got an extra bite. But now, with meals alternating between steamed buns and rice, he was starting to worry about their food supply.

He glanced at his stepmother and swallowed his words. Arguing now would only ruin their appetites. He’d bring it up after dinner.

At the table, Nan Sheng poured the meat juices from the ribs over the vegetables, infusing the potatoes with a savory richness that made them even more delicious.

A pound of ribs yielded only about a dozen pieces, but the three of them shared them happily, their faces glowing with contentment.

Watching her daughter sprawl lazily on the kang after eating, Nan Sheng couldn’t resist teasing. “Da Wa, today Qiqi took me to the spot where you found the duck eggs. We got lucky and found over twenty! In less than a month, you’ll have salted duck eggs to eat.”

Sizhe, busy with his meal, showed no visible reaction. “I know a few other places where wild ducks nest. When I’m on break, I’ll go collect more to pickle.”

Disappointed that the siblings didn’t start bickering, Nan Sheng mimicked her daughter and flopped onto the kang. She had worked hard all day, and her body ached everywhere.

Just as she was appreciating how perceptive her son was—he had gone to wash the dishes without being asked—someone knocked at the door. It was Feng Yueyue, the youngest daughter of Village Chief Feng Wuquan.

“Sister-in-law, are you home? It’s me, Yueyue!”

Hearing the voice, Nan Sheng rushed out to greet her. “Yueyue! Come in. Have you eaten?”

Feng Yueyue had no time for small talk. “Sister-in-law, come with me to the village office! Something’s happened to the Li family’s daughter-in-law!”

Nan Sheng’s heart sank. If they were coming to fetch her, it had to be Aunt Li’s pregnant daughter-in-law.

“Da Wa, stay home and watch your sister while you do your homework. I’ll be back soon.”

Once the children were settled, Nan Sheng followed Feng Yueyue at a brisk pace toward the village office.

“Yueyue, what happened? Is it really Aunt Li’s daughter-in-law? Is the baby alright?”

Feng Yueyue didn’t know the details. “She was taken to the town clinic. We don’t know if the baby will make it. She got into a fight with Aunt Liu, and my father wants to ask you what really happened.”

Apparently, Liu Dahua was pleading innocence, claiming Shen Cui had tripped while trying to hit her and that she hadn’t laid a finger on her. She insisted Nan Sheng had been there and could vouch for her.

Nan Sheng sighed. Shen Cui looked to be six or seven months along—losing the baby would be tragic. She prayed both mother and child would pull through.

When they arrived at the village office, her father-in-law Lin Guozheng was already there, along with members of the Li family and Liu Dahua’s relatives.

Liu Dahua had lost her earlier bravado. Her face was swollen, as if she’d been beaten, and she burst into tears the moment she saw Nan Sheng.

“Lin Han’s wife, you’re finally here! You have to back me up—the Li family is trying to ruin me!”

Aunt Li’s eyes were red from crying as she grasped Nan Sheng’s hand. “Child, Liu Dahua says you know what happened. Can you tell me how the fight started?”

Suddenly, Nan Sheng felt like she was being roasted over a fire. Whatever she said would inevitably anger one side.

Lin Guozheng’s expression darkened, and he signaled for the village chief to intervene. This chaos was no way to get answers.

Taking the hint, Feng Wuquan raised his voice. “Enough! Are we going to listen to you or to Lin Han’s wife? Everyone, step back.”

Nan Sheng seized the chance to stand beside her father-in-law. His stern, square-jawed face was at least a small comfort…

Chapter 14

The Village Chief said, "Lin Han's wife, just speak the truth without overthinking it. If anyone dares to trouble you afterward, come straight to me!" Worried that Nan Sheng might hesitate, the Village Chief first reassured her. Nan Sheng sensed his goodwill and smiled at him in return.

"Uncle Feng, at noon today, I took my daughter out to pick some wild vegetables. On our way back, we passed by Aunt Li's house and happened to see Aunt Liu coming out. She stopped me to chat, saying things like Sister-in-law Shen Cui had a bad temper and hit her child. We hadn’t spoken for more than a few words when Sister-in-law Shen Cui came out. I was in a hurry to get home, so I left with my daughter. As for what happened afterward, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what exactly went down between them."

Lin Guozheng secretly sighed in relief. Fortunately, his daughter-in-law had only been passing by. Otherwise, if something had happened to the Li family’s daughter-in-law, their Lin family would also be held responsible.

"Village Chief, since my second son’s wife didn’t witness anything, and there are still two children at home, why not let her return early?"

The Village Chief agreed. "Lin Han's wife, are you certain what you’ve said is the truth?"

Nan Sheng hadn’t lied, and her gaze was utterly forthright. "If you don’t believe me, send someone to ask my daughter. She’s just a child—she wouldn’t lie, would she? When we left, the two of them were still standing at the door. Not only were they not fighting, but I didn’t even hear them arguing."

The Village Chief quickly waved his hand. He had only said it casually and hadn’t actually intended to question a child.

Liu Dahua had assumed that since she and Nan Sheng were closer, Nan Sheng would surely take her side. But the outcome left her bitterly disappointed. She glared fiercely at Nan Sheng. "After all the kindness I’ve shown you, you turn out to be just as heartless!"

Nan Sheng thought to herself: Auntie, you’re being too hasty. ‘Closeness’ isn’t determined like this. At most, we’ve only exchanged a few words today…

Lin Guozheng shot Liu Dahua a sharp look before coldly reprimanding Ma Qiang. "Can’t you control your wife? If she keeps spouting nonsense, don’t blame me for stripping you of your dignity. Dragging my second son’s wife into this baseless mess—what were you thinking?"

From the looks of it, Liu Dahua was now under suspicion of lying. There was a good chance she was the one who had pushed the other woman.

Under Lin Guozheng’s icy stare, Liu Dahua shrank back and didn’t dare speak again. She feared offending the production team leader, knowing her family might be assigned the hardest, least rewarding tasks during collective labor as retaliation.

Ma Qiang, Liu Dahua’s husband, had a notoriously short temper in his youth and had often disciplined his wife. But Liu Dahua was the type who never learned her lesson—she’d cry in pain when beaten, only to revert to her old ways days later.

Earlier, the Li family had already mocked him relentlessly. Now, being publicly scolded by the production team leader, Ma Qiang flushed crimson with shame.

"Village Chief, Team Leader, I won’t lie to you—I’ve beaten and scolded this woman countless times, but her foul mouth never changes. Once this matter is settled, if it turns out she really did push the Li family’s daughter-in-law, you can deal with her as you see fit."

He wasn’t stupid. Now wasn’t the time for pride. As long as no one could prove it, his family would at most have to buy some gifts and apologize. But if his wife was confirmed to have assaulted someone, the medical expenses would be exorbitant—he’d have to sell everything he owned and still not cover the costs.

The Li family was furious at his words. They were grateful to Nan Sheng for speaking honestly, but this also meant there was no one to confirm Liu Dahua had pushed their daughter-in-law.

Liu Dahua, rotten to the core, stubbornly denied laying a hand on anyone. If not for Aunt Li spotting her fleeing the scene when her daughter-in-law was found injured, she wouldn’t have admitted to anything…

"Ma Qiang, what exactly are you implying? Are you trying to shirk responsibility now? Fine! If you refuse to reason, and if anything happens to the child, we’ll settle this with a life for a life!"

The Li family, now enraged, traded heated words with Liu Dahua, nearly coming to blows right there in the production team office.

Seeing this, the Village Chief scratched his head in frustration. "Alright, everyone go home for now. Once Shen Cui returns, we’ll discuss how to handle this. If we can’t resolve it, we’ll have no choice but to involve the police."

At the mention of the police, Liu Dahua’s eyes flickered briefly before she resumed her brazen act. "Call them if you want! I didn’t lay a finger on her!"

Nan Sheng, always one for drama, ignored the meaningful glances from her father-in-law urging her to leave. Only when the Village Chief dismissed everyone did she reluctantly turn to go.

By now, night had fallen. With no streetlights in the village, she had to rely on memory to find her way home.

The production team office wasn’t close to Nan Sheng’s house, so Lin Guozheng accompanied her part of the way. To avoid gossip, they walked separately, keeping some distance between them.

"Second son’s wife, Ma Qiang holds grudges. From now on, keep your distance if you see him outside, and don’t trust anything his family says."

"Understood, Dad!" Nan Sheng wanted to ask for details, but Lin Guozheng fell silent, as if there were things he couldn’t bring himself to say.

Halfway there, Sizhe appeared with a flashlight. Unable to sleep, he had rummaged through the east room for a flashlight and come to fetch his stepmother.

The boy recognized them but stayed by the roadside without calling out. It was Lin Guozheng who spotted him first. "Is that you, eldest grandson?"

"Yes, Grandpa!"

Lin Guozheng felt relieved. It seemed Teacher Fan was right—his daughter-in-law had truly changed for the better. Otherwise, Sizhe wouldn’t have come out to meet her on his own.

"Good. I’ll head home now. You two hurry back too—Qiqi shouldn’t be left alone for long."

After bidding farewell, the three went their separate ways. Sizhe couldn’t help but ask, "What happened? Why are you back so late?"

Nan Sheng leaned on her son’s shoulder for support—her feet ached. "Let’s talk at home. Thank goodness you brought the flashlight. I’ve twisted my ankle so many times on this dark path I can’t even count."

Though Sizhe didn’t respond, he noticeably slowed his pace. Despite feeling awkward, he didn’t shrug off her arm.

Once inside, they locked both the courtyard gate and the house door before heading to the east room together.

Good—the little sister was safe, and so was the bicycle!

Nan Sheng briefly recounted the events. To her surprise, Sizhe reacted just like his grandfather. "From now on, stay away from the Ma family when you’re out. Their family… just listen to Grandpa."

Now thoroughly puzzled, Nan Sheng wondered—Ma Qiang seemed quiet, his two sons even more so, always keeping their heads down. On the surface, Liu Dahua was the only troublemaker in that family. Had she misjudged them?

"Alright, I’ll keep my distance. It’s late—you have school tomorrow, so get some rest."

Sizhe nodded and returned to his room, while Siqi slept soundly under the covers.

Shaking off his worries, he hugged his little sister and drifted into dreams.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Favorability points have exceeded five. New storyline conditions unlocked!]Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 15

Nan Sheng excitedly opened the system and saw that the available chapters had been updated to Chapter Five, which meant each increase in affection points would unlock a new chapter. However, the system was quite stingy, only dispensing rewards at increments of five!

She eagerly clicked into the book, but after reading two chapters, her expression turned as if she’d eaten something vile. These chapters described how the original owner of her body had saved up 900 yuan and couldn’t wait to return to her parents' home—specifically, to give the money to the male lead, Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng, Yu Sheng… why not just call him a beast?

The original owner didn’t know that Yu Sheng was even more of a simp than she was. He was infatuated with Su Jinyan, a female educated youth who had been sent down to the countryside alongside him. He handed over his own savings of 500 yuan, plus the 900 yuan he’d swindled from the original owner, to Su Jinyan—only to be scorned as useless.

Shamelessly, Su Jinyan demanded that Yu Sheng use his charms to seduce Nan Sheng, as she still needed 600 yuan to buy her way back to the city. Yu Sheng agreed, but his so-called "seduction" amounted to nothing more than holding Nan Sheng’s hand in a rundown shack. The original owner was so smitten she didn’t even get a kiss, yet she was over the moon.

Lying on the kang, Nan Sheng pondered how she could humiliate that despicable pair when she returned to her parents' home in a few days…

Just as she was about to close the system, a lottery wheel suddenly popped up—a reward for finally increasing her affection points. Nan Sheng casually gave it a spin, and the wheel whirled frantically before landing on the words "Portable Space."

Holy crap! Nan Sheng couldn’t contain her excitement. Was her luck really this incredible?

But after binding with it, she discovered the portable space was only three cubic meters in size and could only be used for storage. Well… at least it was somewhat useful, she consoled herself.

When Nan Sheng woke up again, Sizhe had already collected eggs from the chicken coop and heated the pot, waiting for her to decide what to cook for breakfast.

As usual, Nan Sheng steamed buns and boiled corn porridge, then sent her son out to pick ripe tomatoes—both kids loved scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Sizhe sat by the stove, tending the fire like his younger sister. Watching his stepmother steam ten more buns, he hesitated before speaking up.

"Is there enough food at home? I don’t need to bring lunch. Everyone else manages without it."

It was already kind of his stepmother to make sure he didn’t go hungry. He was the one who ate the most in the household, and the thought filled him with guilt.

Nan Sheng, distracted while working, replied offhandedly, "If we run out, we’ll buy more. Your father’s stipend is enough to feed the three of us. In a few days, when the salted duck eggs are ready, I’ll pack one for you every day to eat with your buns."

Sizhe sighed. That would be way too flashy. Wouldn’t he get beaten up by his classmates for showing off like that?

For breakfast, Sizhe ate three large buns and two bowls of porridge. Before he left, his stepmother packed him two more buns and a piece of milk candy.

In his heart, he thought, This much food could last Stepmother and Siqi an entire day.

Nan Sheng didn’t notice her son’s unease. She planned to clear out the vegetable garden today, then sun-dry some shredded beans and chili peppers tomorrow. As for the root cellar, it would be reserved for cabbage and potatoes.

Counting on her fingers, she nearly fainted—there was no end to farm work.

When Siqi woke up and found the house empty, she went straight to the garden to find her stepmother. "Mom, I’ll come help after breakfast!"

Nan Sheng didn’t discourage her. If a child didn’t learn diligence early, how could she suddenly become hardworking as an adult?

"Alright, the porridge and buns are warming on the stove. Be careful when you lift the lid—don’t let the steam burn you."

"Got it, Mom!" Siqi skipped back inside, remembering to wash her face on her own.

After school, Sizhe didn’t go home. Instead, he headed to the riverbank where he often gathered duck eggs.

He checked several spots and collected over thirty eggs. Then he went to check the fish traps he’d set, hoping for a good haul.

Last time, the crucian carp he caught had been cooked by his stepmother in a savory bean paste sauce, and he’d found it delicious.

The fish trap had been in the water for days and was now packed full—shrimp, crayfish, two crucian carp, and even a big carp.

Afraid of being seen by villagers, he waited until dark before running home.

By then, Nan Sheng had already prepared dinner and was waiting at the door with Siqi. If her son didn’t return soon, she’d have to ask the neighbors for help searching.

"Mom! Brother’s back!"

Siqi spotted a shadowy figure and dashed outside. Nan Sheng hurried after her. "Is that you, Sizhe?"

"Yeah!"

Sizhe’s voice was quiet. While fish and shrimp weren’t rare in the village, duck eggs were precious, and he didn’t want anyone asking questions.

Back inside, Sizhe couldn’t hide his excitement as he dumped the duck eggs into a basin and emptied the fish and shrimp.

"I haven’t gathered eggs in days, so there were a lot. The river’s full of fat fish and shrimp too. If you like them, I can catch more often."

He ate a lot, so he had to find ways to contribute.

Sizhe expected his stepmother to be pleased—last time, she’d even praised the size of the catch. But instead, Nan Sheng slapped him hard across the face, leaving him stunned.

"Sizhe, have you lost your mind? Running off after school instead of coming home? What if something happened to you in the dark? Where would I even look for you, you reckless brat!"

She scolded him harshly, leaving Sizhe bewildered. Was it wrong to bring food home?

For dinner, Nan Sheng and Siqi ate without him. Sizhe was sent to reflect on his actions. Too upset to deal with the fish and shrimp, she left them in water for now. As for the duck eggs, she salted them in jars, just like before.

This was the second batch, and she marked each egg with a number to keep track.

Nan Sheng went to bed early, while Sizhe stayed up to do homework by lamplight. Siqi sneaked some food to him in the west room.

"Brother, eat first, then do your homework!"

Sizhe glanced toward the east room and shook his head slowly. His stepmother hadn’t allowed him at the table, and he feared that if he ate this, Siqi might get hit tomorrow.

"I’m not hungry. Take the food back to the kitchen."

Siqi shoved a bun into his hand. "Eat. Even if you get hit, you should be full."

Though young, Siqi was sharp. In the past, she and her brother had often gone hungry after beatings. Now that they could eat their fill, an occasional slap from their stepmother seemed fair.

"Brother, Mom was really worried when you didn’t come back. She was about to ask Uncle and the others to search for you."

Sizhe froze, then slowly chewed the bun—though it tasted like nothing at all.

Chapter 16

Sizhe didn’t sleep well that night. When he woke up in the morning, he followed his usual routine of fetching eggs and lighting the fire.

After Nan Sheng got up, he took the initiative to admit his mistake. "I was too hungry last night, so I ate the leftover steamed bun."

Nan Sheng snorted coldly and ignored him, thinking to herself that this brat still hadn’t realized where he’d gone wrong. She dumped the spoiled vegetables and porridge into the slop bucket and started cooking.

Sizhe was used to his stepmother scolding or hitting him, so her silence now felt strangely uncomfortable. At the breakfast table, she still let him eat as usual and even packed a steamed bun for him to take to school—except this time, there was no White Rabbit milk candy.

During class, he was unusually distracted and got called out by the teacher several times before finally focusing.

At lunch break, he went to the teachers’ lounge to deliver a steamed bun to his grandmother. Fan Shuting stopped him. "Dawa, Grandma heard from Teacher Tang that you weren’t paying attention in class. Is that true?"

Sizhe nodded. He just didn’t know how to face his stepmother when he got home. At this point, he’d rather take a beating—at least that would be straightforward.

Fan Shuting grew concerned. "Did your mother hit you again? Tell Grandma!"

Sizhe didn’t know how to answer. He had indeed been slapped, but his stepmother had been even angrier than him, and he still didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.

"Grandma! I came home late yesterday, and she got really mad."

After listening to her grandson’s explanation, Fan Shuting smiled warmly. "Silly child, that’s a good thing! It means your mother truly cares about you. From now on, if you’re going out or coming home late, you must let her know so she doesn’t worry."

Sizhe scratched his head. "But she’s ignoring me now. She won’t even talk to me."

Fan Shuting chuckled. "Then you should apologize properly. Tell her you know you were wrong and won’t make her worry again. She’ll start talking to you then."

Sizhe didn’t fully understand, but he trusted his grandmother’s wisdom. If she said it would work, it would.

Back in class, he curiously asked his classmates whether their mothers also gave them the silent treatment when they misbehaved.

That question stirred up a hornet’s nest—over half the class jumped into the discussion.

Little Fatty: "Oh, it’s worse than that! Even when I apologize, she’s not satisfied unless I explain exactly what I did wrong. But if I knew, wouldn’t I have avoided the mistake in the first place?" Moms are so unreasonable.

Black Monkey: "All moms are the same. If I ignore her when I’m mad, she hits me. If she ignores me when she’s mad and I try to talk to her, she still hits me!" The slaps are loud too.

Deskmate: "My mom once went half a month without speaking to anyone in the family. Impressive, right? In the end, my dad had to buy meat from town to coax her back." His mom was a glutton.

...

After hearing all their complaints, Sizhe suddenly felt he’d misjudged his stepmother. These kids all had biological mothers, yet they weren’t treated any better.

And just like that, Nan Sheng, sitting at home, inexplicably gained five more points of favorability from him.

Was it really that easy?

After setting out chili peppers and shredded beans to dry in the yard, Nan Sheng took her daughter inside for a nap and checked the new developments in the book’s plot.

Frowning after reading, she decided to visit her parents’ home the next day. As for the kids, they could either come with her or stay behind—it didn’t matter.

By dinnertime, Sizhe returned with his grandmother, right on schedule before 4:30.

He approached Nan Sheng and bowed his head in apology. "I’m sorry. I should’ve come home first to let you know before going out yesterday. I made you worry."

Nan Sheng glared at him, but the knot in her chest finally loosened. In these times, with no phones or surveillance, and with tigers and wolves roaming the mountains, how could she not panic when her child didn’t come home?

She swatted him lightly on the shoulder. "So you even went and got backup, huh? Fine, I’ll forgive you this time. But if it happens again, you’ll see what I do!"

Sizhe scratched his head, thinking that compared to other parents, his stepmother was actually pretty easy to appease. His favorability toward her quietly rose by another point.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Fan Shuting turned to leave, but Nan Sheng stopped her. "Stay for dinner. This troublemaker brought back a carp yesterday, so I stewed it."

She’d also prepared shrimp, steamed with wine, scallions, and ginger—completely free of any fishy taste.

Fan Shuting, seeing the spread on the table, didn’t refuse. As for her husband at home? Well, he could fend for himself. She’d eat her fill first.

Who could blame her? Her daughter-in-law’s cooking was so good that one meal left her craving the next!

After dinner, Nan Sheng packed a plate of shrimp for Fan Shuting to take home. Fan Shuting also took a liking to the dipping sauce and brought some of that along too.

With daylight still left, Nan Sheng gathered the drying ingredients from the yard into the kitchen, with Sizhe and his sister helping.

"Tomorrow morning, I’ll trade for some tofu and make crucian carp soup to nourish you all." Thinking of her trip, Nan Sheng broached the subject directly.

"I’m going back to my parents’ home tomorrow. Do you two want to come along and visit relatives?"

Sizhe wasn’t keen on the idea. He’d only met Nan Sheng’s relatives once—when she married into the family—and had no idea what to say to them. Siqi, on the other hand, was the complete opposite, eager to tag along anywhere.

"Mom, take me with you! I’ll go!"

Sizhe’s mind started racing again. What if his stepmother was being nice just to sell his sister off?

If that were the case, he’d have to go too—so he could protect her and escape if needed. "Then I’ll go too! I won’t go to school tomorrow or the day after!"

Nan Sheng was pleased they were both coming. She could even stay overnight at her parents’ place without worrying about the kids back home.

With the trip planned, the family turned in early. But at breakfast the next morning, Nan Sheng noticed her son had dark circles under his eyes.

"Dawa, did you stay up late doing homework?" He’d been the last to wake up, yet he still looked exhausted.

Sizhe rubbed his eyes and mumbled an affirmative. In truth, he’d spent the whole night agonizing over whether his stepmother intended to sell him and his sister.

After feeding the chickens, with the sun still below the horizon, the family set out in fresh clothes.

Nan Sheng rode the bicycle, placing little Siqi on the crossbar. Once the bike was moving, Sizhe jumped onto the rear rack.

Villagers who saw them asked where they were headed, and Nan Sheng cheerfully replied that she was visiting her parents.

The bike made the trip fast—they reached town in under an hour. Nan Sheng wasn’t in a rush to shop, first buying each of them an ice pop.

In those days, ice pops were just frozen sugar water—nothing special, but the kids licked theirs happily.

"We’ll buy two pounds of pork and a pound of brown sugar!"

Her parents’ home wasn’t far from Xiangyang Village, but she didn’t want to arrive empty-handed, hence the detour to town.

Siqi, remembering the pig’s trotters from last time, piped up, "Mom, can we have pig’s trotters again?"

Nan Sheng sighed. "Not today. If you like them so much, I’ll make them for you when we get back."

Showing up at her parents’ place with pig’s trotters? People would laugh her out of the village—she had her pride to consider!Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 17

When they arrived at the meat stall, the mother and children's eyes lit up. The marbled pork belly on the cutting board looked absolutely gorgeous—one bite would surely make it sizzle with juices. Nan Sheng thought to herself that this meat would be perfect for braised pork.

Without hesitation, she bought four pounds of it. The butcher, impressed by her decisiveness, happily struck up a conversation. "Comrade, would you like some pork intestines? No coupons needed, and they're dirt cheap—just have to clean them yourself at home."

"How much for the intestines?"

"Fifteen cents a pound!" The price was indeed a steal. A whole set wouldn’t even cost fifty cents.

"I'll take them all, big bro. Wrap them up for me."

After that, Nan Sheng bought some brown and rock sugar before cycling back to her parents' home with the two kids in tow.

The children didn’t dare comment on their stepmother’s extravagance. Sizhe figured it was already a blessing that she hadn’t sold them off—he didn’t dare ask for more.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived in Wangshan Village. Sizhe hopped off the bicycle first, followed by Nan Sheng, who then pushed the bike as they walked.

Things got awkward quickly—her inherited memories weren’t complete. The system had shown her what her relatives looked like but hadn’t provided directions to her own home.

What now?

She randomly picked a fork in the road and ended up at the educated youth outpost. A strikingly beautiful female educated youth stepped out of the house, her expression shifting from surprise to annoyance upon seeing Nan Sheng.

She quickly masked her emotions. "Isn’t this Nan Sheng? Are you here to see Yu Sheng? He’s out working in the fields."

Seeing Nan Sheng return laden with bags, Su Jinyan couldn’t hide her displeasure. This woman had no sense of frugality—how could she ever save up two thousand yuan at this rate?

Nan Sheng had no idea who this person was, and she was on the verge of blowing her cover when an angry voice cut in.

"Su Jinyan, what scheme are you plotting now? My sister’s already married, and you’re still pestering her!"

A savior! Nan Sheng turned around, moved to see her dear younger brother, Nan Mingli.

The siblings had always been close—until Yu Sheng came to the countryside. Nan Sheng had repeatedly sent money and gifts to that scoundrel, driving Nan Mingli to distance himself in frustration.

Though "distance" might be an exaggeration—it was more like helpless exasperation, too angry to scold her properly.

"Mind your manners. Don’t be so rough when talking to a girl."

Nan Sheng feigned anger to keep Su Jinyan from suspecting anything. After all, this was the female lead—and undeniably stunning.

"Jinyan, I’ll head home first. Let’s catch up another time."

With that, she handed the bicycle to her brother and took her daughter’s hand, following Nan Mingli home.

Still fuming, Nan Mingli pushed the bike while muttering under his breath.

"Sis, have you lost your mind? How many times do you need to be tricked before you learn? I told you—Su Jinyan and Yu Sheng are both rotten!"

Siqi stared wide-eyed at Nan Sheng, thinking her uncle was even fiercer than her stepmother. Meanwhile, Sizhe pondered what those two had swindled from her—should he help get it back?

Nan Sheng smacked her brother lightly on the back of the head. "No respect! Is this how you set an example for the kids? Big kid, Qiqi, this is your uncle. Say hello!"

Sizhe: "Hello, Uncle!"

Siqi: "Hello, Uncle!"

Nan Mingli only grew angrier at the sight of the children. His sister was a capable young woman, skilled in both household and farm work, with no shortage of suitors. How had she ended up married to a widower?

He grunted in acknowledgment, too upset to speak further.

The Nan family home was in the opposite direction from the educated youth outpost. It was a decent three-room house, though without a living room. The kitchen had been split into two, with a small bedroom sectioned off for Nan Mingli.

Once they arrived, Nan Sheng unceremoniously unloaded her purchases inside. Noticing the empty west room, she frowned. "You’re staying in that tiny room? Why not move into the west one?"

Nan Mingli shot her a look. "If I move there, where will you stay when you visit? My room’s fine—I’m used to it."

The reason Nan Sheng had rushed back was because of a newly unlocked plot point: her birth mother, Zhong Yanyan, would suffer broken ribs that afternoon after being trampled by a frenzied ox while working.

Before learning this, the original Nan Sheng had secretly given Yu Sheng the nine hundred yuan she’d saved up. When her brother later came to borrow money for their mother’s treatment, she couldn’t provide it.

As a result, Zhong Yanyan’s condition worsened due to delayed treatment, leaving her bedridden. The original Nan Sheng, too ashamed, never returned home.

Now, Nan Sheng was determined to avert this tragedy. Since she’d taken over this life, she would shoulder the responsibility of caring for her family.

"Isn’t it still work hours? How did you know I was back? Let’s skip the fields this afternoon—we should spend some time together as a family."

Nan Mingli hadn’t seen his sister in months. Though he wouldn’t admit it, he’d missed her dearly.

"The brigade leader sent me to fetch someone from the educated youth outpost—that’s how I ran into you. I still have to go back to work. There’s meat buried in the jar at home—cook whatever you like."

As for whether they’d skip work in the afternoon, that wasn’t his call—especially not their father’s. Nan Jingyu still hadn’t come to terms with his daughter marrying "that man" and had nearly disowned her.

Thinking of this, Nan Mingli warned his sister, "Dad’s still mad at you. When they come back for lunch, mind your tone—don’t start another fight."

Honestly, without him, this family would fall apart.

Nan Sheng brushed it off, waving for her brother to hurry back to work. As for her father’s temper—so what? She’d just thicken her skin and visit more often.

Her main goal today was simple: keep her mother, Zhong Yanyan, safely at home.

The children could sense they weren’t entirely welcome. While Nan Mingli was around, they stayed reserved. Knowing Sizhe was perceptive, Nan Sheng explained softly,

"Your father was married before and already had you two. It’s natural my family wouldn’t approve of me marrying into this. But don’t worry—they’re good people. In time, they’ll treat you like their own grandchildren."

Sizhe didn’t care how his stepmother’s family viewed him—it wasn’t like he’d visit often. "Then can you tell me why you married my dad?"

Hearing this, Siqi perked up, curious about their conversation.

"What else? He’s a soldier with a monthly stipend—richer than most men. I’m not one to suffer hardships."

She certainly couldn’t say the original owner had been duped into trying to steal his money to fund her affair with a pretty boy…

Chapter 18

The Nan Family's home was neat and tidy. When Nan Sheng got married, Nan's Father had been so angry that he didn't provide her with a dowry. With three able-bodied adults in the household and no children to care for, their living conditions were quite comfortable.

When it was time to prepare dinner, Nan Sheng first went outside to pick some chili peppers, green beans, and tomatoes.

She planned to stir-fry a pound of pork with the green beans, make a cold dish by sprinkling sugar over the tomatoes, and use the chili peppers to cook pork intestines.

"Big Kid, this challenging task is yours now," she said.

Sizhe accepted the basin with a dark expression, knowing he’d have to wash the intestines repeatedly by the river before they’d be clean.

Meanwhile, Nan Sheng divided the pork belly into two portions. The larger portion was cut into chunks for braised pork, while the smaller one was sliced thinly to stir-fry with greens.

Qiqi, her little shadow, stayed in the kitchen as usual, tending to the fire for her stepmother. By the time Sizhe returned with the cleaned intestines, the braised pork and green beans were already simmering in the pot.

Nan Sheng only started chopping the intestines after confirming they had no unpleasant odor. She actually enjoyed the chewy texture of pork intestines, but cleaning them was a nightmare—thankfully, she now had a son to handle it.

Just as she was finishing the last dish, the three members of the Nan Family returned from work in a sour mood.

Nan's Father grumbled, "Stop pulling me, you brat! I already said I’m not going home. Once you’ve eaten, send her away immediately!"

Nan Jingyu was heartbroken. Nan Sheng had been their firstborn, more thoughtful and obedient than their son, and both he and his wife had doted on her.

But over the past year, she had changed drastically—first chasing after the educated youths in the village, becoming the butt of jokes, then stubbornly insisting on marrying a widower.

That man was a soldier, rarely home. How could she possibly manage raising two children who weren’t even hers?

The thought alone made him so frustrated he wanted to shake some sense into his daughter.

If not for Nan Sheng threatening to take her own life, Nan Jingyu would never have relented. On her wedding day, the family had attended, but he had made it clear—there would be no further contact between the two households.

Nan Mingli had expected this. Unable to persuade his father, he shot a pleading look at his mother.

Zhong Yanyan didn’t spare her husband’s feelings. "You’re being ridiculous. For months, you’ve complained that our daughter never visits, calling her ungrateful. Now that she’s back, why put on this act?

Frankly, aside from having two children, our son-in-law isn’t a bad match. He’s a soldier—no one in the village would dare bully her, and with his monthly stipend, she doesn’t have to toil in the fields like we do."

Zhong Yanyan also ached for her daughter, but what was done was done. As parents, all they could do now was hope for her happiness.

Scolded into submission, Nan's Father quieted down. No matter how tough he acted, he still worried about Nan Sheng’s well-being and needed to see for himself.

Still, though he agreed to return for dinner, he had no intention of giving his daughter a warm welcome.

"Fine! You’re getting more nagging with age," he muttered.

As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, the rich aroma of stir-fried intestines greeted them. Nan's Father snorted—at least the heartless girl remembered his favorite dish.

Nan Mingli was the first to dart into the kitchen. "Sis, your cooking’s improved! I could smell it from a mile away."

Nan Sheng fed him a bite with her chopsticks before handing him the plated intestines to carry out. The braised pork was also ready to be served.

Nan's Father glanced into the kitchen before retreating to the east room. The table was already set with three dishes, each more appetizing than the last.

He lowered his head to sniff the pork intestines, then frowned. He loved the stinky flavor, but every time his daughter cleaned them thoroughly, leaving no trace of their "soul."

Nan's Mother was chatting with the two children, pulling out treats from the cupboard to share—sweet cakes for both.

"You're called Sizhe and Qiqi, right? Save these for later, dinner’s almost ready."

Then she led them to the east room. "Say hello to Grandpa!"

Sizhe: "Hello, Grandpa!"

Qiqi: "Hello, Grandpa!"

Though Nan's Father was in a sour mood, it was directed only at his daughter. He’d never take it out on the kids, especially when the little girl’s voice was so sweet it melted his stern expression.

"Good, good! Later, Grandma will give you more treats. Come sit and wait for dinner!"

Why are these two so thin? Are they not eating enough?

Seeing her husband getting along with the children, Nan's Mother went to the kitchen to help her daughter. Spotting the massive plate of braised pork, she swatted Nan Sheng’s arm. "Are you trying to bankrupt us?"

Noticing how dark and gaunt Nan Sheng looked, her tone softened with worry. "I thought that Lin boy was rich. How did you end up like this?"

Nan Sheng hugged her mother. "It’s just the summer heat—I didn’t take care. Come on, try my cooking! See if I’ve improved."

Nan's Mother sighed and swatted her again. "You’re impossible."

Once everyone was seated for dinner, Nan's Father made his displeasure clear the moment his daughter walked in, scowling at her.

The three of them looked half-starved. Is this the life she wanted?

Nan's Mother nudged her husband with a piece of braised pork. "Try it. Her braised pork beats even the state-run restaurants."

Nan Mingli nodded eagerly—it was the best meat he’d ever tasted, rich but not greasy, so flavorful it was intoxicating.

Nan's Father held back for the kids' sake, but every dish was undeniably delicious.

With Nan Sheng and her mother fussing over them, the children ate until they were stuffed, then were dragged outside by their uncle to walk off the meal.

Knowing her parents had things to discuss, Nan Sheng quickly washed the dishes and returned to the room.

Nan's Father couldn’t contain his anger any longer. "Wasn’t he supposed to be rich? Weren’t you supposed to live well? Look at you—skin and bones!"

Nan Sheng coughed awkwardly. "Well... I never liked the kids’ father. I married him to scam his money."

Nan's Father and Mother: !!!

What kind of outrageous confession is this?!

After the shock wore off, Nan's Mother smacked her hard. "Have you lost your mind? Did we ever let you go hungry or without clothes? You’d use marriage to swindle someone?"

"I—I was fooled by Yu Sheng back then. He said he loved me, that if I helped him scrape together 2,000 yuan, he’d take me to the city and marry me..."

Nan Sheng pouted pitifully.

Hearing this, Nan's Father shot to his feet. "That bastard! I’ll kill him!"

Stopped by his wife and daughter, he fumed. "And you—no brains at all! If he said the Forbidden City was his, would you believe that too?"

What could Nan Sheng do? She doubled down on playing the victim.

"It was my first relationship! How was I supposed to know city folks were so cunning? Besides... he was really good-looking."

After his outburst, Nan's Father sat back down. "Then what will you do from now on? If you regret marrying him and don’t want to stay with your husband, I’ll pay back every penny you’ve spent of his. But there’s one condition—you must never contact that educated youth again."

Nan's Mother also tried to persuade her daughter, "That’s right, Nan Sheng. We can’t do something so heartless. We mustn’t cheat people out of their money."

But Nan Sheng couldn’t just leave—she still had tasks to complete.

Besides, if she went home now, they might notice how much she’d changed, and the truth could easily come out.

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 19

"How can we leave now, Mom? Look how thin the children have gotten from hunger—I feel so guilty!" Nan Sheng deliberately put on a remorseful expression, making Nan's Father and Mother dizzy with frustration.

"Did you starve them? You didn’t feed them?"

Nan Sheng nodded silently. Nan's Mother smacked her daughter’s arm, tears of anger welling up. "I raised you too naive, with only a single-minded heart. Not only have you suffered, but you’ve dragged these two children into it too."

Nan's Mother continued, "But you can’t live your whole life out of guilt. If you’ve made a mistake, our whole family will help make it right. I just want you to find someone who truly cares for you."

Nan Sheng had never known the warmth of family before. At this moment, feeling her parents’ unconditional love, her eyes reddened.

Seeing this, the elderly couple knew their daughter was hurting too and couldn’t bear to scold her further, waiting instead for her to make her own decision.

"Dad, Mom! I’ve made up my mind—I’m staying with the Lin Family. Before Lin Han left, he gave me all his savings, and his monthly stipend is sent back on time. He’s a reliable man, and I know he’ll give me a comfortable life in the future. Besides, the children are well-behaved. The older one is hardworking, and Qiqi knows to gather firewood and wild vegetables for me at home. I’ll live properly from now on."

Originally, the old couple had felt their daughter was wronged by marrying Lin Han. But after learning the truth, they felt some guilt toward the Lin Family and no longer objected.

Nan's Mother wiped her daughter’s tears with a handkerchief. "Don’t cry. Stay if you want. The two villages are close anyway—we can look after you if anything happens."

Nan Sheng clung to her mother’s arm. "Mom, I’ve missed you so much. Don’t go to the fields today, okay? Let’s spend time together as a family."

Nan's Mother couldn’t resist her daughter’s pleading. Besides, she had so much to say to her. She glanced at Nan's Father. "What do you think, dear?"

Nan Jingyu agreed without hesitation, wanting his wife to ask more about their daughter’s life with her in-laws so he could rest easy.

"Wife, you stay home with the kids. My son and I will go to work. It’s the busy season—it wouldn’t be right for the whole family to skip."

Before leaving, he even slaughtered a hen to nourish his daughter and the two children.

"Big Kid, Qiqi, Grandpa and Uncle are off to work. Let your mom take you around to explore!"

Faced with his grandfather’s sudden enthusiasm, the older boy was a little overwhelmed—why did his smile seem so suspicious?

Qiqi, however, grinned sweetly. "Grandpa, come back soon so we can eat meat together!"

Once outside, Nan Mingli couldn’t help but ask, "Dad, didn’t you oppose Sister marrying that widower? Why are you so nice to those two brats now?"

He’d even killed a chicken! Each household was only allowed to keep two, and that was an egg-laying hen!

Nan's Father nearly smacked his son into the ditch. "Manners! Call him brother-in-law from now on. ‘Widower’ sounds awful."

Nan Mingli: "…"

Wasn’t it you who called him that first? How did Sister’s visit change your attitude so fast?

Worried his son might say the wrong thing, Nan's Father explained the whole story. "Be good to those kids from now on. Your sister was in the wrong—we have to make it up to them. What if they hold a grudge later?"

Nan Mingli nodded silently. If not for the rule against superstition, he’d have suspected Lin Han was a fox spirit in disguise—what a disaster.

Remembering her daughter loved wild herb dumplings, Nan's Mother took the children to pick greens in the mountains, proudly introducing them as her grandchildren to everyone they met.

She’d decided: even if people mocked her daughter’s marriage, as long as the family acted unbothered, the gossips would lose interest.

Though fiery-tempered, Nan's Mother was gentle with children. By afternoon, even the older boy was calling her "Grandma" warmly.

"Oh, my dears, no more picking—Grandma can’t carry any more!"

Sizhe took the basket without hesitation. "I’ll carry it, Grandma. Pick as much as you like."

Nan's Mother patted his head. "Such a good boy. But it’s getting late—we should head back. Next time you visit, your uncle can take you fishing."

Sizhe led the way with the basket, while Nan's Mother and Siqi walked hand-in-hand behind, the little girl’s chatter drawing laughter.

Back home, chicken was already stewing in the pot. Worried it might not be enough, Nan Sheng added a chunk of preserved meat. With a few vegetable dishes, it would be a hearty meal.

"Mom! Come see! Grandma picked so many greens—she’s making us dumplings tomorrow!"

Nan Sheng stepped out, taking the basket with a sigh. "You really shouldn’t have. You finally get a break, and you go up the mountain?"

Nan's Mother knew her daughter meant well, but country folk never rested unless they were bedridden.

"You love wild herb dumplings, don’t you? I’ll make plenty tomorrow—you three can have them for lunch too." She added, "Since your husband’s away, visit more often with the kids. It’ll ease our minds."

Nan Sheng agreed to everything, savoring the care. "I will, Mom. Rest now—we’ll eat once Dad and Brother return."

She settled the children in the west room with pastries to tide them over. "Tired from the mountain? Nap for a while."

As work hours ended, Nan Sheng started cooking, though Nan's Mother now tended the fire.

Waking to find her spot taken, Siqi pouted but didn’t dare challenge her grandma.

When the food was ready and the men still hadn’t returned, Nan Sheng grew uneasy. "Mom, should we check on them?"

In the original story, only Nan's Mother was hurt by the crazed ox. Keeping her home had seemed enough to change fate, but the delay made Nan Sheng anxious.

Nan's Mother waved it off. "No need. Some slackers drag out work—the foreman might’ve held them back."

Much later, Nan Mingli rushed in, pale. "The old cowherd let the ox graze on poisonous weeds. It went mad before being killed—trampled crops and flung the herder aside!"

Many in the fields had been hurt dodging the beast—sprains, falls—so Nan's Father stayed to help.

---

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 20

Hearing Mingli say this, Nan's Mother quickly asked, "Was your father hurt? How serious are the others' injuries?"

Mingli replied, "Dad's fine. We were far away and ran off when the bull charged. Luckily, you didn’t go to work today—the bull rushed straight from the mountain into the dry fields. Several aunties got hurt while trying to dodge it."

They had Nan Sheng to thank for this. If she hadn’t kept her mother talking, Nan's Mother, with her slow legs, might not have outrun the four-legged beast.

Nan's Mother shuddered at the thought, then said cheerfully, "That’s right! Thank you, my girl. You’re truly my lucky star. Who else would I dote on if not you?"

By the time Nan's Father returned, dusk had fallen. The dishes on the table remained untouched. Mingli immediately went to reheat the food—stewed meat always tasted better warm.

Seeing that the children hadn’t eaten either, Nan's Father frowned. "Why didn’t you let the kids eat first? Why wait for me?"

Nan Sheng smiled and smoothed things over. "Mom wanted them to eat earlier, but the children are so well-behaved—they insisted on waiting for Grandpa to come back!"

Nan's Mother chimed in, "Exactly! You and your temper need to change. Don’t scare my two grandchildren."

The main dish for dinner was stewed chicken, loaded with potatoes, noodles, and chunks of meat, served in a large bowl. To balance the richness, Nan Sheng had also stir-fried some greens and prepared a cucumber salad.

Nan's Mother placed the two big chicken drumsticks on the children’s plates—one each. It was a tradition in the Nan family not to chop the drumsticks. In the past, they had always been reserved for Nan Sheng and her younger brother.

This time, the two of them had to settle for chicken wings instead.

Qiqi gasped, "Wow, the whole drumstick is for me?"

Nan's Mother cooed, "Yes, all for our Qiqi! Eat up and grow tall so you can become a big kid soon."

Sizhe glanced at the drumstick, then at the others. He felt a little awkward accepting it, but since his stepmother didn’t object, he couldn’t refuse. Softly, he thanked Nan's Mother, "Thank you, Grandma."

Goodwill points +1+1+1—another three points!

Nan's Father picked out the meatiest pieces and placed them in his daughter’s bowl. "Do they starve you at the Lin household? You’ve gotten so thin and dark. Eat more meat to regain your strength."

Sizhe and Qiqi exchanged glances. Of course she’s starving! The rice porridge was watery, and despite the garden full of vegetables, they were never allowed to eat them. That’s how it had been for months.

But the mood was pleasant now, so they kept quiet to avoid spoiling it.

Nan Sheng felt a little awkward. She couldn’t very well say that the original owner had starved herself to death over a scumbag, could she?

"Dad, it’s just summer fatigue. Don’t worry—I’ll make sure to raise myself and the two kids plump and healthy from now on!"

That night, Nan's Mother slept in the west room with her daughter and the two children, while Nan's Father and his son took the east room. The small room was too cramped, and with the kitchen still radiating heat, Mingli refused to sleep there.

"Mom, let Mingli move to the west room. We can use the small room for storage. When I visit, we can arrange things just like today."

Nan's Mother agreed. "Alright, I’ll tell him later. Your brother always hopes you’ll visit more—he doesn’t want to take your space."

Even Nan's Father, despite his grumbling about cutting ties with his daughter, had never suggested his son move into her old room.

The children fell asleep early. Exhausted from the day’s work, Nan's Mother tried to stay awake for a little longer, chatting until she accidentally dozed off, ending their late-night talk. Nan Sheng learned a bit more about the family’s affairs.

She didn’t undress. Once she confirmed everyone was asleep, she slipped out of bed, put on her shoes, and carefully opened the door to avoid making noise. To her surprise, she wasn’t the only one still awake.

She carried a flashlight but didn’t turn it on until she was well outside the courtyard. The village was pitch black—anyone with a weak heart wouldn’t dare walk this path at night.

Nan Sheng muttered as she walked, "I’m not exactly normal either, so let’s not scare each other!"

Not far from the Nan household stood a dilapidated, abandoned house. Someone was waiting for her inside, and when they saw Nan Sheng approaching with her flashlight, they grew irritated.

"Turn that off! What if someone sees?"

What if they do?

Too bad!

Nan Sheng shone the light directly at the man. He was even more handsome than the system had described—his hair neatly parted, his clothes impeccably pressed, clearly having taken extra care with his appearance. Compared to the rough farmhands, he stood out like a polished gem.

She didn’t know how their past interactions had gone, but she guessed the original owner had fawned over him, allowing this pretty boy to act so high and mighty.

Nan Sheng had no intention of letting the scumbag off easy. She decided to toy with him.

"Yu Sheng, does being with me embarrass you? Why do we always have to meet in secret? If you don’t want this, let’s just break up."

In the darkness, his expression was unreadable, but from her tone, Yu Sheng assumed she sounded heartbroken. He cursed himself for losing his cool.

He reached out to grab her, but she dodged. Her voice remained sorrowful.

"I’m married now. Everyone tells me to focus on building a life with Lin Han. I know I’m not good enough for you—let’s just end things."

Her words only made Yu Sheng more frantic. If they ended things, where would he get all that money?

If not for his family’s troubles, he wouldn’t have batted an eye at two thousand, even five or ten thousand! Now, reduced to trading his looks for cash, he felt utterly humiliated.

Nan Sheng despised his self-pity. Oh, the male lead thinks he’s the victim? She’d make sure to disgust him—maybe he’d cut off every part of himself she touched.

She boldly ran her hands over him, then feigned shyness.

Kid, I’ve seen more of the world than you’ve eaten rice. Let’s see how you handle this!

Yu Sheng flushed crimson, inwardly cursing her shamelessness. If this was a breakup, why was she practically tearing his pants off?

The system panel flashed a warning: Behavior noted. Goodwill -5.

Nan Sheng was stunned. What just happened?

Yu Sheng grabbed her hands, his voice strained. "I truly love you. Even married, I still do. But I can’t do hard labor—how can I give you a future? If only I could return to the city, I’d take you with me to live like a wealthy lady."

He was hinting for her to raise money for him. The original owner had been foolish enough to sell herself for his sake, but Nan Sheng wasn’t her.

"But in all this time, you’ve never given me anything or admitted we were together in public. How do I know you really love me?"

Yu Sheng gritted his teeth. Since when did she become so sharp?

"Then tell me—how do you want me to prove it?"

"Lin Han gave me all his savings—a thousand yuan—saying the man provides and the woman manages the home. He even bought me a bracelet."

Her implication was clear. Would the scumbag take the bait?

In the original plot, the male lead had stumbled upon a pair of priceless emerald bracelets, which he later gave to the female lead. Right now, though, jade wasn’t worth much—he’d only done it to win her favor.

Yu Sheng treasured money more than his life, carrying it on him at all times.

After a brief pause, he pulled out several large bills from his inner pockets. When Nan Sheng shone her flashlight, she caught a glimpse of deep green—likely the jade bracelets.

"Yu Sheng, is that the bracelet you bought for me? I love it so much!"

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 21

Yu Sheng's lips twitched slightly. Since he had already taken the money, he figured a pair of jade bracelets wouldn’t hurt. At worst, he could find something better for Jinyan elsewhere. Right now, the most important thing was helping Jinyan return to the city.

"This is for you. I just never had the courage to give it to you before."

Yu Sheng personally slipped the bracelet onto Nan Sheng’s wrist. Under the flashlight’s glow, it shimmered brilliantly. "I’m not as capable as Lin Han. I’ve only managed to save a little over three hundred yuan. Don’t look down on it."

Nan Sheng didn’t mind at all—she considered it compensation for the emotional distress the original owner had endured over the past year.

She pretended to choke up. "You’re really willing to give me the money?"

Yu Sheng nodded solemnly. "Isn’t it said that the man handles outside matters while the woman manages the home?"

Nan Sheng smiled and dangled a carrot in front of him. "You’re such a good person. I’m sure you’ll make it back to the city!"

Yu Sheng mistook this for a promise from her. Hidden in the shadows, his face curled into a knowing smirk. You have to spend money to make money—and now it’s all coming right back to me.

With the money secured, Nan Sheng had no desire to stay with this scoundrel any longer. "It’s too late now. I should head back. If someone wakes up and finds me missing, it’ll be trouble."

Yu Sheng was taken aback. In the past, he had always been the one shooing her away. Her sudden change in behavior left him unsettled.

"Alright, I’ll watch from the door until you get home. Don’t be afraid!"

He wasn’t the least bit worried about the money being squandered. He assumed Nan Sheng was saving it up to return to him in one lump sum.

Meanwhile, two figures lurking in the shadows were fuming. They had rushed home ahead of her and now waited at the gate, ready to confront Nan Sheng.

Sizhe wasn’t used to sharing a room with outsiders, so he had pretended to sleep earlier. When he heard his stepmother sneaking out, he followed—only to stumble upon an affair in progress.

Mingli had done the same. He had caught his sister sneaking off for secret rendezvous more than once before. Tonight, he had deliberately stayed awake to see if she’d leave again—and ended up running into Sizhe.

Now, Mingli’s face burned with humiliation. "Sizhe, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get an explanation for this!"

Sizhe gave a cold hum of acknowledgment, though he suspected his stepmother had been deceived by that man. Once home, he’d tell his grandfather—they had to get the money back before she handed it over to someone else.

As Nan Sheng approached her house, she spotted two large shadows by the gate. Just as she was about to scream, Mingli clamped a hand over her mouth. "Do you want the whole village to know you were sneaking around with an educated youth? Keep quiet!"

Nan Sheng shone her flashlight and recognized her brother and son. No wonder the favorability dropped—he really did follow me.

"Keep your voices down. Come inside, and I’ll show you something good."

She led the way into the courtyard, and the two reluctantly followed. Nan Sheng slid the bracelet off her wrist and held it out. "See this? Back in the day, this could’ve bought several houses."

She planned to keep it safe until the reforms opened up the market, then trade it for a courtyard home in Beijing!

Mingli sensed something off and exchanged a glance with Sizhe before confronting her. "You’re married, you know! Why are you taking gifts from another man? Give it back!"

"No!"

Nan Sheng protectively clutched the bracelet to her chest. "That scoundrel played with my feelings and tried to swindle me out of money. I’m just collecting a little interest!"

Hearing this, Mingli was so moved he nearly teared up. "Sis… you’ve finally opened your eyes! Yu Sheng is absolute trash. Stay away from him from now on."

Nan Sheng waved him off impatiently.

"Ugh, I know! I just wanted to get back everything I spent on him this past year. He even gave me over three hundred yuan. Want some pocket money?"

Without waiting for an answer, she shoved three ten-yuan bills into her brother’s hands and handed one to her son. "This is hush money. If he comes asking, act like you know nothing."

Sizhe coolly pushed the money back. "I don’t want it!"

Even without payment, he wouldn’t side with an outsider.

Mingli also refused most of it, taking only one bill. "Mom and Dad keep a tight grip on money. One’s enough for me to keep handy."

And just like that, the matter was temporarily settled.

Lying in bed, Nan Sheng immediately summoned the system panel. The favorability hadn’t increased—still stuck at 9 points. Sizhe must still doubt my sincerity.

No matter. She’d prove it to him tomorrow.

Nan’s Father and Mother went to bed early. By the time Nan Sheng woke up, the dumplings were already steamed—made with taro starch for extra chewiness.

Most folks in the countryside preferred boiled dumplings, but Nan Sheng was picky. After trying steamed dumplings once, she refused to eat them any other way.

Nan’s Mother doted on her daughter, even scooping out two chunks of meat from the oil jar to mince into the filling. The rich flavor filled their mouths with every bite. The family’s meager meat reserves were nearly depleted after this visit.

With work in the fields about to start, Nan Sheng planned to leave late to avoid running into the scoundrel, his mistress, or the village gossips.

Nan’s Mother packed the leftover dumplings for her to take. The kids loved them too, but Nan Sheng protested. "Mom, keep these for lunch. Otherwise, you’ll have to cook again after work."

Nan’s Father scowled. "Take them. If we want more, we’ll make more. You can’t even forage properly—how would you manage on your own?"

Hearing her father expose her shortcomings, Mingli and Nan’s Mother couldn’t help but laugh. "Exactly! Others come back with baskets full of wild greens, but you can’t spot a single one. We’ll have your brother bring you a basket in a few days."

Sizhe and Qiqi both glanced at Nan Sheng. So that’s why stepmom never goes up the mountain.

Nan Sheng flushed with embarrassment. "Don’t trouble him. There’s no bicycle here—walking back and forth is exhausting. Dad, do we have a bicycle voucher? I’ll buy one for the family!"

Nan’s Father shot a look at the kids and firmly refused. "No buying anything! We don’t have a voucher, and you’re married now—stop sending things back home."

Nan Sheng wouldn’t hear it. Her parents had been so good to her; she had to repay them. "What does being married have to do with it? Can’t I be filial? Besides, you didn’t keep a single cent of the three hundred yuan Lin Han gave as bride price. It’s only right I buy something big for the family."

In rural areas, most families used their daughter’s bride price to secure a wife for their son. For Nan’s parents to give it all to their daughter was practically unheard of.

Even Sizhe was surprised, thinking his maternal grandparents were far more decent than his biological mother’s family.

Qiqi chimed in support. "It’s only fair!"

She didn’t fully understand, nor did she know how expensive a bicycle was. But after enjoying chicken legs and meat-filled dumplings, she figured her stepmother ought to treat her grandparents too.

Outnumbered three to one, Nan’s Father could only grumble, "Fine, but if you buy one, I’ll smash it the moment you bring it home."

His words were harsh, but his heart warmed. His daughter had grown considerate, realizing her aging parents could use easier travel.

When Nan Sheng left, she carried a bag of dumplings. Sizhe noticed they weren’t heading home. "Going to town?"

"Mm. While it’s early, let’s buy some fatty meat to render into lard. We’ll bury some in a jar to preserve it—it’ll last a long time."

At the mention of meat, Qiqi chattered excitedly. Sizhe thought, If stepmom were still planning to steal money, she wouldn’t spend so freely. Still, he’d keep a close eye on her.

Upon arriving in town, Nan Sheng used the meat coupons to buy some fatty pork belly, along with three pounds of marbled pork and two pounds of well-balanced shoulder meat. The butcher couldn’t help but remark,

“What kind of household are you running, coming here every day to buy meat?”

---

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 22

Nan Sheng smiled and said, "I'd love to eat meat every day, but where would I get so many ration coupons? Since I’m not working in the fields, the villagers asked me to help out, so this is all pooled together by everyone."

She then bought the household items they were missing, filling a large bundle and spending nearly twenty yuan—quite extravagant by their standards.

Nan Sheng didn’t notice her son’s scrutinizing gaze. "What should we do? It’ll be hard to ride the bike now. We’ll have to push it back."

Though the items weren’t heavy, they took up space, leaving only enough room for her daughter to sit. Taking turns pushing the bike, both mother and son were exhausted by the time they reached the village.

Aunt Zhao spotted the family of three and greeted them cheerfully, "Lin Han’s wife, you went to town? How come you bought so much?"

"Aunt Zhao, I visited my parents. These are all gifts from my mother. I’ll head home now—come visit when you have time."

Back home, Nan Sheng began organizing the items. She washed the pork fat and meat, letting them dry, bought two umbrellas, fabric for Sizhe’s clothes and backpacks for both children, twenty pounds of coarse cornmeal, and miscellaneous things like a bike lock.

At noon, she reheated some dumplings while Sizhe cooked porridge. Nan Sheng ate little before going to nap.

Unsure how to render the pork fat, Sizhe followed his stepmother’s example and picked beans, red peppers, and eggplants to dry for winter sustenance.

He called his sister over. "You go rest too. I’ll head to the mountains to gather wild greens. If she asks, don’t forget to tell her."

Sizhe had learned his lesson—now he always informed someone before leaving.

When Nan Sheng woke, neither child was indoors. She went to the yard and found Siqi bent over, turning the drying vegetables. "Qiqi, where’s your brother?"

"He went to pick wild greens!"

Nan Sheng suddenly remembered what Nan's Father had said and thought, My son really acts fast. Not wanting to idle, she decided to render the pork fat.

She had bought ten pounds of fat. The new oil jar needed scrubbing, so she placed it outside to sterilize in the sun before tightly shutting the kitchen door to begin.

First, she cut the fat into small pieces, blanched them in hot water to remove impurities, then started the rendering process with fresh water.

Once the fat was mostly rendered, she set the crispy bits aside and cut the pork belly and shoulder into large cubes, frying them in the oil.

After the surface moisture evaporated, she stored the meat in the jar with the oil—it would keep for months. Whenever they wanted some, they could just scoop it out.

Sweating profusely, Nan Sheng kept the kitchen door closed to contain the aroma. She filled a small bowl with crispy bits, sprinkled sugar, and took it to Siqi.

Siqi wasn’t possessive—she fed her stepmother first before eating herself. With no rush to cook, Nan Sheng sat in the shade, feeling like she might melt.

Once the heat subsided, she boiled the coarse cornmeal porridge. It required patience—simmering slowly over low heat to soften properly.

She skipped cooking a side dish, opting for a simple cucumber salad to pair with the porridge.

When Sizhe returned, his basket overflowed with wild greens. The recent rains had made them tender and fresh. But when Nan Sheng reached for the basket, he pulled it back slightly.

Softly, he said, "There’s something inside."

Digging through the greens, he revealed a ginseng root—though sadly, its roots and body were damaged during digging.

Nan Sheng whispered, "Judging by its thickness, it must be decades old. If it hadn’t been damaged, it could’ve sold for a lot."

But with its appearance ruined, its value plummeted.

Sizhe looked regretful. "Should we still sell it?"

Thinking of Lin Han and Nan's Father, Nan Sheng shook her head. "I’ve heard ginseng-infused liquor is nourishing. Let’s keep it for ourselves."

Sizhe agreed, remembering his father’s old injuries. After steeping for months, Lin Han could have a small sip daily when he returned for the New Year—and take a few pounds when he left again.

"Good!"

At dinner, Nan Sheng served the crispy pork bits with sugar, letting the children sweeten their porridge.

But the fabric troubled her—she didn’t know how to sew.

"Sizhe, how’s your grandmother’s needlework? I’d like her help making clothes."

Sizhe considered it a small favor and answered for Mother Lin, "Grandma can do it. I’ll take the fabric to her later."

Since their mother’s passing, their grandmother had made all their clothes. He realized their mother’s death anniversary was approaching.

His birth mother, Bai Xiu, was from Xiahe Village. Fair-skinned and gentle, she had been too timid to defy her parents.

During Siqi’s birth, Bai Xiu hemorrhaged badly. Mother Lin insisted she rest, but her own mother, who came to help, skimped on meals and hoarded the precious brown sugar.

Bai Xiu’s health deteriorated until she passed when Siqi was three.

Every time Sizhe thought of her, his resentment toward his maternal grandparents grew. Yet they shamelessly showed up every anniversary, hoping for handouts.

He needed to warn his stepmother soon.

For once, he wished she’d be even fiercer—enough to scare them off for good.

After dinner, while daylight lingered, Nan Sheng measured the fabric, planning outfits and backpacks for the children.

"Take your sister to Grandma’s. Have her measure you both for clothes and sew two backpacks."

When they arrived, their grandparents and uncle’s family had already eaten. Sicheng spotted them first. "Sizhe, Qiqi, I heard you went to your stepmother’s family? How were they?"

Sizhe sent Siqi to deliver the fabric to their grandmother while he stayed to chat.

"They were kind. They stewed chicken for us and gave us many things."

Just then, Zhou Wei stepped out, her tone sharp. "Oh? Then why didn’t your mother bring anything for the elders? Always keeping the good stuff for yourselves."

Sizhe bit back a retort. His uncle and cousins treated him well, so for their sake, he wouldn’t argue with his aunt.

He simply greeted her and headed to his grandmother’s room.

Zhou Wei muttered "ungrateful wretch" and asked her son, "Did they bring anything when they came?"

Sicheng sighed. "Mom, drop it. I saw Sizhe carrying fabric—probably for Grandma to sew."

Hearing this, Zhou Wei’s eyes lit up. If there was extra, maybe she could get a shirt for her eldest son.

Realizing he’d spoken too much, Sicheng hurried to fetch his father, knowing his mother’s habit of claiming things for their household.

His step-aunt had a temper—if she found out, a fight was inevitable.

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 23

After Sizhe entered the house, Mother Lin asked him to come over to get measured. "Don’t take your aunt’s words to heart—that’s just how she is."

Sizhe gave a wry smile but said nothing, letting Mother Lin lift his arms and legs as she measured him. Father Lin, relieved that his grandchildren were no longer going hungry, was in good spirits and asked about the Nan Family.

When Zhou Wei came in, she stayed silent while Siqi kept chattering about all the delicious food they’d eaten at the Nan Family’s place. "There was meat! Big chicken legs! And dumplings! Grandma and Grandpa were so nice!"

Father Lin and Mother Lin were overjoyed to hear this. When their second son’s wife had married into the family, her relatives hadn’t been particularly welcoming, and the elderly couple had worried they might mistreat the children.

Zhou Wei’s eyes practically gleamed with envy when she heard how much meat they’d eaten over the past two days. "Did you bring any back with you?"

Siqi was about to say yes—that their mother had bought plenty—but Sizhe cut in first. "Grandma made wild herb dumplings this morning and gave us the leftovers, but there weren’t many, and we finished them at lunch."

Zhou Wei was disappointed, but since she couldn’t have the dumplings, she turned her attention to the fabric instead.

"Mother, is Second Sister-in-law making clothes for the kids? If there’s any fabric left, could you make a shirt for Sizhong too?"

Father Lin’s expression darkened. Before their second son had married, the two children had needed meals here, so letting Zhou Wei take advantage was somewhat understandable. But now, things were different.

"If you want clothes for Sizhong, bring your own fabric. Don’t freeload off your brother’s family—it’s not like you’re short on money. Haven’t we given you enough support?"

Zhou Wei wasn’t a bad person, just sharp-tongued. "Is that how you see it? I’m saving up to marry off my two sons! Second Brother’s family is well-off—what’s wrong with helping out their own kin?"

Eldest Brother Lin arrived just in time to hear this and was instantly furious. "Help out how? Have you no shame? You grumbled when the kids came over to eat, and now you have the nerve to ask for things? Get out of here!"

He dragged his wife away, too embarrassed to even meet Sizhe’s eyes, feeling utterly humiliated.

Mother Lin sighed. "You two should head home. The roads are hard to walk in the dark."

Every family had its troubles. The Lin household was relatively well-off, with each child having their own house, yet petty conflicts never ceased. The elders could only try to smooth things over—there wasn’t much else they could do.

On the way back, Sizhe sternly reminded his sister never to mention any treats they had at home, not even to their grandparents.

The next day, Nan Sheng went to find Uncle Liu, the ox-cart driver, and gave him money to bring back some good liquor.

Uncle Liu boomed, "Lin Han’s wife, are you hosting guests? You should buy something cheaper—no need to waste money."

Nan Sheng explained, "No, Uncle Liu. I’m making medicinal wine for Lin Han. Good liquor works better!"

Hearing this, Uncle Liu laughed and praised Nan Sheng for being so thoughtful. That afternoon, he brought back three pounds of fine liquor, costing nine yuan.

Handing it over, he couldn’t help but eye it longingly, wondering what three-yuan-per-pound liquor tasted like. Nan Sheng promised to let him try some once the medicinal wine was ready, and Uncle Liu left in high spirits.

Nan Sheng didn’t know how to make medicinal wine, so that evening, she minced pork cracklings for steamed dumplings, planning to invite the elderly couple over. She used lard in the filling, making it just as tasty as meat dumplings.

When Sizhe returned from school, the dumplings were just ready.

Nan Sheng plated eight vegetable dumplings. "Big Kid, take this to your grandparents and ask them to come over for dumplings. And give this plate to your uncle."

Hearing from her daughter how kind Uncle’s sons had been, Nan Sheng didn’t mind sharing some food as thanks for their care of Sizhe and Siqi.

Sizhe washed his face and carried the dumplings out, openly telling anyone he passed that they were for his uncle. Meanwhile, Nan Sheng started preparing cold dishes.

Siqi grinned. "Mom, can we have sugar-mixed tomatoes?"

Nan Sheng swatted her bottom playfully. "Go pick four from the garden, and I’ll make it for you."

Siqi scampered off happily—she loved the sweet-and-sour juice at the bottom, which tasted just like canned fruit.

Zhou Wei, who’d complained about missing out on dumplings the day before, now wore a cold expression when Sizhe brought her some, still resentful about the fabric.

Sicheng stood up to take the dumplings, washed the empty plate, and handed it back. "Tell your mom thanks for us. Her cooking smells amazing."

Uncle Lin Jianguo said, "No need to trouble your grandparents. This plate is enough for us. You don’t get dumplings often—keep them for yourselves."

Nan Sheng’s dumplings were generously sized, and Uncle Lin thought a taste would suffice. But when he turned around, Zhou Wei was already on her second one.

She called to her sons, "Hurry up and eat! These are stuffed with meat and cracklings—so much oil! And yesterday, they acted like they hadn’t bought any meat."

Sizhe couldn’t stand it and left to fetch his grandparents. Once they were out the gate, Uncle Lin slammed the plate to the ground and struck Zhou Wei across the face.

"What’s wrong with you? Sizhe brings you dumplings, and you repay him with spite?"

Sizhong and Sicheng rushed to intervene. "Dad, calm down! Don’t hit her!"

Uncle Lin pointed at Zhou Wei. "Does talking work? How many times has your aunt sent things over? Has she ever reciprocated? All she does is mooch! Zhou Wei, I swear, if you pull this again, I’ll hit you harder!"

In his youth, Uncle Lin had a fiery temper, and Zhou Wei had suffered for it. Over time, they’d mellowed, and she’d even gained the upper hand—until now.

The slap reignited her old fear. She didn’t dare cry, quietly retreating to the kitchen.

Sizhong picked up the fallen dumplings—they could still be eaten after washing. His heart ached. His mother’s behavior was grating, but every penny she saved went toward his and his brother’s futures.

"Dad, starting tomorrow, I’ll work full shifts. Once we have money, Mom won’t need to scrounge."

Uncle Lin scoffed. "Even with a mountain of gold, she’d still be like this."

When Father Lin and Mother Lin arrived at their second son’s home, they marveled at how often they’d been eating there lately.

The table was set with corn porridge, dumplings, and two cold dishes—a feast for the eyes.

Mother Lin said, "You hardly make dumplings—why share them with us old folks?"

Nan Sheng mixed a dipping sauce. "These are made with wild greens Sizhe picked. They won’t stay fresh long. Honestly, I don’t even know how to forage—pretty embarrassing for a village girl."

Father and Mother Lin chuckled—they’d never heard of a country girl who couldn’t pick greens.

When they tasted the meaty filling, the elderly couple grew even more hesitant, but Nan Sheng urged them to eat their fill—she had a favor to ask.

"Eldest Brother Lin was quite lucky—he dug up a ginseng root in the mountains. I thought about making some medicinal wine for Lin Han to drink. I even bought the liquor, but I’m not sure how to prepare it properly."

Mentioning the medicinal wine reminded her of something she’d forgotten. "Eldest Brother Lin, go fetch the liquor from my room and pour a cup for your grandfather to taste."

Father Lin waved his hands in refusal. "No need for wine. After dinner, I’ll help you prepare it—it’s no trouble at all."

But when Eldest Brother Lin brought the liquor over, Father Lin didn’t refuse after all. The aroma was simply too enticing.

---

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 24

At the dinner table, noticing his second daughter-in-law’s improvement, Father Lin couldn’t help but offer, "Nan Sheng, would you like to take on a job? There’s an opening for a work-point recorder in Team Three. If you’re interested, I can arrange it."

Being a work-point recorder didn’t require much education—just the ability to recognize the names of the workers, which wasn’t difficult, especially since there was a ready-made teacher at home.

Nan Sheng had been planning to bring it up herself later, but Father Lin had already taken care of it. Truly, it was easier to thrive under the shade of a big tree.

"That’s wonderful! I can read, so it’s perfect. How many work points does a recorder earn in a day?"

"Six points—not too high, not too low."

Sizhe looked up resentfully. Back when he was breaking his back all day, he’d only earned six points too. Father Lin pretended not to notice, though arranging this job hadn’t been easy either.

After dinner, Father Lin started preparing medicinal wine. When he saw the ginseng, his heart ached. "This ginseng must be seventy or eighty years old! Why does it look like it was dug up by a dog?"

The eldest grandson, who had been helping him, didn’t know how to respond. He hadn’t had any tools—getting it out at all was an achievement.

Meanwhile, Nan Sheng was cleaning the kitchen with her mother-in-law—she washed the dishes while the older woman swept. "Even though the recorder doesn’t have to do heavy labor, you’ll still need to stay out in the fields all day. Do we have any straw hats at home? If not, you should buy two quickly. Your Fifth Uncle’s family sells them."

"We’ll definitely need two. I think Siqi will probably go with me too."

The recorder position was finalized three days later. On the same day, Nan Sheng took Siqi to Fifth Uncle’s house. Lin Guocheng, the fifth uncle, had been born prematurely and wasn’t very strong, so he earned fewer work points and relied on handicrafts to supplement the family income.

He could make baskets, winnowing fans, brooms, and straw hats. The villagers, knowing his situation, rarely bought these items in town—they just went to his place whenever they needed something.

"Fifth Uncle, Fifth Aunt, are you home?"

"Who’s there? Come on in!"

Little Ning, their daughter-in-law, was the one keeping watch at home. She was heavily pregnant and hadn’t gone out to work.

"Oh, it’s Sister-in-law and Qiqi! Come in and sit!"

Nan Sheng couldn’t help but feel uneasy seeing her large belly, reminded of what had happened to Sister-in-law Li. The Li and Ma families were still feuding, and word was that Shen Cui could no longer have children.

After returning from the hospital yesterday, Shen Cui had gone straight to the Ma household and turned it upside down. Why? She’d brought them the child—the very one she’d lost when she was pushed.

"I won’t come in. Do you still have any straw hats? I’d like to buy two."

Little Ning was generous. "We’re family—no need to talk about buying. Just take whichever ones you like."

Nan Sheng wouldn’t take that offer. She didn’t like owing favors.

Entering the storage room, she couldn’t help but admire, "Fifth Uncle’s hands are so skilled!"

The straw hats were all the same style, just differing in size. The ones for women and children cost five cents each, while the men’s, which used more material, were eight cents.

"Little Ning, I’ll take two for now. Could you ask Fifth Uncle if he can make three with wider brims? One for me and two for the kids."

"That shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll let him know when he’s back."

Nan Sheng didn’t stay long. She pressed the money into Little Ning’s hand and hurried off. Unfortunately, on her way back, she ran into Shen Cui outside the Li family’s house, carrying out a bucket of slop.

As women, even if they weren’t close, Nan Sheng couldn’t help but pity her for the suffering she’d endured. "Sister-in-law, put that down. Let me help you."

Shen Cui looked up, her expression cold. "I don’t need it. I can manage myself."

Country folk didn’t fuss over things like postpartum rest. Before, she’d taken advantage of her pregnancy to bully her in-laws. Now that she couldn’t have children anymore, she’d become meek, afraid her husband might abandon her, and threw herself into chores.

Seeing her refusal, Nan Sheng didn’t insist. She took her daughter’s hand and walked home. Behind them, Shen Cui watched their retreating figures, thinking of that day.

If Lin Han’s wife hadn’t left that day… maybe her child would still be alive.

Father Lin accompanied Nan Sheng on her first day as a recorder. The leader of Team Three, Zhou Ren, was a man in his thirties who knew how to handle people.

"Uncle Lin, you’re here?"

Lin Guozheng exchanged a few words with him before calling the team together for roll call. Nan Sheng held her notebook as Zhou Ren assigned tasks, pausing after each name so she could match faces to them.

By the end, she had a good idea of who was doing what and how many points they’d earn—though she’d need to double-check before the workday ended.

Lin Guozheng had his own tasks to attend to, but seeing his daughter-in-law adjusting well, he prepared to leave. "Zhou Ren, look after Lin Han’s wife for me. I’ve got other matters to handle."

Zhou Ren smiled. "Don’t worry, Uncle Lin. We’re all family here."

He didn’t leave Nan Sheng hanging, explaining the team’s dynamics. The only awkward part was that Ma Qiang’s family was also in Team Three. Nan Sheng made a mental note to avoid them as much as possible.

Team leaders had to work while supervising others, unlike recorders, who could sit in the shade and only needed to make occasional rounds.

Nan Sheng didn’t want to leave Siqi alone at home, so mother and daughter went to work together, both wearing straw hats. The child, unable to stay still, went to dig wild vegetables at the edge of the field.

As a new recorder, Nan Sheng couldn’t slack off entirely. She made rounds every ten minutes or so—though it was really just strolling around.

But some people were determined to make trouble for her. The moment Zhou Ren stepped away, the gossip started.

"She was already shameless back in her maiden home, flirting with the educated youth. Do you think she was dumped and that’s why she married into the Lin family?"

"Really? So she’s a loose woman? And Lin Han still took her?"

"What else could he do? Someone had to take care of the two kids. Better keep an eye on our men—she doesn’t seem the faithful type."

The women working with the Ma family grew more and more excited. In these times, there wasn’t much entertainment—spreading rumors was the only fun to be had. They didn’t notice Nan Sheng approaching.

"Sister-in-law, are you talking about me?"

Liu Fang, startled, fell onto her backside. "Heavens! You scared me!"

Liu Fang was Liu Dahua’s niece. She’d only married into Xiangyang Village thanks to her aunt’s help, and with Liu Dahua still detained at the brigade office, she held a grudge against Nan Sheng.

"I see all the other aunties and sisters-in-law have done piles of work, while you’re all gathered here doing nothing. So you’ve been badmouthing me? Everyone earns the same points—don’t you think slacking off is unfair?"

Liu Fang could tell Nan Sheng wasn’t someone to be trifled with, but she stubbornly retorted, "Who said anything about you? Don’t go looking for trouble."

Nan Sheng played along. "You’re right. Lin Han did marry twice—maybe you weren’t talking about me. From what you’re saying, his first wife was the unfaithful one? Who did she mess around with? Tell me more."

Liu Fang glanced at the two Ma daughters-in-law, but even they couldn’t match Nan Sheng’s boldness. She was outmatched.

Zhou Ren had been keeping an eye on Nan Sheng, worried she might be bullied on her first day. Seeing her with the Ma family, he headed over.

"What’s this? A gathering instead of working?"

Nan Sheng turned and declared righteously, "Captain, I want to report them! They’ve been slacking off and spreading rumors. Their work points should be docked!"

Zhou Ren didn’t refuse to humor her either. "Liu Fang, how many times have I warned you all before? Still not getting it, huh? Today, half your work points are deducted. If you dare to slack off again, you might as well just stay home for good!"

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 25

Nan Sheng had been busy all day, keeping a close eye on Liu Fang and the others as they worked, nearly exhausting them to death. She wasn’t particularly generous in many things, but when it came to holding a grudge, she excelled. By the end of the shift, Liu Fang’s arms and legs were trembling, and the other gossips didn’t dare come near the wife of the Ma family again.

When she returned home in the evening, Sizhe had already prepared corn porridge. Nan Sheng took her daughter to wash up while sending her son to the garden to pick some beans. With lard now in the house, even stir-fried greens tasted like meat, so Nan Sheng didn’t need to slice meat for every meal.

Since Sizhe got home from school earlier than the two of them, Nan Sheng instructed him about cooking, "Big kid, we have enough food at home. When you come back in the evening, alternate between fine corn porridge, coarse corn porridge, and dry rice meals. We all need to nourish our bodies."

"Mm!"

Seeing that his stepmother was working hard and no longer mistreating him or his sister, Sizhe’s favorability toward her rose to 14.

After dinner, Nan Sheng bathed herself and her daughter with warm water before lying down in bed. Qiqi had grown extremely clingy, insisting on bringing her little pillow to sleep with her. The child didn’t need coaxing—she nestled under the covers and fell asleep instantly.

Nan Sheng opened the system panel, but instead of checking the new plot developments, she first claimed her rewards to prevent her favorability from dropping again.

The familiar prize wheel appeared, and she quickly clicked to spin. This time, she won a small box containing three black pills the size of a fingertip.

Nan Sheng was thrilled. "System, system, what kind of medicine is this? Can it bring the dead back to life?"

System: Wrong genre, host! This isn’t a cultivation world!

These pills can enhance physical constitution. For example, if Lin Han takes one, it can heal the hidden injuries he’s accumulated from years of training.

Nan Sheng casually popped one into her mouth, nearly choking on it. Since her own health wasn’t great, she figured she might as well try one.

She had originally planned to check the new plot developments, but the pill took effect too quickly—she fell asleep almost instantly. That night, she felt as if she were soaking in warm water, comforted by a deep, soothing warmth.

"Mom? Brother made breakfast. Come wash up!"

When Nan Sheng was woken up, she was reluctant to leave that cozy state. After shaking off the drowsiness, she got up to wash her face and brush her teeth, feeling as strong as an ox now.

Seeing her son, she felt a little awkward—what kind of mother didn’t cook breakfast or dinner? "Big kid, sorry for the trouble. Mom overslept."

Sizhe just said it was fine. He didn’t know how to steam buns, so he made white rice instead, which smelled delicious. There were also spring onions on the table to dip in soybean paste.

Nan Sheng checked the kitchen and found some embers still burning, so she added firewood to stir-fry an egg sauce. After breakfast, she washed her hands and made rice balls for her son to take to school.

Sizhe didn’t want to bring them—bringing cornmeal buns was already conspicuous enough. If he switched to white rice, he could only imagine how many eyes would be on him.

Nan Sheng lightly smacked him. "Just eat it somewhere no one can see you, dummy."

In the end, the "dummy" Sizhe lost to his stepmother and took two fist-sized rice balls to school. After locking the door, Nan Sheng took Qiqi to work.

"Qiqi, it’s too sunny outside. How about you stay home and nap after lunch?"

There was no place to rest in the fields, and yesterday, Qiqi had wilted by the end of the day. Nan Sheng’s heart ached seeing her like that.

"No! Stay with Mom!" The child was adamant.

Nan Sheng didn’t push further. Qiqi was still young, and she was afraid the girl might wander off to somewhere dangerous if left alone.

Before work began, names were called and tasks assigned as usual. But today, Nan Sheng could match most faces to names. One more day, and she wouldn’t need the team leader’s reminders anymore.

Word had spread about how she’d reported several wives, leading to their work points being deducted. Some applauded her, while others thought she was meddling—previous record-keepers had never interfered like this.

Regardless of their private opinions, no one dared to offend her openly, fearing she’d watch them as closely as she had Liu Fang.

Nan Sheng could feel eyes on her back, but she paid no mind, only musing whether she should buy a small, portable knife for self-defense.

Today, she reduced her inspection rounds to about once every half hour. Passing by the Ma family’s wife, she wondered how the village chief would handle Liu Dahua—surely they couldn’t keep her detained at the brigade office forever.

During dinner, Feng Yueyue showed up again, her expression complicated.

"Sister-in-law, you’ll need to go to the brigade office later. It’s about Aunt Liu and Shen Cui again."

Nan Sheng held her back. "Don’t rush off. Can I skip it? I’m exhausted from working all day."

"Probably not, sister-in-law. Shen Cui says you and Aunt Liu both badmouthed her, so you have to pay compensation too!"

Nan Sheng: "..."

Feng Yueyue left first. After finishing dinner and bathing Qiqi, Nan Sheng prepared to head out.

"Mom, I’m coming too!"

Qiqi could barely keep her eyes open but still clung to her stepmother.

Sizhe also didn’t want her going alone and was ready to skip homework. Nan Sheng looked between them and finally gave in.

"Fine, let’s all go."

This time, the brigade office was even more crowded. Aside from Lin Guozheng, Eldest Brother Lin had brought his two sons, and Third Brother Lin was also present. When Nan Sheng arrived, Third Brother Lin was berating Shen Cui’s husband, Li Zhuang.

"Are you so poor you’d extort money like this? No wonder you’re cursed with no sons!"

Li Zhuang hung his head in shame, while Uncle Li and Aunt Li turned pale—Third Brother Lin’s words had struck a nerve.

But Shen Cui disagreed. "Why shouldn’t they pay? If she and Liu Dahua hadn’t badmouthed me at the door, my child wouldn’t have been lost! Liu Dahua has to pay, and so does she!"

These past few days had been hell for Shen Cui. She wanted to extort as much money as possible so she’d have a safety net even if the Li family kicked her out.

As for why her husband’s family supported her demands, she had promised them that once she got the money, she’d return to her parents’ home and not interfere if Li Zhuang remarried.

"Liu Dahua owes me two hundred yuan, and Lin Han’s wife owes me a hundred!"

When Nan Sheng walked in, the villagers pitied her but didn’t speak up, afraid of drawing Shen Cui’s attention.

"Who’s demanding money from me?"

"Me! Shen Cui!"

Shen Cui glared at Nan Sheng with venom. Why should she get to marry a soldier, live on military allowances, while Shen Cui’s own hard-won son had been lost? The heavens were truly unfair!

But to everyone’s surprise, Nan Sheng agreed. "Fine. How much do you want?"

Lin Guozheng thought his daughter-in-law had been frightened and immediately intervened. "Second daughter-in-law, don’t talk nonsense! You didn’t push her—why should you pay?"

The rest of the Lin family also objected, especially Third Brother Lin, who snapped, "Are you out of your mind? Got money to burn?"

Nan Sheng shot him a glare before walking up to Shen Cui. "I pity you, so I’ll give you a chance to earn money. How about this—five cents per slap, ten cents per kick. If I break your arm or leg, I’ll throw in an extra two yuan. First, tell me how much you want to earn. A hundred yuan is out of the question—that’d cost you your life."

She was still smiling as she spoke, but the moment her words fell, the entire room fell silent.

Even Third Brother Lin shrank back, feeling goosebumps rise on his skin—his second sister-in-law was truly a living nightmare.

---

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 26

Shen Cui was startled by her, but before she could speak, a big slap came flying at her.

Slap! Shen Cui was struck on the left cheek.

Slap! Another hit landed on her right cheek.

Nan Sheng found it troublesome to keep chasing Shen Cui as she tried to dodge, so she simply grabbed her by the hair and rained down a dozen more slaps, left and right, before tossing her to the ground.

"Big Kid, did you count? How much should I pay her?"

Sizhe glanced at Shen Cui and said firmly, "Four slaps—that’s twenty cents at most."

No matter how you looked at it, twenty cents was the absolute limit. Shen Cui didn’t deserve a penny more!

He was still carrying his little sister, Siqi, who had fallen asleep on his back.

Nan Sheng smirked, pulled twenty cents from her pocket, and tossed it onto the ground. "Sister-in-law, see how nice this is? If you want money, just earn it openly. No need to scheme and extort people, right?"

She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Or how about we go all the way? Break a leg, and I’ll give you five bucks. Now that’s quick money."

Shen Cui’s head was still ringing from the beating. Forget demanding money—all she could see now was Nan Sheng’s terrifying fury. She had misjudged her, thinking Lin Han’s wife was meek.

Trembling, she scrambled backward. "I don’t want the money anymore! Just leave me alone!"

"Changed your mind?" Nan Sheng feigned disappointment as she casually pocketed the twenty cents again.

"Uncle Feng, Sister-in-law Shen Cui says she doesn’t need compensation. Mind if I take the kids home now?"

Feng Wuquan’s lips twitched as he exchanged a glance with Lin Guozheng. How had they ended up with such a terrifying daughter-in-law?

"Go on. Just… don’t hit the kids when you get back."

As Nan Sheng walked out, she politely bid farewell to her father-in-law and the rest of the Lin family. When she passed Third Brother Lin, she flashed him a chilling smile.

"Little Brother, watch your tone when speaking to your second sister-in-law from now on. Got it?"

Third Brother Lin nodded obediently. His sister-in-law was ruthless—beating someone up and then taking the money back? He wasn’t about to test her patience.

By the time they headed home, dusk had settled. Nan Sheng took Siqi from Sizhe’s back, though the boy stubbornly muttered, "I could’ve carried her."

The earlier scene had left a deep impression on him. After some thought, he concluded that his stepmother had actually gone easy on him and his sister before.

Gratitude welled up in his heart.

As they walked home, Sizhe wrestled with how to bring up the matter of their maternal grandparents. But even after they arrived, he couldn’t find the words.

That night, with nothing else to do, Nan Sheng washed up and settled in to review the novel’s plot. The more she read, the angrier she became. Seriously? Just because she was a side character, she was supposed to roll over and die from bullying?

First, after returning to her family home, she discovered the male lead and female lead’s affair. When she tried to confront them, the male lead shoved her, leaving her injured and broken.

Well, sure—losing her man was one thing, but losing all her money too? No wonder she’d been devastated.

Then, Lin Han’s former in-laws moved in under the pretense of mourning their daughter’s death anniversary. When they left, they took all the rice and flour with them since they couldn’t squeeze any cash out of her.

What kind of shameless relatives were these? Were the Lin family all dead? How could they just stand by?

And then Nan Mingli got into trouble. According to the book, on his way home from work, he heard a woman cry for help, only to be framed when he rushed to her aid.

Turned out, it was a setup by a pair of siblings looking to scam someone—and he’d walked right into it.

In the original plot, Nan’s mother had an accident around this time. With no money to his name, Nan Mingli was accused of assault and sentenced to ten years of labor reform.

No wonder people recommended reading sweet, fluffy stories before bed. After finishing this depressing plot, Nan Sheng was too furious to sleep. By morning, dark circles had formed under her eyes.

When in a bad mood, one must eat well. Nan Sheng fished out a piece of meat from the oil jar, shut the kitchen door tight, and got to cooking.

When Sizhe woke up, the clatter from the kitchen made him pause. He fetched water from the well to wash his face, then roused his sister in the east room and helped her wash up before braiding her hair.

By the time Nan Sheng finished cooking, she was drenched in sweat. She told the kids to eat first while she freshened up. When she returned, neither had touched their food.

"Eat up! You’ll be late for school!"

Today’s dish was stir-fried pork belly, rich and glistening with oil. Nan Sheng kept piling meat onto the kids’ plates while savoring her own bites. The three of them ate happily.

After breakfast, Fifth Uncle’s daughter-in-law, Little Ning, dropped by with three straw hats made to Nan Sheng’s specifications.

"Sister-in-law, are these what you wanted?"

Nan Sheng was thrilled. "Fifth Uncle is amazing! This is exactly what I needed. Now I won’t have to worry about my face getting sunburned during work."

She promptly pulled out some coins. "For such a big hat, I’ll pay the men’s rate. Three hats come to twenty-four cents. Here you go."

Little Ning had been told by her father-in-law not to overcharge family and to round down, but Nan Sheng’s quick counting left her reflexively pocketing the money.

Oops. She was going to get scolded again when she got home.

At work that day, the atmosphere was unusually quiet. Even Zhou Ren avoided Nan Sheng’s gaze, thinking to himself, Lin Han’s wife doesn’t look that strong, but her temper is terrifying.

There were pros and cons to her newfound reputation. The men treated her with more respect, but during breaks, the other women huddled together in gossip while Nan Sheng remained alone with her daughter.

Most might’ve felt ostracized, but Nan Sheng didn’t mind. She preferred straightforward relationships over convoluted social games.

In the shade, whispers about yesterday’s events circulated—though no one dared mention Nan Sheng directly. Instead, they talked about how Liu Dahua had been released after Ma Qiang agreed to pay Shen Cui a hundred yuan in compensation.

A neighbor living near the Ma family shot a glance at Ma Qiang’s daughter-in-law before murmuring, "Ma Qiang nearly beat Liu Dahua to death last night. The screams were horrifying."

"A hundred yuan! That’s three years of savings! No wonder he lost his temper."

The villagers had initially sympathized with the Li Family, condemning Liu Dahua for attacking a pregnant woman. But after Shen Cui’s attempt to extort money from the Lin family, opinions shifted. Now, people saw the Li Family as wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Some even muttered, The quiet ones are the most dangerous. Either way, the Li Family’s reputation was ruined.

After work, Nan Sheng walked home hand-in-hand with her daughter, carrying a basket of wild vegetables Siqi had dug up.

The front door was ajar when they arrived, which didn’t strike her as odd—until she heard two familiar voices inside.

"Mingli, is that you?"

Nan Mingli pushed open the kitchen door. He and Sizhe had just finished blanching the wild greens. "Yeah, I got off work early and brought these over. Didn’t realize you’d be out working, so I’ve been squatting in the yard like an idiot."

Nan Sheng laughed. "Poor you. Here, take a spare key next time so you can wait inside. Stay for dinner tonight, alright?"

Mingli figured it wouldn’t hurt. He was exhausted from the day’s labor—a night’s rest sounded perfect. "Only if you cook something good."

As for his sister working in the fields? Mingli fully supported it. Being a work recorder was a cushy job—decent pay for light labor. Maybe marrying Lin Han wasn’t so bad after all.

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 27

Mingli came to stay, so dinner couldn’t be a simple affair.

Nan Sheng cooked a large pot of rice mixed with corn grits, while Sizhe, noticing his younger sister was sleepy, took her to the yard to freshen up.

Nan Sheng fished out two pieces of meat from the oil jar—one slab of pork belly to stir-fry with wild greens, and another lean cut to cook with chili peppers. Two dishes wouldn’t be enough, so she also prepared a refreshing cucumber salad to beat the heat and cut through the richness.

“It’s getting hotter these days. Do we have any mung beans at home? We should boil some mung bean porridge to prevent heatstroke.”

Mingli wasn’t sure if they had any. Since his older sister got married, the family’s living standards had dropped sharply, and their mother no longer had the heart to fuss over good meals.

“I dreamed about you yesterday.”

Hearing this, Mingli grew curious. “What did you dream? Was I getting beaten up again?”

“You’re quite self-aware. I dreamed you took a detour after work, wandering around the foot of the mountain instead of going straight home. Then a woman shouted for help, and you rushed over. Guess what happened?”

Mingli shook his head. Maybe the woman pledged to marry him out of gratitude?

“Marry you? Dream on! Turns out it was a brother and sister in the woods, and they accused you of being a pervert. They reported you to the authorities, and you got sent to labor reform. I was so mad I beat you right in front of the militia—figured it’d be better to kill you than let you suffer on a farm.”

Mingli burst out laughing. What kind of nonsense was this? “Sis, can’t you wish me something good?”

For a moment, he’d thought he’d gained a wife at such a young age. What a letdown.

“Dawa’s quite obedient—comes home from school and starts cooking right away. Qiqi’s well-behaved too. Sis, are you really planning to settle down here for good?”

Mingli knew his sister didn’t have any major flaws—she just loved dressing up and had a soft spot for educated types. That’s how she’d been fooled by an educated youth. Now that she’d come to her senses, she’d probably live a steady life with the Lin family.

Still, he couldn’t help feeling it was unfair for his sister to become a stepmother at such a young age.

Nan Sheng wasn’t entirely sure either. Given how well Dawa treated her now, she might very well end up staying here for many years.

“Settling here isn’t bad. Your brother-in-law earns money outside, and most of his military allowance gets sent home. My job is just to look after the two kids, and I can visit home whenever I want.

Besides, neither child is mine, so Lin Han will always owe me. He wouldn’t dare mistreat me in the future.”

Mingli thought it made sense. If anything happened to his sister, being nearby meant he could help. As long as she was happy, that was what mattered.

As soon as dinner was served, Mingli was nearly overwhelmed by the aroma of rice and meat. These days, working all year only yielded enough grain in autumn for basic survival.

Households rarely got fine grains—only during New Year’s could they eat rice or wheat flour. The Nan family was slightly better off, able to afford meat during festivals.

As the head of the household, Nan Sheng served meat to each child. Qiqi couldn’t handle spice, so she only got pork belly, while Sizhe ate whatever was given to him.

Mingli’s bowl was filled with chili-fried meat—like his sister, he loved spicy food.

Both Mingli and Sizhe had hearty appetites. The large pot of rice and three dishes were wiped clean, their satisfied expressions saying it all.

That night, Mingli shared a room with Sizhe. There was still a new quilt from Nan Sheng’s dowry unused, so he spread it beneath him.

He slept soundly.

At dawn, Mingli woke up. His movements roused Dawa. “Uncle, why are you up so early?”

Mingli said he had to leave soon or he’d miss work. Dawa told him to wait while he quickly cooked porridge.

Nan Sheng had prepared the dough the night before. When Dawa lifted the pot lid, he accidentally dropped it, the clatter waking Nan Sheng.

She told her brother, “Don’t rush off. Eat first, then take my bicycle back.”

Mingli glanced at Sizhe and teased, “Won’t you need it?”

Nan Sheng shot him a look. “Wipe that smirk off your face before you talk. You’re not fooling anyone. I’m working in the fields every day now—I don’t need the bicycle. Just bring it back when you’re free.”

Last night’s meal was rice with stewed meat; this morning, it was steamed buns and egg soup. The spread was impressive.

Mingli felt almost guilty. “Sis, if you cook like this every time, I won’t dare visit again.”

“It’s not just for you. I want you to take some back for Mom and Dad to try.”

Nan Sheng also gave him some mung beans to make cooling soup.

From these small gestures, Sizhe could see the difference between his birth mother and stepmother. When his maternal grandmother visited, his mother rarely cooked anything special. Yet when she left, she’d take as much food as she could carry.

His grandmother would say, “Your father’s a capable soldier—he should support your uncle more. Their family’s barely scraping by.”

But his stepmother was different. When Mingli visited, she cooked good food without hesitation—that’s how guests should be treated.

When he left, she didn’t overload him with gifts—just some precious steamed buns. Once again, Sizhe felt the Nan family was infinitely better than the Bai family.

Only one thing puzzled him: the Nans seemed so kind, so why was his stepmother so quick to hit people?

By the time Mingli left, it was late morning. Villagers spotted him, and gossip overpowered fear. At work, Sister-in-law Sun came probing.

“Lin Han’s wife, you had a guest?”

Nan Sheng nodded. “My younger brother. He brought some things yesterday.”

If she didn’t clarify, all of Xiangyang Village would soon accuse her of sneaking a man into her home.

“Your family must be well-off if they can afford a bicycle.”

Nan Sheng looked up, making Sister-in-law Sun step back. Qiqi, standing nearby, chimed in, “It’s not Uncle’s—Mom bought it.”

Sister-in-law Sun finally got her juicy tidbit and scurried off.

Nan Sheng adjusted her daughter’s straw hat. “Go play, but stay away from tall grass. There might be snakes, understand?”

“Yes, Mom!”

Ever since Qiqi begged to sleep with Nan Sheng that one night, she hadn’t returned to the west room. The more time they spent together, the clingier she became.

Sometimes Nan Sheng wondered—if she completed her mission, could the system let her “steal” this adorable girl?

The heat grew worse each day. Nan Sheng rose early to boil mung bean soup, making sure both children drank at least one bowl. If the drought continued, villagers would have to haul water for the fields.

Over in Wangshan Village, they were already busy carrying water. Mingli had taken the bicycle days ago but hadn’t found time to return it.

Then, the Lin family’s only daughter, Lin Xue, returned—with her two children in tow.

“Oh, is that Xue? Dressed so stylishly!”

Lin Xue replied sweetly, “It’s me, sister-in-law! I came back to see Mom and Dad—it’s been too long. Here, some candy for the kids.”

“How lovely!”

Their chatter soon turned to family matters.

Lin Xue was Xiangyang Village’s success story—a pretty girl who’d caught the eye of Jiang Hua during a trip to town.

Jiang Hua's family lived in the county town, where both his parents were factory workers with modest savings. Initially, they disapproved of the marriage, looking down on their future daughter-in-law for being from the countryside and lacking higher education. However, they couldn't resist their son's determination.

Fortunately, Lin Xue proved herself. Within a year of marriage, she gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl—earning her place in the family. The only downside was that the county town was too far from her hometown, making it difficult for her to visit more than once a year.

---

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 28

After returning, Lin Xue first went to her third brother Lin Jianshe’s house. The two of them were close in age and had the best relationship.

After chatting with her sister-in-law for a while, she immediately labeled her yet-to-be-met second sister-in-law as vicious—how could someone hit a young girl like Siyu? Her parents must have misjudged her character.

"Third sister-in-law, I’ll head back to Mom’s place first. Let’s have dinner together tonight."

"Got it!"

Sun Qian gritted her teeth in hatred for Nan Sheng. Having her younger sister-in-law back was truly a delight.

Before Nan Sheng even finished her work, Sicheng ran over to tell her not to cook dinner—they were all going to eat at their grandparents’ place.

"Why? Is it someone’s birthday today?"

Sicheng grinned. "Auntie is back, and she brought lots of good food. She’s treating us all tonight."

Nan Sheng agreed. Whether she ate or not didn’t matter, but it was good for the kids to have a better meal.

After work, Nan Sheng went home first. Sizhe was already there, having just lit the stove. He didn’t know yet that Lin Xue had returned.

"Son, don’t bother. Your aunt is back. We’re eating at Grandma and Grandpa’s."

Hearing that Lin Xue was back, Sizhe didn’t show any joy. The three of them changed into clean clothes before heading to the old house—they were the last to arrive.

To show respect, Nan Sheng even brought all the milk candies from home, planning to share them with the kids later.

Her mother-in-law waved them over. "Second daughter-in-law, come sit. You haven’t met Xue yet, have you? This is your sister-in-law."

Nan Sheng wanted to greet Lin Xue, but the latter didn’t even lift her head. So, Nan Sheng kept the candies in her pocket.

Pretty face, no manners.

"No, I haven’t. She didn’t come back for my wedding, did she?"

Lin Xue stiffened. She had gotten the news back then, but her mother-in-law had said there was no point in attending a second marriage, so she hadn’t returned. Now, her second sister-in-law was bringing it up in front of everyone, embarrassing her.

"That’s right. I had something going on at the time. This time, I came back to visit Mom and Dad, and also to meet you, second sister-in-law. I’ll make up for the wedding gift."

Mentioning this reminded Nan Sheng of the gift ledger. "Mother-in-law, was the ledger kept when Lin Han and I got married? We’ll need it for returning gifts later."

Fan Shuting replied, "It was recorded. I’ll find it for you before you leave. I’d forgotten about it earlier. Let’s eat first!"

After Zhou Wei was slapped by her husband, she had been subdued for a few days. She only dared to act tough with Sizhe and Siqi—facing Nan Sheng, she immediately backed down.

Sun Qian, whose face had been scratched by Nan Sheng last time (leaving a mark), also didn’t dare confront her directly and could only pin her hopes on Lin Xue.

The dishes on the table were decent: scrambled eggs, stir-fried wild greens, green beans with pork, stewed tofu, and thick corn porridge as the staple.

Lin Xue, still smarting from Nan Sheng’s earlier jab, felt deflated. No matter what, not attending her brother’s wedding showed a lack of regard. Though the atmosphere was awkward, no one dared to stir trouble.

After dinner, the older kids took charge of chores—Sizhe cleared the table, Sizhong swept the floor, and Sicheng, grimacing, washed the dishes (he hated the greasy feeling).

Siqi, exhausted from a day in the fields, had fallen asleep in Nan Sheng’s arms and was later moved to the kang. With Lin Xue’s return, no one had gone home yet, and Nan Sheng didn’t want to be the first to leave.

Lin Xue began gushing about how much she missed her family—her parents, eldest brother and his wife, second brother, third brother and his wife, and all her nieces and nephews. The only person she didn’t mention was Nan Sheng.

Then, she glanced at Nan Sheng, feigning embarrassment.

"Second sister-in-law, don’t take it personally. We only just met today. I’ll miss you too in the future."

Nan Sheng smiled. "I don’t mind. But Xue, even if you don’t miss me, you should at least miss Sizhe’s mother. You must’ve known that second sister-in-law for years, right?"

Lin Xue clenched her teeth. Of all the things to bring up! She’d probably never get along with anyone called "second sister-in-law." The previous one? She’d nearly cheered when that thief died.

A woman who stole from her husband’s family to give to her own? Good riddance—Lin Han’s household was better off without her.

"Ah, I just didn’t want to upset you by mentioning her."

Nan Sheng waved it off. "No need. If it bothered me, I wouldn’t have married into this family. She was Sizhe and Siqi’s mother. They’ll always pay respects to her."

Father Lin and Mother Lin sensed the tension and tried to defuse it. "It’s a busy season. Everyone should go rest. If you want to chat, come back tomorrow."

But Lin Xue wasn’t about to let this go. She’d been outmaneuvered twice now—she had to humiliate Nan Sheng.

"Wait, Mom! I want to go to town tomorrow to buy meat. I heard second sister-in-law bought a new bicycle—could I borrow it?"

Zhou Wei and Sun Qian both looked at Nan Sheng. The whole village knew Nan Sheng had lent her bicycle to her younger brother, sparking rumors that she was a "brother’s keeper" like Bai Xiu. Only her in-laws were in the dark.

Now that Lin Xue had brought it up, how would she respond?

Nan Sheng: "Since you’re so well-informed, didn’t you hear I already lent it to my family? Save your breath."

Lin Xue gasped dramatically.

"Mom, Dad, how could she just lend out something as precious as a bicycle? What if they don’t return it? Bai Xiu used to—"

"Don’t ask them. Ask me. I bought that bicycle. I paid for it."

Nan Sheng’s tone was icy. "Let me make this clear, Lin Xue. What’s mine is mine to lend. If my brother wants a new one, I’ll give him one. Satisfied?"

Lin Xue nearly choked on her rage, her sweet facade crumbling.

"You’re part of the Lin family now! How dare you funnel things back to your parents? I’ll write to Second Brother and tell him to divorce you!"

Nan Sheng studied Lin Xue’s scowling face—much more appealing than her fake smiles—and sighed.

"No wonder people say raising daughters is a waste. Look at you.

The Lin family raised you, gave you a dowry, and you repay them by acting like giving anything to your birth family is a crime?

Don’t bother visiting my house when you’re back. I don’t associate with ingrates. Keep your gift money too."

Divorce? As if.

The money was in her hands. Unless Lin Han was an idiot, he wouldn’t cross her. Besides, military marriages weren’t so easily dissolved.

"Sizhe, carry your sister. Let’s go. Since your aunt clearly didn’t respect your mother, you can treat her as dead if you want."

Lin Xue exploded. "How dare you curse me and turn my nephew against me! You vile—!"

Sizhe’s lips twitched—he almost laughed, but the room was too crowded.

Lin Guozheng, who doted on his daughter, couldn’t tolerate this. "Enough, Second Daughter-in-law. Go home!"

Nan Sheng glanced up at Father Lin with a mocking half-smile. "Oh, so you're alive? Were you just playing mute earlier? A young maiden like me marrying an old widower is already a raw deal. And now I have to take care of two kids every single day. If you're not happy with it, tell your son to divorce me—I’ll pack up and leave in a heartbeat. Ungrateful old fool."

Her outburst immediately stirred up the Lin children, though the eldest son, Lin Jianshe, kept a shred of composure.

"Sister-in-law, I won’t interfere with how you discipline the kids, but you can’t speak to our parents like that. Filial piety is non-negotiable."

Beside him, Lin Xue tensed, itching to throw a punch.

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 29

Dawa stood in front of Nan Sheng, facing his grandparents as he spoke, "She was wrong to criticize Grandpa, but it was Auntie who started the trouble first. Grandpa wasn’t fair!"

Nan Sheng reached out to pull her son aside, but he wouldn’t budge. She raised her voice deliberately.

"Dawa, don’t worry. You know I never take things lying down. If anyone dares to hit me, I’ll smash their house and set it on fire. No one gets off easy.

Today, I’ll make myself clear once and for all—I have no obligation to respect my in-laws. Both of their sons got married with everything paid for by the old couple, right? Not me!"

Lin Guozheng and Fan Shuting stiffened. That was true, but Lin Han had his own money and said he didn’t need theirs.

"If you don’t deny it, I’ll take it as an admission. If you didn’t spend a dime to marry off your son, don’t act like high-and-mighty parents-in-law. If you treat me like your own daughter, I’ll treat you like my own parents.

But if you keep favoring your other children and making me suffer, then just rely on Lin Han from now on. You can pretend I don’t exist—or that I’m dead. Just stay out of my way!"

Sizhe glanced back at his stepmother. Who curses themselves like that? Unbelievable.

The Lin parents were indeed at a loss for words. Nan Sheng’s mention of the bride price silenced Lin Han’s older and younger brothers—they all knew the truth.

Among brothers, the second son hadn’t spent their parents’ hard-earned money to marry, which meant they had benefited. If they kept bullying his wife, who stayed in the hometown, how could they face him later?

Lin Xue watched as her second sister-in-law’s words filled her parents and brothers with guilt. A surge of resentment rose in her chest.

"Big Brother! Third Brother! Did you not hear her insult Dad and say she won’t take care of Mom and Dad in the future? Aren’t you going to do anything?"

Nan Sheng flexed her wrist, eyeing Lin Xue’s delicate face. Her fingers itched.

Fan Shuting was also upset. Her second daughter-in-law had finally turned over a new leaf and gotten along with them—only for her daughter to ruin everything in one visit.

Why did she have to pick fights with her sister-in-law?

They didn’t even live under the same roof. Why had she been targeting her from the moment they met?

As much as she doted on her daughter, Fan Shuting couldn’t ignore this. Especially since Nan Sheng wasn’t one to swallow insults.

"Lin Xue, come here!"

"Mom?"

Reluctantly, Lin Xue approached her mother—only to receive two sharp slaps on her left cheek. Nan Sheng thought it looked uneven.

Fan Shuting spoke firmly, "Apologize to your second sister-in-law. Admit you were wrong. If you still refuse to change, don’t come back to this house again!"

Lin Xue was stunned. The sting of betrayal overshadowed the pain. Had her mother stopped loving her?

She looked at her father and brothers—their eyes held pity, but none stood up for her. Sons couldn’t defy their mother, and Lin Guozheng didn’t dare interfere when his wife disciplined their child.

She burst into loud sobs, startling the sleeping children awake.

Nan Sheng picked Qiqi up from the bed and left without a word, covering the child’s face with a clean cloth—the night outside was too dark.

Dawa followed closely behind his stepmother, pulling out a flashlight to light their way.

Sun Qian soothed her own child, while Zhou Wei comforted Lin Xue’s two kids. Children slept deeply; a few pats and they were out again.

Nan Sheng and the children were gone, but the Lin family remained frozen in place. Finally, Lin Guozheng made a decision.

"Old woman, let’s make up for the bride price we owe our second son."

Fan Shuting nodded in agreement.

Back then, they had thought too simply—since their son had his own money, they let him handle his wedding. But now that their daughter-in-law had brought it up, they couldn’t pretend it never happened.

Lin Han’s older and younger brothers had no objections either. Settling this would ease their conscience. Otherwise, every time they argued with their sister-in-law, they’d feel guilty. Now, she’d be treated equally as a Lin family daughter-in-law.

Lin Xue hadn’t expected her tantrum to backfire—instead of making her parents discipline her sister-in-law, they were now spending a fortune.

This wouldn’t do. She had come home to borrow money for a job!

Ignoring her stinging cheek, she hurriedly spoke up.

"Mom, Dad, you saw how Second Sister-in-law acted. Even if you give her the bride price, she won’t be filial. Why waste the money?"

Lin Guozheng glanced at his daughter but stayed silent, remembering the shrimp, pork trotters, and dumplings his second daughter-in-law had shared with them.

He justified in his heart—that girl was just hot-tempered and couldn’t stand injustice. When it came to food and gifts, she wasn’t stingy with them.

Fan Shuting pulled her daughter closer, gently rubbing her cheek.

"Don’t speak of your sister-in-law like that. She’s quick-tempered, but she treats us well. She only lost her temper today because you kept provoking her. If I had stopped you earlier, things wouldn’t have escalated.

Besides, marrying your second brother wasn’t easy for her. As long as she raises those two children well, your father and I will be content. Whether she’s filial or not doesn’t matter."

Lin Han’s eldest brother spoke up, "Mom, Dad, I’ll take care of you in your old age. Don’t feel disheartened."

The third brother also stiffened his neck, though his voice lacked conviction. "I can take care of you too!"

The eldest lived with his parents and shouldered more expenses, while the third son was barely scraping by—his parents still had to support him and his family.

Thinking about it, they really had wronged their second son. They had no right to demand he care for them in their old age.

"We’ll see when the time comes. Just remember this—your second brother never took advantage of this family. We owe him."

In the Lin family, daughters-in-law could listen but not interrupt. Zhou Wei and Sun Qian felt as if ants were crawling under their skin, wondering how much their in-laws would give away.

Now, both resented Lin Xue—Zhou Wei especially. Her eldest son was about to start matchmaking, and they’d need money everywhere.

She had hoped her in-laws could help, but now that hope was gone.

Lin Xue stayed with her mother, while Lin Guozheng went to the western room—their old house had three small rooms.

"Mom, how much bride price are you giving Second Sister-in-law? A hundred yuan?"

Fan Shuting didn’t realize her daughter was eyeing her money. She also hadn’t told her that Lin Han had given his in-laws three hundred yuan as bride price.

When the eldest son married, they gave fifty. Bai Xiu’s family received eighty from Lin Han’s military allowance. By the third son’s wedding, it was a hundred.

She planned to give two hundred to her second daughter-in-law, leaving them with just over a hundred for themselves.

"Don’t worry about it. Your father and I will discuss it."

Fan Shuting brushed her off, exhausted from the night’s events. She could educate students, but her own family was a mess.

Her daughter might as well not have come back—the older she got, the more unreasonable she became.

When Nan Sheng got home, the system notified her that her favorability had increased by three points, reaching 17. Chapters 10 to 15 were now unlocked.

That night, Nan Sheng lay awake again…

Early the next morning, her mother-in-law Fan Shuting arrived with money. Nan Sheng smiled and asked what brought her here.

Fan Shuting pulled her inside, then took out a handkerchief containing ten- and five-yuan bills.

"Lin Han’s wife, this is the bride price we owe you. Take it."

Nan Sheng didn’t want it. Without the bride price, she could do as she pleased—no one would dare provoke her.

If she took the money, she’d feel awkward scolding the old couple later if they ever acted foolish—taking gifts would leave her at a disadvantage.

“I don’t want this money, take it back. Keep it for yourself!”

Fan Shuting smiled. “It’s only right. If you hadn’t spoken up yesterday, I wouldn’t have realized how much hardship the second child has endured all these years. Take it—we’re not asking you to support us in our old age.”

The way she put it left Nan Sheng at a loss for words. Was she just freeloading now?

---

Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 30

Under her mother-in-law's insistence, Nan Sheng had no choice but to accept the money.

Fan Shuting spoke earnestly, "When you become a mother someday, you’ll understand—both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh. We don’t mean to favor anyone, but sometimes saying less keeps the family harmonious. From now on, we’ll try to be fair. Child, don’t hold it against your parents."

In the eyes of the elderly couple, a few sharp words weren’t a big deal. With three sons, they rarely stepped in to mediate unless fists started flying.

If their second daughter-in-law hadn’t brought up death or cutting ties the day before, the old man wouldn’t have gotten so angry.

Nan Sheng brushed her hair back, feeling awkward at her mother-in-law’s emotional appeal.

Her tone softened. "Lin Xue kept provoking me yesterday, and I lost my temper. Please don’t hold it against me either."

She was an orphan, but thankfully, she had grown up healthy and strong. Nan Sheng wasn’t afraid of being bullied—she was used to it and knew how to fight back.

But when faced with her in-laws’ kindness, she felt uneasy, especially after yesterday’s argument when they didn’t hold a grudge.

Fan Shuting was pleased. Despite her temper, her second daughter-in-law didn’t bear resentment, so their relationship could still be mended.

"Don’t worry, your father and I aren’t angry. Hurry and get ready—you’ll need to head to work soon."

After Fan Shuting left, Sizhe came out of his room, glancing at his stepmother questioningly. Nan Sheng motioned for him to follow her to the east room.

"They gave us betrothal money. Let’s count it together and see how much there is!" The stack was surprisingly thick.

Two hundred yuan!

Adding it up, she now had over a thousand yuan in savings. What a sense of security!

Sizhe was speechless. He had worried his stepmother would squander the money, but she had an uncanny knack for getting her hands on cash. In less than half a month, she’d already pocketed five hundred yuan. Who could argue with that?

He murmured, "My mother’s death anniversary is coming up."

Nan Sheng paused, then nodded. "We can’t burn paper offerings now, right? What should we prepare? Maybe we can sneak to the grave at night—no one would stop us."

Sizhe felt a warmth in his chest. "We don’t have to burn anything. Just bring some pastries to the grave. But the Bai family will be there—my grandparents and uncles."

Like the Nan Family, the Bai family had one son and one daughter, but their character was far worse.

"In the past, they stayed with my grandparents, demanding money and goods. This year, they might come to our place. Should we ask my uncle to stay with us for a couple of days?"

"No need!" Nan Sheng waved it off.

"If your uncle comes, even if we drive them away this time, they’ll just find another chance to bully us later. I’ll handle it myself—just follow my lead when the time comes."

Sizhe felt reassured. His stepmother’s combat skills were truly unmatched.

At work, Nan Sheng stared at the withered crops with worry. Who could’ve predicted this year’s harvest would fail completely?

If they used all their water reserves to save half the fields, there might still be hope.

Zhou Ren found Nan Sheng’s troubled expression amusing. This young woman was usually quick to retaliate—what had her so distressed?

"Lin Han’s wife, what’s wrong?"

"I’m worried. It’s getting hotter, and the crops are drying up. What if they die?"

Zhou Ren chuckled. "Don’t overthink it. Starting tomorrow, we’ll carry water to the fields. They won’t dry out."

"But what if the drought lasts another month? Will we have enough water for all the fields? What if we run out, and the crops still die?"

Zhou Ren’s brow twitched. "Don’t say such things. That won’t happen."

Nan Sheng thought, Oh, but it will. The book said so.

As temperatures soared, the entire county began irrigating the fields. But the relentless heat evaporated the water faster than they could pour it.

Eventually, river levels dropped, and they had to reserve water for drinking. The fields were abandoned—just seven more days, and the drought would have passed.

But no one could foresee the future. The crops perished.

Though the government distributed relief grain, the crisis was too vast. Many still starved or succumbed to the heat—especially the elderly and children.

The book briefly mentioned that Lin Han’s younger sister, Siyu, didn’t survive. Sun Qian, driven mad by grief, lost her child.

Just reading about it was horrifying. Living through it would be unimaginable.

"Captain Zhou, that’s not the right attitude. We should plan ahead, shouldn’t we? Leaders always say to prepare for danger in times of peace. We need that awareness too."

"As team leader, you should consider: What if the drought lasts a week? Two weeks? Three? We need contingency plans."

"To be honest, the well at my parents’ place has already dropped. That’s never happened before."

Her words unsettled Zhou Ren. She was right—he needed to consult the brigade leader and village head about water rationing.

"Keep an eye on everyone here. Dock points if anyone slacks off. I’m going to the brigade office."

Nan Sheng nodded, hoping the village would take this seriously and escalate the issue. Even if they couldn’t prevent disaster, they might lessen its impact.

And the heat—mung bean soup alone wouldn’t help. If only they had ice…

Ice!

She could suggest it to the village head—maybe they could get their hands on some saltpeter.

Zhou Ren reported the drought concerns to Feng Wuquan, but the village chief dismissed it as paranoia.

"What if it’s true? What if the crops die?" Zhou Ren pressed.

The chief frowned and summoned Lin Guozheng. When Lin Guozheng also brushed it off, Feng Wuquan echoed Zhou Ren’s words:

"Better to be safe than sorry!"

Now all three men sat brooding.

Soon, they called in the other team leaders. Cigarette butts littered the ground as the five men agonized over solutions.

The village chief finally snapped at Zhou Ren, "Why did you have to bring this up? Now we’re all worried! What do we do? Water half the fields? If the harvest fails, what will we eat? And if the drought isn’t that bad, how do we explain wasting water?"

Zhou Ren sighed. "Uncle, I’m just as upset. But Lin Han’s wife was fretting in the fields, and her words got to me!"

Feng Wuquan glared. "That Lin Han married quite the woman!"

After a moment, he made up his mind. "The crops can hold out for two more days. Hold off on watering. I’ll go to town."

He’d seek guidance from the commune leaders. Maybe if the neighboring villages raised the alarm too, the higher-ups would take action.

Nan Sheng planned to visit her parents the next day, but that evening, Mingli arrived on his bicycle, bringing fresh eggs and two fat fish.

"Sis, you’re amazing. I almost fell into a trap."