Chapter 21 - 30

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.

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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."

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