Chapter 2640 - 1520

It was only after dawn, long after dawn, that the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan came here to knock on Ding Ning’s door.

At this moment, she didn’t even bother to comb her hair, looking like a madwoman.

She hadn’t slept all night and only fell asleep exhausted just before dawn.

The misfortune Xiao Yuhuan experienced yesterday went home to sleep, reflecting on today’s events, she thought she was really unlucky.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this; she originally wanted to knock on Ding Ning’s door in the middle of the night to ask what was going on.

She regretted it and wanted to get back her Peace Pendant from Ding Ning.

She always felt things shouldn’t be this way. Ever since she was adopted, her luck always seemed to be good whenever they gathered.

Her foster parents had also moved from being ordinary farmers to this place with jobs, and everyone believed that it was because they adopted her that she had such luck.

Even she didn’t know who her biological parents were.

During the years of fleeing famine, many people died, and her foster parents picked her up on the way.

But her childhood memories were quite vague, and her foster parents only insisted on raising her because of the benefits she brought.

This is why the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan, knowing she wasn’t their biological child, gradually developed feelings for Xiao Jianhua.

But this budding affection was only known to them.

And it was part of their plan.

They hadn’t told Mr. Xiao or Mrs. Xiao about their plan yet, waiting for the right moment to speak out.

The wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan didn’t know if she could get into college, precisely because she didn’t know if she could get into college.

If she couldn’t get into college, she wondered if she could take Ding Ning’s admission letter, assume another identity to study, and thus rightfully marry Xiao Jianhua.

She wanted to prepare for both options, needing Ding Ning’s job too; once she had the admission letter, she could sell that job.

From now on, they would need a lot of money for school, housing, and marriage.

She also thought of that compensation money from Ding Ning’s deceased parents.

The wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan thought about a lot all night, and upon waking up in the morning, was scolded by Mrs. Xiao, who said she was getting up too late when someone who didn’t work or go to school should get up early to make breakfast.

In the past, the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan always helped with chores, and even though she seemed to be loved, everyone knew she wasn’t their own.

In this family, girls had to work in the kitchen, wash clothes, and clean dishes after meals.

Mrs. Xiao, who also worked, experienced just a bit of this firsthand — a woman’s industrious hands needed both for work and house chores.

Despite knocking, the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan received no response and stubbornly continued to knock.

The other neighbors, who started work later, looked over, and those who didn’t work enjoyed watching the spectacle.

They were aware of the recent drama of the past few days.

But they understood that some people looked kind-hearted but actually had a myriad of thoughts.

In these days, many people were very simple-minded, and such calculative appearances, especially among young girls, were indeed rare.

Some of the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan’s past pretenses were seen through by others in these past few days.

Under the curious eyes of the Bagua, the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan continued to knock, as if telling others she was concerned about Ding Ning, which was why she was knocking.

"Ding Ning, are you there? Have you had breakfast? I was sick last night; did you get to eat dinner? I brought you breakfast as soon as I woke up, Ding Ning, please open the door, don’t do anything foolish."

"Could Ning really do something foolish?"

An old lady expressed doubt and concern.

"Probably not. I saw Ding Ning just yesterday morning. She seemed less fragile and even went shopping."

"Did you hear? Ding Ning also went to the factory yesterday, why would she be troubled?"

"Could she have gone out early and not be home?"

The voices of the elder men and ladies seemed like discussing but were essentially watching the fun.

Even though grain was precious in these times, Ding Ning gave the excess to the neighbors despite not eating herself.

When others offered porridge, she didn’t take it. Many who went hungry yearned to snatch that bowl of porridge from the wretched woman Xiao Yuhuan’s hands.

"Yuhuan, if she won’t eat, can you give it to me, please? I’m not full."

A lady rushed over; she was a gossip and a lady who liked taking advantage.

Xiao Yuhuan didn’t expect her to not only speak but actually snatch it.

She came to deliver grain, but with another purpose.

This bowl of porridge was drugged. Once the other ate the medicine, she could proceed.

As long as the other opened the door, she’d have an excuse to enter and then search the house when they slept.

She had thought of searching before but had no other motives yet, so hadn’t revealed her intentions too soon.

"How can you just snatch it, elder aunt?" Xiao Yuhuan was distressed; this bowl of porridge was meant for her breakfast, intending to spike it for her purpose.

She was very hungry and hadn’t had breakfast, and being sick last night, she hadn’t fully recovered by today.

The lady who snatched the porridge basked in the envious eyes of others, as if she found gold. Their meals at home were mostly coarse grains, some mixed with wild vegetables in thin porridge because as non-workers they ate light.

A thick porridge of white rice like this was a rare treat.

The lady didn’t expect how easy taking advantage was and hurriedly ate it under others’ envious eyes.

Xiao Yuhuan’s angry gaze was met with indifference.