The moment she said this, someone immediately chimed in, “That’s right, Hao Ting’s wife. Our food has been poisoned and we can’t eat it. At the very least, you could give everyone a little something to keep us alive, couldn’t you?”
“Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.”
“Just the day before yesterday, you said we all had to band together if we wanted to survive. And now you’re just going to watch us starve to death?”
Everyone started talking over one another, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
“There’s only one pastry left. Each member of the family gets a bite. That’s it.” Cheng Yao spread her hands. “There’s nothing else.”
“I don’t believe you.” Feng Xianxian looked suspicious.
Cheng Yao could not even be bothered to answer. Zhan Qingrou snapped, “Whether you believe her or not is your business.”
She turned to the others and said earnestly, “Aunts and uncles, we really have no food left. Even if we did, there would be nowhere to hide it.”
The others remained doubtful. Feng Xianxian was unwilling to let the matter go. “What about that big bundle? You could hide plenty of things in there. Open it and let us take a look.”
“Who do you think you are?” Cheng Yao’s expression changed abruptly. “What gives you the right to search our bundle?”
Feng Xianxian’s eyes filled with tears. “Sister-in-law, you’re twisting my words. I only wanted to know whether you had any food left…”
“Do I owe you anything? What does it matter to you whether I have food or not?” Cheng Yao said coldly. “I said we don’t have any. Even if we did, it would only be enough to keep our own family alive. How could we possibly share it with all of you? Put yourself in our shoes. If you had food, would you take it out and distribute it to everyone?”
The others felt that she had a point. Embarrassed, they lowered their eyes and did not dare say anything more.
Feng Xianxian’s eyes reddened. She bit her lower lip, looking as pitiful as could be. “You’re only saying all this because you feel guilty and don’t want us to look.”
“I feel guilty?” Cheng Yao gave her a half-smile. “Fine, I’ll show you. But do you dare make a bet with me?”
A chill ran through Feng Xianxian.
The last time she had bet against Cheng Yao, not only had Cheng Yao succeeded in splitting up the family, Feng Xianxian had also become the laughingstock of the entire clan.
If she lost again…
Before Feng Xianxian could make up her mind, Zhan Jinmo walked up to her and said through clenched teeth, “Do you have to stick your neck out and humiliate yourself every single time?”
Feng Xianxian angrily defended herself. “I haven’t done anything! How am I humiliating myself?”
Zhan Jinmo’s fists tightened.
Stupid and completely unaware of it—that was exactly what she was!
“Apologize to Sister-in-law!”
“No!”
Feng Xianxian’s stubborn streak took over. She thrust out her chin and shouted at Cheng Yao, “Fine, I’ll bet with you. But I get to decide the stakes.”
She had seen Cheng Yao sneaking food more than once. Other than that large bundle, where else could she possibly be hiding it?
She refused to believe she would lose!
Cheng Yao smiled sweetly. “All right.”
She had been waiting for just such an opportunity—to prove to everyone that she was not hiding food, so they would stop harassing her about it.
The moment Zhan Jinmo saw her smile, his heart began to pound. He pulled Feng Xianxian aside. “How many times are you going to stumble before you learn your lesson? Sister-in-law clearly knows exactly what she’s doing. You’re bound to lose.”
“I’m bound to lose? Is that how little you think of me?” Feng Xianxian felt a sharp pain in her chest. “In your eyes, Cheng Yao is better than me in every way, isn’t she?”
“You’re being unreasonable!” Zhan Jinmo’s face turned icy. With a flick of his sleeve, he said, “If you insist on making this bet, I’ll give you a letter of repudiation and let you fend for yourself. I can’t afford to be associated with such humiliation.”
“Fine.” The corners of Feng Xianxian’s lips lifted, but her eyes were as red as a rabbit’s. “If you dare abandon me in this wilderness, I’ll kill myself right here. Even as a ghost, I won’t let you off.”
Zhan Jinmo fell silent for a moment after hearing her determined words. “Don’t try to use death to pressure me. I won’t fall for that. A married woman is supposed to obey her husband. Since you refuse to listen to me, so what if I divorce you? No one will criticize me for it.”
“Your heart belongs to another woman, so why should I listen to you?” Feng Xianxian sniffed. “I’m going to expose her pretense. Don’t even think about stopping me.”
“You!” Zhan Jinmo was so furious that smoke practically came out of his ears. He let out a cold laugh. “Since that’s how it is, I’m taking back what I said. I won’t divorce you—I’ll repudiate you!”
“Fine.” Feng Xianxian’s smile widened. Her words sounded carefree, but her eyes were filled with grief. “I’ll go die right now.”
With that, she turned and dashed outside without the slightest hesitation.
Zhan Jinmo reacted quickly and grabbed her. Then he slapped her across the face. “Cry, make a scene, threaten to hang yourself—Feng Xianxian, how are you any different from that ignorant shrew? I must have been blind to fall for you.”
That slap seemed to drain all the strength from Feng Xianxian.
She slowly lifted her eyes. A red mark, hot and swollen, stood out on her cheek.
“Zhan Jinmo,” she said hoarsely, “we’ve only been married for a few months. Tell me yourself—how many times have you hit me? Were all those promises you made before we married lies?”
Zhan Jinmo said coldly, “It was only after we married that I saw your true nature. We’re trapped in this desperate situation, and you’re still being unreasonable, making trouble at every turn. How can you expect me to keep the promises I made?”
“You’ve always known what I’m like. I’ve never hidden anything from you. From the day we met, you knew exactly what kind of person I was.”
Feng Xianxian laughed, but her laughter was filled with sorrow. “You used to say that I dared to love and hate, that I had a rare, genuine temperament no pretentious young lady from a respectable family could compare with. But now, that same straightforward nature has become a reason for you to attack me. I suppose the storybooks were right. Once someone stops loving you, even your breathing becomes a mistake.”
Feng Xianxian suddenly pointed at Cheng Yao. Her scarlet eyes were filled with bone-deep hatred. “Zhan Jinmo, admit it. You’re in love with—”
Cheng Yao had been thoroughly enjoying the spectacle when she was suddenly pointed at. Her heart sank.
Fortunately, at that moment, someone staggered in through the doorway and called out, “Miss Cheng,” interrupting Feng Xianxian.
It was Wei Qing.
His clothes were torn, and he was covered in grime. There were several scrapes on his face. Though he looked disheveled, his eyes were clear and gentle.
Wei Qing solemnly clasped his hands and bowed to Cheng Yao. “Miss Cheng.”
His gaze swept over to Zhan Haoting, who lay beside her. Although his face was pale, his breathing was relatively steady. Wei Qing spoke sincerely. “Just now, my life was hanging by a thread. It was your kindness that saved me.”
He had already sensed it himself: the poison in his body had been completely purged, and he was no longer in danger. Cheng Yao was truly his benefactor.
Cheng Yao gave a slight nod. “Young Master Wei, you’re too kind. I happened to have an antidote, so I gave it to you. It was nothing more than a small favor.”
Shao Yutong, who had been silently shedding tears nearby, abruptly raised her head and demanded harshly, “How could you have an antidote?”
Feng Xianxian seemed to realize something. She pointed at Cheng Yao. “Oh… So you and Village Chief Sun are working together!”
Cheng Yao seized her finger and bent it back forcefully.
“Use that pig brain of yours and think for a moment. I’ve never even met the people in this village before. How could I be working with the village chief? What would I gain from harming anyone?”
Feng Xianxian felt as though her finger were about to snap and cried out in pain. Yet Zhan Jinmo merely watched coldly from the side, showing no intention of helping her.
Cheng Yao flung her hand away. “Next time you spout nonsense, you won’t be needing that mouth anymore.”
