He Laidi ran ahead while Su Qing chased after her. Only after yanking out a clump of He Laidi’s hair did Su Qing finally stop.
Afterward, Su Qing even kicked aside a stool blocking her path, grumbling, "This house is tiny. What’s the point of hiding? You think you can actually get away? All you’ve done is make a mess—chairs and stools knocked over everywhere. Such a nuisance."
"You wretched girl, I’m your own mother!" He Laidi clutched her throbbing scalp, so furious she could spit blood. "Have you lost your mind? How dare you treat me and your father like this!"
Before being sent to the countryside, Su Qing had been obedient and diligent, never complaining no matter how hard the work was. He Laidi had never imagined Su Qing could change like this—it was as if she’d become a completely different person.
If not for Su Qing’s drastic shift in temperament, their family’s schemes would never have been exposed.
Before having her hair pulled, He Laidi had still planned to handle Su Qing the same old way. But now, seeing how ruthless Su Qing had become, she immediately switched tactics, bursting into tears with snot and all.
"Qing, dear, please stop fighting with me, alright? Your sister’s job is already yours, and you’re back in the city. Just return the money, won’t you? Your younger brother needs it to get married—he’s the brother you raised with your own hands..."
"I know I was wrong. I should’ve discussed getting Xie Jianhua drunk with you first. Please forgive me this once, alright?" He Laidi’s tone was earnest, her eyes sincere, as if she truly regretted her actions.
The sheer audacity of this sudden change left Su Qing wide-eyed.
He Laidi had no acting skills, no cunning strategies. But when it came to manipulating the daughter she’d raised from infancy, she didn’t need any—instinct alone was enough.
If it had been the original Su Qing, she would’ve been guilt-tripped into reluctant submission, only to stew in silent rage afterward.
But this Su Qing felt no attachment to the Su family. She wasn’t swayed—not by the earlier aggression, nor by the current crocodile tears.
She plopped onto a chair with unshakable confidence and demanded, "When are you paying me back?"
"Qing, can’t you help the family? When you were little—"
Su Qing cut her off. "When. Are. You. Paying. Me. Back?"
Her cold, merciless demeanor didn’t provoke He Laidi into a frenzy. Instead, it cowed her into submission. The tears stopped, the dramatics ceased, and she finally spoke like a normal person.
"Your father and brother went to the factory today to get an advance on their wages. They even borrowed a few dozen from coworkers." He Laidi reluctantly pulled money from her pocket, her voice pleading. "I’m not asking for anything else. Just keep that nasty mother-in-law of yours in check. Make sure she doesn’t spill anything these next few days. Once your youngest sister is married off, it’ll benefit you too."
She could only bully her own daughter. Against someone like Su Qing, she was powerless.
"Should’ve just given me the money from the start. No need for all this nonsense." Su Qing took the cash with an exasperated sigh. "When’s the wedding?"
He Laidi scowled. "This month. That shameless girl is already pregnant—can’t delay it."
The Su family had four children: Su Qing, Su Lei, Su Xue, and Su Yu. Su Qing had been He Laidi’s firstborn, the one she’d most eagerly awaited—only to be disappointed by her gender. As a result, Su Qing was the least favored of them all.
Su Xue hadn’t fared much better in the past. But after landing a capable man and securing her own job, her status in the family skyrocketed.
Even now, with an illegitimate pregnancy, the family was covering for her—all because of the benefits she brought.
As for Su Qing, the "useless" one, she was the one they’d sacrificed without a second thought.
The original Su Qing, quiet and uncomplaining, had died without a sound.
But this Su Qing fought back—her household registration, job, and money, every bit of compensation owed to her, she took without hesitation.
Tucking the cash away, Su Qing asked curiously, "Where’s Su Xue?"
"Out handling some business. Not back yet." He Laidi’s reply was casual.
Su Xue was probably off scheming with her lover about the wedding. Su Qing didn’t care. She headed to the small room to rest.
Only after Su Qing closed the door did Su Lei and Su Yu emerge, fussing over their parents while cursing Su Qing as a traitorous ingrate. If not for her betrayal, things wouldn’t have come to this.
In the unfamiliar room, Su Qing couldn’t sleep. Her mind replayed the original Su Qing’s memories and the day’s events.
The more she thought, the more awake she became. The moment Su Xue pushed the door open, Su Qing’s eyes snapped open.
"Elder Sister, you’re still awake?" Su Xue’s smile was strained.
Su Qing glanced at her, said nothing, and closed her eyes again.
But Su Xue, once settled in bed, couldn’t resist whispering boastfully, "In a few days, he’s coming to marry me."
Hearing this gossip, Su Qing opened her eyes. "That fast? Doesn’t that Ren Chao guy already have a wife?"
In the original timeline, Su Xue’s marriage hadn’t happened this quickly. Guess people needed a push.
"He’s divorcing her tomorrow."
Su Qing smirked. "How classy. Truly a match made in heaven."
"It’s not like that!" Su Xue defended herself. "Ren Chao and his wife have no feelings left. They were already planning to split. Besides, her family has a bad background—they’ve all been sent down."
Mentioning the woman’s "tainted" status instantly bolstered Su Xue’s confidence. She spoke with disdain, as if the wife were beneath contempt.
The whole story was a cliché—a loveless marriage, a man chasing after a fantasy, and now Su Xue, pregnant and elbowing her way in.
In the original Su Qing’s memory, Su Xue had ended up the most successful of the siblings.
But "success" was subjective. Su Qing knew better. Ren Chao might be an official now, with considerable power, but when the political tides turned in a decade, he’d be purged.
Marrying into that family now was like joining a sinking ship.
Su Xue added smugly, "Elder Sister, once I’m part of the Ren family, that old hag Wang Cuifen won’t dare bully you anymore. If she disrespects you, I’ll stand up for you."
As if. Su Qing’s expression turned wry. "How generous. And here I thought you’d hold a grudge after I didn’t defend you earlier."
"Of course not." Su Xue’s face twitched before she forced a sweet tone. "We’re sisters. Why would I hold a grudge?"
Su Qing smiled faintly. "Good. I don’t hold grudges either."
