[Ding, Dislike Points +10]
10 points?
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow slightly.
It seemed the male lead still had a high tolerance for her!
Returning to the room she had shared with the male lead’s elder brother, the red wedding quilt and the ubiquitous "double happiness" characters everywhere served as constant reminders that Shen Nanchu was now a widow before even marrying.
Following the original host’s memories, Shen Nanchu opened the wardrobe to find clean clothes for a bath.
But when she saw the contents, she fell silent.
Rows of identical floral dresses and polyester blouses.
Disdain filled Shen Nanchu’s eyes.
Finally, she found a plain white cotton top tucked away in the corner, which satisfied her.
Grabbing a pair of blue work pants, she headed to the bathroom.
Incidentally, this was the only room in the Pei Family’s house with a bathroom—something the original host had schemed to force Father Pei and Pei’s Mother to give up.
Mixing hot water from a thermos with cold water, Shen Nanchu managed a quick bath.
A knock came at the door—Pei’s Mother.
"Nanchu, are you up? Breakfast is ready."
"Coming."
Too lazy to find a comb, Shen Nanchu finger-combed her long hair into a loose bun.
She tucked her shirt into her pants and slipped on a pair of soft black leather shoes before heading downstairs.
According to the original plot, the host would soon announce at the breakfast table that she had slept with Pei Zhengnian the night before, using it to pressure him into marrying her.
But Shen Nanchu wasn’t as foolish as the original host.
Why create hardship when there was none?
True, the original host and Pei Zhengnian’s elder brother hadn’t officially registered their marriage, but they had held a proper wedding banquet.
If the original host hadn’t stirred up trouble, she could have lived comfortably as long as the Pei Family existed.
Shen Nanchu was smart.
In this 1970s era, where she had no skills and preferred leisure over labor, being a carefree freeloader was the best option.
As for last night’s… indulgence with Pei Zhengnian—if she didn’t mention it, would he dare to?
Even if he did, she could simply deny it.
Descending the stairs, Shen Nanchu saw the Pei Family gathered around the dining table on the right.
Grandpa Pei, who had once fought alongside great leaders in his youth, still held influence in the military despite retirement.
Beside him sat an elegant silver-haired woman—Grandma Pei, the eldest daughter of one of Beijing’s three major capitalist families, the Gus.
The current head of the Pei Family was Pei Zhendong, a military district commander and Shen Nanchu’s father-in-law. He wasn’t present, having left early in the morning.
Next to Grandma Pei was the gentle and virtuous Pei’s Mother.
Beside her sat the male lead, Pei Zhengnian (the second son), followed by the twins—Pei Yunxi (third daughter) and Pei Yunzhou (fourth son).
"Nanchu, you’re here? Come sit by me."
Grandma Pei was the first to notice her, her tone warm.
Originally, Grandma Pei hadn’t thought much of Shen Nanchu either. But with her eldest grandson gone so soon, leaving the young woman widowed, she couldn’t help but pity her.
"Thank you, Grandma."
Without a hint of shyness, Shen Nanchu gracefully took the seat beside Grandma Pei.
"Hmph, who’s she dressing up for?" Pei Yunxi sneered, her voice dripping with scorn.
Pei’s Mother immediately scolded her. "Pei Yunxi, mind your words!"
"I’m just stating facts," Pei Yunxi muttered, her face sour. "Big Brother is gone, and yet she…"
Her voice cracked, tears welling up.
She couldn’t understand how her brother had been so bewitched as to marry this troublemaker.
If not for Shen Nanchu, the jinx, her brother wouldn’t have died on that mission!
It was all her fault!
[Ding~~~ Dislike Points +10]
[Dislike Points +5]
[Dislike Points +1]
Shen Nanchu leisurely picked up her chopsticks.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"After all, not everyone has the… assets to ‘dress up,’ right?"
Her gaze swept pointedly over Pei Yunxi.
"Shen Nanchu, you shameless—!"
Pei Yunxi was livid.
[Dislike Points +3]
Shen Nanchu turned to Grandma Pei, blinking innocently.
"Grandma, you be the judge. I didn’t even put on makeup today—this is just my natural beauty."
Grandma Pei’s sharp eyes noticed Shen Nanchu’s bare face. Even her clothes, upon closer inspection, were ones she’d worn before.
But credit where it was due—her eldest grandson’s wife was indeed a stunning beauty. Thick brows without pencil, lips red without rouge. Today, she looked even more radiant than usual, like a fresh lotus.
In the past, she had been pretty but somewhat vulgar.
"You—you—!"
Pei Yunxi was fuming, but her words failed her.
Shen Nanchu stirred her porridge with a spoon, unhurried.
"Natural beauty is such a hassle."
"Wear something simple, and people assume you’re trying too hard."
"Oh, but you wouldn’t understand that kind of problem, would you?"
Pei Yunzhou burst out laughing.
Pei Yunxi shot him a glare, and he quickly lowered his head, though his shoulders still shook with suppressed laughter.
Furious, Pei Yunxi turned to Pei Zhengnian for help.
"Second Brother…"
Pei Zhengnian remained silent, but his eyes flicked to Shen Nanchu in warning.
Shen Nanchu arched a delicate brow, her red lips curling into a challenging smile.
Pei Zhengnian’s heart tightened—he knew trouble was coming.
Sure enough—
"Tsk, Pei Yunxi, how old are you? Can’t win an argument, so you tattle like a toddler?"
Shen Nanchu rested her chin on interlaced fingers.
"If your Second Brother actually falls for such childish tricks, then his intelligence must match yours perfectly."
"What do you think, Second Brother?"
Her playful eyes trailed slowly from Pei Zhengnian’s handsome face downward.
Understanding her implication instantly, Pei Zhengnian’s expression darkened.
"If you don’t want to eat, go run ten laps around the compound."
The twins immediately shut up.
[Dislike Points +5]
[Dislike Points +2]
[Dislike Points +1]
"Congratulations, Host. Cumulative Dislike Points: 37. After deducting pain-blocking points, remaining balance: -63."
Shen Nanchu narrowed her beautiful phoenix eyes.
As expected—there was a catch.
Earning dislike points seemed easy, but each person had a limit.
Take Pei Yunxi—she practically radiated hatred, yet the points gained were pitiful.
To earn more, she’d need to make more people despise her.
As for what these points could exchange for…
Shen Nanchu opened the redemption panel.
[National Food Coupons—100 points]
[Fever Medicine—500 points]
[Antibiotics—500 points]
[Contraceptives—600 points]
[Baby Formula—800 points]
[Hybrid Rice Seeds—1000 points]
...
Food was manageable, but medicine was critical.
Having died once already, Shen Nanchu had no intention of perishing from something as trivial as a fever this time.
In an instant, she made up her mind.
A wise person knows when to adapt.
