Chapter Nineteen: Bullying the Heroine

The old village chief was still pondering whether it was her luck or her granddaughter’s fortune when Zhang Huilan, fuming, questioned sharply.

“If you hadn’t saved me, would you still be asking me for money?”

“When I went down into the cellar, everyone had already left. I was a bit careless and too timid to go further down. Could you have gone?”

“That still doesn’t mean you saved me.”

“How could it not? Or did the village chief teach you to be so ungrateful?”

“My grandfather didn’t teach me that; you’re the one who’s being unreasonable.”

“Where exactly am I being unreasonable? You twisted my words and turned me into a murderer. Now I have no home to return to, hiding every day without even a hot meal. I didn’t ask you to compensate me for emotional damage or loss of reputation, which was more than enough. I was unreasonable? I was unreasonable enough to drag you down with me, claiming you were the one who ordered me.”

“Murderer?!” The old village chief suddenly grabbed his precious granddaughter’s shoulder. “The people who came said it was an internal dispute among kidnappers.”

“At first, yes, they said it was an internal dispute among kidnappers, but later it turned into a case of violent intruders intentionally wounding people.” She was quite frustrated; if it weren’t for sensing deep malice, who would deliberately disgust others like this?

“Village chief, I heard your granddaughter was lucky—just happened to encounter a robber with a conscience who let her go. Your granddaughter is clever and quick-witted, and then she led the soldiers to rescue the others trapped inside. But your granddaughter is still young and innocent-minded, which caused the government to miss the chance to catch the criminals.”

No one but Bai Mianmian dared to be certain of the truth. The government’s obvious attempt to shirk responsibility and cover up was clear. If things went badly, even Zhang Huilan might end up paying the price.

“I’ll go inquire,” the old village chief said anxiously.

Bai Mianmian pulled him back. “The city gates are already closed. Where could you possibly inquire?”

“You’re just a small village chief; what could you find out? I’m not a lucky child. Maybe the only luck I’ve ever had was finding a lost keychain that day. But I don’t dare approach the government offices.”

“Ask whatever you want, but don’t betray me,” she warned bluntly.

The old village chief looked at her with an expression so complex it was impossible to untangle.

“You shouldn’t have run.”

“And if I hadn’t run, would I have escaped?” She smiled bitterly, full of irony. “Everyone else has family to back them up. What do I have? No matter what decision I made, I’m the one who has to bear all the consequences. Or when my family is brought in, even more crimes will be piled onto my small shoulders. I’m so despicable that even my elders hit me. I’m so heartless that even my younger siblings’ wives are abandoned. A person like me deserves to kill and burn, and naturally, to be greedy and corrupt!”

With every word she spoke, the old man’s heart sank further.

When she finished, he admitted it seemed that running away was indeed the wisest choice.

“Today, coming to your home, I’m risking everything. This money—you don’t recognize it. If not—then I’ll turn myself in and say Zhang Huilan was my accomplice, and you were the mastermind behind it all.”

“You’re slandering me!” Sympathy and pity vanished in an instant.

The little chubby girl was fuming, her shaking finger trembling uncontrollably.

“Go ahead and slander me; what can you do?” Bai Mianmian lifted her chin defiantly, like a stubborn mule unafraid of boiling water. “Anyway, I’m just a worthless life. Nobody cares whether I live or die.”

“Er’ya, let’s put this matter aside for now. I’ll definitely find a way to clear your name,” the old village chief said with a headache.

He knew all too well how complicated the matter was.

“First, let’s eat and rest properly. Stay home these few days. Once things are settled, I’ll send you home.”

The more the Zhang family refused to acknowledge the money, the more Bai Mianmian found excuses to hold out.

As for staying overnight, she wasn’t surprised. After all, once she had spoken so plainly, how could he chase her away?

And so Bai Mianmian moved into the Zhang family home.

She used her face towel and basin, wore her half-new shoes.

“Don’t rummage around!” the little chubby girl warned.

“What are you doing?”

In the small room, Bai Mianmian was opening cabinets and pulling drawers.

The little chubby girl nearly cried.

She didn’t want to share a bed with someone, but Bai Mianmian stubbornly insisted.

The problem was, Bai Mianmian was utterly insensitive—lighting the oil lamp was one thing, but she was also rummaging everywhere.

“If you keep this up, I’ll get angry.”

“I’m just looking. Is there something in here I’m not supposed to see?” Bai Mianmian raised her eyebrows deliberately.

From another perspective, she could have easily tied the girl up and thrown her out.

Suddenly, she understood why vicious supporting female characters loved to stir up trouble so much.

That maddening feeling of being utterly helpless against someone else was oddly satisfying!

Quite intoxicating.

“It’s just a few good clothes, some colorful hair ribbons, and small flower hairpins. Nothing extraordinary, worth guarding so fiercely and getting so worked up over? Did I ask for them? Did I demand them? Lots of people have better clothes than these. Look at my outfit—much better than anything in your cabinet. New, brand new.”

She didn’t just speak; she bumped into the girl.

The problem was, Bai Mianmian was much shorter, much thinner, and frailer.

The little chubby girl had never met anyone so disrespectful to the village chief’s granddaughter, someone who knew she was unhappy but deliberately provoked her.

Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes.

“Oh no, crying now! What did I do to you? Did I hit you or insult you?”

“You don’t want me staying here? Just say so. Don’t act like I’m bullying you. I’m in your house; I wouldn’t dare do anything to you. Besides, you’re the village chief’s only granddaughter, the Zhang family’s treasured child. What could I possibly do to you? Wouldn’t your family have me killed by now?”

There were many members in the Zhang family—twenty-two in total, spanning three generations living under one roof.

The old couple had four sons.

The eldest son, Zhang Sheng, was married to Jiang Hehua; the third son, Zhang Chao, married Zhao Taor; both couples had three sons.

The fourth son, Zhang Yuan, and his wife Han Yue had two sons.

The heroine was from the second branch, which had relatively more members.

Zhang Qiang and Jiang Xiaoyun had four children.

The heroine was the eldest and the only girl in the Zhang family.

To emphasize the heroine’s status, the author not only gave her the mark of incredible good fortune but also exclusive family favor.

As the only daughter in six generations, she attracted the attention of the entire Zhang clan from birth, and was beloved for her exceptional luck and charming disposition.

The novel began with the Zhang family’s treasured child being envied by relatives.

To satisfy readers, the heroine’s powers were reserved for later stages.

The small room actually contained very few things.

But this “few” was relative—after all, she was a wealthy heiress who had seen entire floors of walk-in closets.

“You’re rude. My family isn’t unreasonable. Rummaging through someone else’s things like this is unacceptable no matter who you tell,” the little chubby girl said, flustered but determined not to lose out.

Unfortunately for her, she was dealing with Bai Mianmian—someone who had read countless novels and dealt with many difficult people.

“You say I’m rude? If I were rude, do you think I’d still be talking nicely to you here? If you didn’t want to sleep with me, I wouldn’t want to sleep with you either. If I were rude, I’d have kicked you out immediately.”

“Me? You?!” The little chubby girl pointed to herself and then at Bai Mianmian.

Bai Mianmian mirrored her with a smirk. “Yes, you and me. You caused me to have no home to return to, no city to enter, nearly got me arrested and beheaded. What’s wrong with me sleeping in your room? Is there treasure or money in here? Why can’t I sleep here?”