The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 88

Gu Sihuan was stunned by Tang Jing’s cold words. She grabbed the other woman’s arm, wanting to say something, but Tang Jing pulled her hand away and left with the little mute girl.

Gu Sihuan’s mind went blank, feeling as though she had lost something important.

[System: The scumbag’s remorse value has reached 30%. Keep up the good work, Host.]

The uncles and aunties in the yard also sensed the strange atmosphere, exchanging glances as if trying to decipher something from each other’s expressions.

Some even recalled the rumors from last year, wondering if there might have been some truth to them.

But given the current situation, it didn’t seem to be the case.

For a moment, no one spoke, and the yard fell into an eerie silence.

Zhao Wenhao, however, had no idea what was happening. He only noticed that Gu Sihuan’s expression was off though he couldn’t quite pinpoint why.

After leaving Gu Sihuan’s house, Chi Yu kept stealing glances at Sister Nan’s face. It looked calm, as if nothing had happened earlier.

She tugged at Tang Jing’s sleeve and smiled, hoping to comfort her with her own cheerfulness.

Seeing the little dimple on her cheek, Tang Jing finally smiled and booped her nose. “Come on, let’s go home.”

No one knew that Tang Jing now felt completely free, no longer bound by the plot, she could develop things however she wanted without any reservations. The only thing she still had to maintain was her persona in this world.

Grandma Qin was sitting in the yard chatting with Third Aunt when she saw Tang Jing return so soon. Surprised, she asked, “Why are you back so early?”

“Didn’t feel like staying, so I left,” Tang Jing replied, sitting down beside her and pulling Chi Yu along. They cracked sunflower seeds, basked in the sun, and occasionally gossiped about the neighbors.

“Nanshu, your grandma mentioned that you’re planning to open a branch store after the New Year?” Third Aunt asked.

This wasn’t a secret Tang Jing had already made the decision by the end of last year, and all the young waitresses at the shop knew about it.

“Well!” Third Aunt had her own agenda. She smiled and asked, “Do you think I could work there?” Before Tang Jing could answer, she continued, “You know I have two daughters and a son. I don’t have any big demands just give me a job so I can earn some dowry money for your two older sisters.”

Unlike most families in the village who worked to build wealth for their sons, Third Aunt favored her daughters over her son.

Tang Jing frowned slightly. “I remember Meijie and Lingjie are working at a company that’s not doing well?”

“Don’t even mention it,” Third Aunt said bitterly. “Everything was fine when they first started, but just a year later, the company started having problems. Now my Meimei and Lingling are just barely hanging on.” Suddenly, she perked up. “Xiao Nan, are you saying?”

“Yes,” Tang Jing replied. “Since Meijie and Lingjie have sales experience, I was thinking of having them manage the branch store for me.”

After all, she still needed to manage the main store. Opening a branch would require finding additional staff, and capable people weren’t easy to come by on such short notice. She had originally planned to look for familiar faces in the village, but she hadn’t expected Auntie San to bring up the topic of work just then.

Auntie San was overjoyed, so much so that she couldn’t stay seated. She stood up immediately and said, “Alright, I’ll go back and talk to your two sisters about this, ask for their opinions. I’ll have them come see you later. You young folks can chat and get along well.”

Seeing how excited she was, Grandma Qin chuckled and said, “Auntie San, stay a little longer.”

“I can’t sit still, I’m heading back. I’ll come chat with you again tomorrow.” With that, Auntie San was off.

Grandma Qin smiled and remarked, “That temper of hers, honestly.”

Tang Jing, however, thought Auntie San’s straightforward and cheerful personality was quite pleasant she spoke her mind and made conversations comfortable.

Later that evening, Auntie San’s two daughters returned from work. Their company had been plagued by yet another round of chaotic incidents that day, and they had even overheard rumors that the business might be on the verge of collapse, with the boss possibly planning to flee.

“Meimei, Lingling, come here!” Auntie San was in such high spirits that she had prepared an especially lavish dinner. The moment her daughters stepped through the door, she rushed over and pulled them inside.

Seeing their mother so elated, Meimei and Lingling exchanged glances and asked curiously, “Mom, did you find money on the ground or something? Why are you so happy?”

Auntie San replied, “This is even better than finding money!”

Their mother’s excitement was contagious, and soon both girls were grinning as they followed her inside. “Did something good happen?”

“You know about Xiao Nan’s clothing store, right?”

Meimei nodded. “Of course! Her skills are truly something else. In just half a year, she’s already running her own shop, and it’s thriving.”

Lingling chimed in, “Exactly! Sometimes I even feel like quitting my job on impulse to go sell clothes.”

Meimei shook her head. “But it’s not that easy. Finding good suppliers alone is tough.”

Auntie San lowered her voice mysteriously. “Well, today you’ve got just that opportunity.”

“What do you mean?” Meimei and Lingling looked at each other, confusion written on their faces.

“Xiao Nan told me today that she’s planning to open a branch, but she doesn’t have anyone to manage it. So she thought of you two.” Auntie San didn’t keep them in suspense any longer and spilled the news outright.

The two sisters were so overwhelmed by the good news that they immediately hugged and kissed their mother in excitement.

Auntie San could hardly handle her daughters’ enthusiasm, but she wore a proud smile. “This is all thanks to your mom! I went to Xiao Nan today to ask if her shop needed any extra help so I could earn a little money. Who knew she’d bring up opening a branch right away?”

Meimei exclaimed, “Mom, this news really is better than finding money! I’m going to see Xiao Nan right now!”

Lingling was already heading for the door. “Me too!”

“Come back!” Auntie San called after them, feeling obliged to remind them, “It’s dinnertime, what are you going over there for? Sit down and eat first. It’s not like the opportunity will disappear in the next hour.”

Meimei and Lingling, having already entered the workforce, understood basic social etiquette. They stuck out their tongues sheepishly and obediently took their seats at the table.

This year, the youngest son in high school, seeing his mother and two older sisters ignoring him since earlier and now not even calling him for dinner, said with a bit of grievance, “Mom, sisters, you don’t care about me at all.”

Auntie San didn’t hesitate. “How can you say we don’t care? We feed and clothe you. Come over and eat now. A big man like you, acting like a little girl every day.”

The youngest son didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and looked to his sisters for help. But the two sisters were still caught up in their earlier joy and paid no attention to their brother.

In the end, the younger brother had no choice but to swallow his bitterness.

There was nothing he could do, who made him born into a family that favored girls over boys?

Meanwhile, Tang Jing and her family were also having dinner, the three of them gathered together in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

During the meal, Grandma Qin asked, “I heard the Gu family’s daughter brought her boyfriend home?” As she spoke, she glanced at her granddaughter, trying to catch any reaction on her face.

But Tang Jing looked completely at ease and nodded. “He’s a very polite man who wears glasses. I heard he works at the same factory as her.”

Seeing that her granddaughter really had no feelings for the Gu family’s daughter, Grandma Qin sighed in relief and snorted. “These polite, delicate pretty boys few of them are any good. Their sneaky tricks are the worst.”

Tang Jing hadn’t expected her grandmother to despise pretty boys so much. She exchanged a glance with Chi Yu and teased, “Grandma, did you get pursued by a pretty boy when you were young?”

“Go on, making fun of your own grandmother!” Grandma Qin scolded playfully, tapping Tang Jing’s hand with her chopsticks. “Back in my day, your grandmother was the belle of the town. I had all kinds of suitors.”

“Then how did you end up marrying Grandpa?” Tang Jing teased the old lady.

Grandma Qin said, “I was just tricked into it.” Though her words were full of disdain, the smile on her face was impossible to hide.

Tang Jing and Chi Yu giggled quietly.

“Alright, alright, always teasing your grandmother,” Grandma Qin said, her face flushing slightly under the amused gazes of the younger generation.

Not long after dinner, the voices of Meimei and Lingling could be heard outside.

“Is Xiaonan home?”

Tang Jing had just finished washing the dishes. Hearing the call, she shook the water off her hands and wiped them on her apron. “Sister Mei, Sister Ling.”

Meimei smiled. “Xiaonan, is it okay to bother you now?”

“Not at all. Come in and sit. I just finished up.”

Chi Yu brought over some tea.

Meimei and Lingling had long known that Chi Yu from the east end was staying with the Qin family. But since Chi Yu left early and returned late for work every day, they hadn’t seen her in a while. They were surprised to see how much she had changed.

“Xiaoyu’s put on some weight. Her face has filled out,” Meimei couldn’t resist pinching her cheek.

Chi Yu blushed shyly.

The aunts and uncles in the village had always been kind to her, and the children from every household liked her too. Meimei and Lingling had also looked out for her often in the past.

Tang Jing smiled. “I’ve been making her do a lot of work, otherwise she’d be even chubbier.”

Meimei and Lingling knew Tang Jing had Chi Yu work to prevent her from feeling uncomfortable. They exchanged a knowing smile and didn’t press the topic further.

Like Auntie San, the two of them got straight to the point.

“Xiaonan, I heard from Mom that you’re planning to open a branch store.”

“That’s right.” Tang Jing didn’t beat around the bush either and directly shared her plans. Meimei and Lingling listened attentively.

Chi Yu gazed at Tang Jing in his focused state, finding him utterly adorable no matter how she looked at him.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Grandma Qin, who had come out with some snacks for the young pair. Seeing the moment unfold, she didn’t disturb them and quietly retreated back to her room. Thinking of the way Xiaoyu had looked at Xiaonan, Grandma Qin smiled to herself. Glancing at the portrait of her late husband on the wall, she murmured, “Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings.”

Once the branch store plans were finalized, Tang Jing accelerated the preparations.

The location for the new shop had already been secured. After spring arrived, they would hire someone to handle the renovations, decorate the interior, and then pick an auspicious day for the grand opening. The task of selecting the perfect date was entrusted to Grandma Qin.

Gu Sihuan returned to the village in grand fashion with her boyfriend, expecting the aunts and neighbors to flock over and fawn over her. However, aside from the brief visits on the day of her arrival, the house was deserted by the next day.

It was only then that her mother found time to tell her, “You don’t know this, but after you left for the city, that Nan Shu started a business in town.”

“I know about that. Just some small-time venture, how much money could she possibly make?” To Gu Sihuan, it was far better to find a wealthy man who could provide for her without worry.

“Oh, what do you mean ‘small-time’?” Her mother was exasperated by her daughter’s attitude, but since her son-in-law was present, she held back and continued, “In just half a year, she opened a store in town. I’ve even heard she’s planning to expand with a branch.”

Gu Sihuan was stunned. “Mom, you’re not lying to me, are you?”

“Why would I lie? Everyone in the village knows. The Liu and Li families their daughters are all working with Nan Shu selling clothes now. If you hadn’t gone to the city, you’d probably be in her shop too. With how close you two were, wouldn’t she have made you a branch manager?”

On this matter, Gu’s mother painted an overly optimistic picture.

The reality was, did Gu Sihuan even have the capability?

Gu Sihuan was completely dumbfounded. She never imagined that Qin Nanshu, whom she had looked down on, had actually succeeded in business. The memory of that morning when Nanshu had sent her off to the bus station flashed in her mind she had even condescendingly advised her, “Not everyone can do business. You’ll probably lose money.”

Now, those words slapped her in the face hard.

Not only had Nanshu not lost money, she had earned plenty. And now she was opening a branch.

Zhao Wenhao remained silent beside them, but he absorbed every word of the mother-daughter exchange. Based on the gossip from the aunts yesterday, he had pieced together that the tall, cool-eyed girl they were talking about was Qin Nanshu.

He hadn’t wanted to accompany Gu Sihuan back to her hometown, but since he had only recently won her over and hadn’t grown tired of her yet, breaking up now would be a waste. So he had humored her and agreed to a short visit.

The countryside roads were rough, and the villagers were crude. Zhao Wenhao’s mood had been sour the entire time.

But after seeing that cool-eyed girl and the sweet, soft-spoken girl beside her, he felt the trip had been worth it.

“Yesterday, I saw you talking to a girl. Who was that?” Zhao Wenhao asked casually.

“Oh, that’s my childhood friend. We grew up together,” Gu Sihuan replied. “But ever since she took in that mute from the east end, she stopped hanging out with me as much.”

“A mute?”

“Oh, her real name is Qiuchi. Her parents passed away when she was very young, and the grandmother who raised her also died one day while hiking. She was left all alone in the world.” Gu Sihuan trusted Zhao Wenhao deeply and would share everything with him, not finding anything odd about his question.

“An orphan?” Zhao Wenhao mused thoughtfully.

From the plot summary sent by the system, Tang Jing already knew Zhao Wenhao was a scumbag. After meeting him in person yesterday, she was even more certain of it.

Just the thought of that scumbag eyeing Qiuchi with his disgusting gaze made her wish she could bash his head in with a stick.

“Hmm?” Noticing her expression darken, Chi Yu tugged at her sleeve in confusion.

Tang Jing turned to her and smiled. “Just thinking about something. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Chi Yu shook her head, indicating she couldn’t sleep.

“Is it because I’m going to town tomorrow?” Tang Jing tucked the blanket snugly around her.

Chi Yu nodded dejectedly. Since she was worried about leaving Granny Qin alone at home, Chi Yu had taken on the responsibility of caring for her. She was happy to do so, but sometimes she missed her Nan-jie terribly when they were apart.

Tang Jing gently stroked her head and said softly, “Be good. In another two months, I’ll buy a small house in town, and then I’ll take you and Granny there to live with me.”

Chi Yu’s eyes lit up, but then she hesitated.

“What’s wrong?”

Chi Yu took her hand and wrote the word “Granny” in her palm.

Tang Jing understood, she was afraid Granny wouldn’t want to go.

With a smile, she said, “Leave the task of convincing Granny to me.”

Chi Yu still had reservations. After all, elderly people at that age often cling to their homes. Taking her to an unfamiliar place so abruptly might make her uncomfortable, even if she didn’t say it outright.

But then she remembered Granny Qin wasn’t like other grandmothers. Maybe her worries were unnecessary. If Granny really couldn’t adjust, she could always bring her back home.

The next morning at breakfast, Tang Jing brought up buying a house. Granny Qin was fully supportive. “Buying a house is great! I’ve been wanting to move to town. Get one with a courtyard, and I’ll cook for you all every day.”

Tang Jing looked at her. “Granny, are you really willing to go to town?”

In most families, an old woman like her would refuse to leave home no matter what.

Granny Qin tapped her chopsticks lightly. “You’re underestimating me, aren’t you? There are only so many old folks in this village, and all they do is gossip about this and that. I’ve had enough of it. I’d rather live in town with you young people. Besides, when I went to the market last year, I met a few old friends. They told me there’s going to be square dancing at New City Plaza this year, I want to see what that’s all about.”

Tang Jing laughed. “Hey, can you even dance, old lady?”

“Of course I can! I met your grandfather through dancing when I was young,” Granny Qin retorted indignantly.

Watching the playful bickering between grandmother and granddaughter, Chi Yu ate her meal with a smile. This kind of life felt warm to her.

She also hadn’t expected that Nan-jie had understood her concerns from the night before and brought it up with Granny the very next day. Seeing the genuine excitement and anticipation on Granny’s face, Chi Yu began to look forward to their future life.

This kind of life was something she had never dared to imagine before.

“I’ll go to the shop first today to tidy up and take stock. We’ll officially reopen in a few days,” Tang Jing said after finishing her meal.

“Why don’t you let Xiaoyu go with you?” Grandma Qin suggested.

“No need,” Tang Jing replied, gently stroking Xiaoyu’s soft hair. “I can manage on my own. Besides, Sister Mei and Sister Ling want to come along to take a look. It’ll be a good chance for me to show them the ropes.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then go early and come back soon. Will you be back by noon?” Grandma Qin asked again.

“Yes.”

As she watched Tang Jing ride off on her bicycle, Chi Yu helped Grandma Qin back into the house.

While Chi Yu was washing dishes, someone called her from outside. The voice sounded unfamiliar, so she curiously stepped out. When she saw it was Gu Sihuan’s boyfriend, she was so startled she immediately retreated to the kitchen.

“Chi Yu!” Zhao Wenhao called out to stop her, adjusting his glasses with a friendly smile. “I just wanted to ask for directions. How do I get to Uncle Li’s house? Sisi asked me to pick something up from there.”

Chi Yu didn’t want to engage with this man his smile felt fake and made her uncomfortable. But since he was new to the village and just asking for directions, ignoring him would be rude. She hastily pointed toward the west.

Zhao Wenhao wasn’t actually heading to Uncle Li’s house; he had just used it as an excuse to talk to her. Now that he saw her up close, he found the girl even more adorable. Her shyness and reluctance to meet his eyes delighted him. Smirking, he said, “Thank you, little Chi Yu.”

Hearing that nickname, Chi Yu shuddered with disgust. She hurried back into the kitchen and shut the door behind her.

Peering through the door crack, she watched the man outside until he finally left, allowing her racing heart to settle.

Only then did she realize her entire body was trembling. The memory of the encounter made her eyes well up with fear, and for a moment, she missed Sister Nan terribly.

“Achoo!” Tang Jing sneezed as dust from the shelves she was cleaning tickled her nose.

“Sister Nan, let me handle this part. You should take a break,” Meimei offered eagerly.

Originally, Tang Jing had planned to let the sisters explore the area while she cleaned the shop, after which she’d discuss the branch store details with them. But the two sisters had immediately rolled up their sleeves and started helping without giving her a chance to refuse. Eventually, she could only laugh helplessly and let them assist, thinking she’d just give them bigger red envelopes when the shop opened.

“Sister Nan, your shop’s decor is so beautiful,” Lingling gushed, admiring the dazzling diamond chandelier that sparkled under the warm lighting.

The metal clothing racks on either side of the walls also gleamed with a refined texture under the light.

Before the New Year, Tang Jing had stored all the clothes away to keep them from gathering dust, so none were visible now. But Lingling had worn two outfits bought from the shop by her aunt and knew the clothes here must be just as impressive.

“The branch store will have similar decor,” Tang Jing said. “I’ll leave it to you two to manage. As for staff, see if you have any reliable friends who’d be good fits.” She paused, then added seriously, “Make sure to have them sign employment contracts. Don’t skip it just because you know them it’s precisely because you know them that contracts are necessary.”

“We understand, Sister Nan,” Meimei said, the most familiar with this aspect. “Even brothers keep accounts clear. Otherwise, if any disputes arise, we’d be the ones suffering.”

Tang Jing smiled and nodded. “Good that you understand.”

Because they were acquaintances, they might try to play the emotional card today slacking off a little, tomorrow taking a piece of clothing and asking for a discount, then at the end of the month complaining their pay was too low and wanting a raise.

These kinds of issues were bound to arise. It was better to account for them from the start, sign a contract, and have something to fall back on if problems came up later.

After tidying up, it was still early, so Tang Jing took them to see the branch store. Then the three of them rode their bikes back.

The three of them chatted and laughed all the way home.

Upon arriving, Tang Jing called out, “Grandma, Xiaoyu, I’m back.”

Granny Qin came out to greet her, “Xiao Nan, you’re back! Xiaoyu is cooking in the kitchen. You can go help her.”

“Alright,” Tang Jing responded. She parked her bicycle in the yard, washed her hands at the well, and then headed into the kitchen. The moment she saw Xiaoyu, she immediately noticed something was off and quickly asked, “Xiaoyu, what’s wrong?”

Although Chi Yu tried hard to hide it, her reddened eyes betrayed the fact that she had been crying.

Tang Jing walked over, her face darkening as she asked, “Did someone bully you?”

After the crippled Lai was arrested, no one in the village dared to bully Xiaoyu anymore.

If it had been anyone else, Chi Yu would have told her. But the person involved was Sisi’s boyfriend. Sisi and Nan Jie were good friends, if she spoke ill of Sisi’s boyfriend, would Nan Jie get angry?

Chi Yu hesitated, afraid to speak up. Although Nan Jie had cut ties with Sisi that day, after all, they had been friends for over a decade. How could such a bond be severed so easily?

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