Chapter 7: Mom, Grab the Weapons!
The starved ghost Ning Xiyue took a satisfying bite of the soft, bouncy pig’s trotters. Upon hearing the question, she immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks and excitedly began telling her father about her “great feat” today. When it came to reenacting the reactions of the two people involved, she even acted out both roles herself, ensuring that her parents felt like they were right there in the moment.
Her parents were very supportive, watching her performance with broad smiles and occasionally adding their own commentary.
The meal was filled with laughter and joy.
During the lunch break, Ning Xiyue went out to get some water. As she passed through the living room, she heard voices coming from the master bedroom — they were talking about her. She immediately lightened her footsteps and shamelessly stood in the living room, openly eavesdropping.
Inside, Ning Hai’s voice was full of warmth and laughter:
“Xiulan, I’m really happy today. When Yueyue told us about what happened this morning over lunch, it reminded me of when she was a little girl. Every time something fun happened outside, she would come running back and vividly act it all out for us. If we didn’t listen, she’d pout so hard you could hang an oil bottle from her lips. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen Yueyue this lively and happy. It’s wonderful.”
“Isn’t it?” Yun Xiulan sighed. “Ever since she met that bastard Zhang Yuan, our Yueyue hasn’t been happy. But now, she’s finally come to her senses. A setback makes you wiser — this was a blessing in disguise. But… sigh…”
Her tone turned worried. “In just a few days, Yueyue will be going down to the countryside. The work there is so hard, and she’s never had to suffer a day in her life. I’m really worried. What if something bad happens to her there? What would I do then, Old Ning?”
“Don’t worry, Xiulan,” Ning Hai said reassuringly, though he was worried too. “I think Yueyue has grown a lot from this experience. She can take care of herself now. And besides, our Yueyue is so capable — she’ll do well wherever she goes.”
“We’ll send her with plenty of money and ration tickets, and mail her money and supplies every month. Even if she doesn’t work in the countryside, we won’t have to worry about her starving. The place she’s being sent isn’t far from where our second child is — they’re in the same county. I’ll write a letter and ask him to look after her and check in on her from time to time. Policies are also a bit more relaxed lately. When the chance comes, we’ll find a way to bring Yueyue back.”
“That’s all we can do. Tomorrow, I’ll take the day off and go shopping with Yueyue to get the things she’ll need in the countryside.”
“Mm. Let’s sleep now — we still have things to do this afternoon.”
Listening from the living room, Ning Xiyue’s emotions shifted — from nervousness about being caught eavesdropping, to relief, to thunderstruck disbelief when she heard about going to the countryside, and finally to deep, heartfelt emotion.
The original body’s family was truly wonderful. They were always thinking about her. And luckily, her own personality was very similar to the original’s before she turned into a love-brained fool — even their eating habits were the same — so she didn’t have to worry about being exposed.
But as for that “going to the countryside” thing… she had selectively forgotten all about it. Hearing her parents talk about it now, she realized with a jolt that she only had one week left before departure.
Even though she had a sign-in system, she still needed to stockpile supplies. She had to start preparing early and make full use of the system’s storage space.
Fortunately, she would be receiving some money that afternoon. Having money on hand made everything less scary — with money, she could go anywhere. Going to the countryside was no big deal.
Now, Ning Xiyue was eagerly anticipating Zhang Yuan’s arrival. She almost wanted to storm over to his house right now and demand the money back. But a creditor must maintain their dignity — she couldn’t lose face. She’d wait until the very last moment for repayment.
That afternoon, Ning Xiyue didn’t even bother exploring her “new world.” She stayed home, waiting specifically for Zhang Yuan to show up with the money — money was the most important thing now.
Yun Xiulan, worried about her daughter, rushed home as soon as she finished handling an emergency at work so she could stay with Ning Xiyue. She couldn’t talk her daughter out of it, and Ning Xiyue didn’t try — if this could show her mother that she was no longer a love-brain, then all the better.
With only five minutes left before six o’clock, Ning Xiyue and her mother had already finished cooking dinner in the kitchen. Ning Hai had also returned home from work, but Zhang Yuan was still nowhere to be seen.
Ning Xiyue untied her apron, went back to her room, and pulled a brick from her system backpack, tossing it lightly in her hand. She smirked coldly.
“It’s time for you to shine.”
Wiping the smile from her face, she walked out holding the brick, her expression blank. “Mom, grab a weapon. Let’s go.”
“Coming. Let’s go.” Yun Xiulan grabbed a kitchen knife off the cutting board and charged out of the kitchen behind her daughter. At that moment, their matching expressions and reactions made it clear — they were definitely mother and daughter.
“Hey, you two, take it easy — wait for me!” Ning Hai quickly set down his newspaper, glanced around, and ran into the kitchen to grab a rolling pin.
Just as Ning Xiyue, brimming with anger, yanked the door open — she saw Zhang Yuan at the doorstep, hand raised, about to knock.
Zhang Yuan looked terrified. Seeing Ning Xiyue standing there coldly with a brick in hand, then catching sight of Yun Xiulan behind her brandishing a knife like a ferocious demon, and finally spotting Ning Hai charging over with a rolling pin as thick as an arm — he stumbled back several steps, his legs trembling and voice shaking:
“I… I’m… I’m here… to return the money.”
“Come in,” Ning Xiyue said, her expression easing considerably and her hand lowering the brick slightly.
“I-I’d rather not…” Zhang Yuan’s eyes darted from the weapons in their hands to his own skinny arms and legs. “I’m fine here. This spot’s… perfect.”
“When my daughter tells you to come in, you come in.” Ning Hai strode out, grabbed Zhang Yuan by the collar, and lifted him like a chick, hauling him inside and tossing him onto the floor. “So much nonsense.”
Before Zhang Yuan could even react, he heard a loud bang — the door slammed shut right in front of him, cutting off the light from outside. His heart plummeted into icy despair.
“The money?” Ning Xiyue asked lazily, sitting on a stool and playing with the brick in her hands.
Ning Hai and Yun Xiulan each sat on either side of her, fiddling with their “weapons” and glaring at Zhang Yuan on the floor like a pair of tigers — her solid backup.
Zhang Yuan, a poor boy who had just graduated from high school, had never seen a scene like this before. This family, who had always seemed so gentle and polite, now looked scarier than the gang leaders he’d seen in the black market.
He collapsed weakly onto the floor, convinced that if he so much as displeased Ning Xiyue even a little, he’d be beaten to a pulp.
The plan to sweet-talk her into letting him delay or reduce the payment evaporated completely. All that remained was fear — fear for his life.
With trembling hands, Zhang Yuan pulled a small box out of his bag and handed it over. Then he took out several stacks of banknotes from various pockets on his body and held them out with a sycophantic tone:
“S-s-six hundred yuan… it’s all… all here. Y-you can… you can count it.”
