C9 One Wave Has Not Been Settled yet Another Wave Rises!

Xinrann sat under the eaves, resting her chin in her hands, staring blankly at the scene in the yard. Inside the dirt-walled enclosure, chickens ran around wildly, and a dirty black pig was tied up in the corner by the west wall. The smell of pig manure hung in the air, and Xinrann couldn't help but pinch her nose shut with her fingers.

"Oh, Lord, how am I supposed to live like this?" she thought, feeling utterly helpless. She let out a long, mournful sigh and buried her face in her knees.

"Xinrann, you worthless girl, get out here!" The voice of her grandmother cut through her thoughts before she could gather herself.

Great, here comes trouble, she thought. Her grandmother, Hsu Caihua, was no easy person to deal with. She often bullied Xinrann's mother, Yu'e, and had a deep-seated preference for boys over girls. At over seventy years old, Hsu Caihua always moved around with a cane due to her bound feet. She looked like she could topple over with the slightest nudge. Yet, this was the woman who had oppressed Yu'e for a lifetime.

Thinking about the scolding that was likely to follow, Xinrann couldn't help but press her temples in frustration. Just one thing after another.

"Xinrann, are you trying to drive me to my grave on purpose? Look at the shameful things you've done. Your mother couldn't even give our family a single boy, just you four useless girls. You bring nothing but bad luck! Get out here right now. Whoever you married, go find them. Do you expect my son to take care of you while you lie around half-dead?"

Hsu Caihua pushed the door open, entered the yard, and leaned against the wall, panting and cursing with her cane in hand. Xinrann sighed deeply, her eyes filled with sorrow.

She’s really something. If Jianmin hadn’t been trying to help her, would he have needed to borrow money from Jian? It’s because she didn’t want to burden her eldest son’s two lazy, good-for-nothing grandsons that she ran to Jianmin, who has no sons, as soon as she got sick. Jianmin, being kind-hearted, couldn’t just watch his own mother suffer without helping, could he? So, to save his mother, he ended up deep in debt and even dragged his daughter into it.

The original character didn’t like this grandmother much. Whenever they met, she’d just nod without any emotion, call her “grandma,” and quickly walk away. On the other hand, Caihua would glare at her retreating back, cursing her as a burden. Caihua wore a black, patched-up dress, her half-gray hair tied into an old-fashioned bun at the back of her head. Her tiny feet looked like little boats made from folded paper, seemingly ready to topple over with every step.

Xinrann observed the elderly woman, her face marked by wrinkles and the passage of time. “Grandma, have you finished yelling? Are you thirsty? Should I get you a glass of water?” Caihua glanced at Xinrann with disdain, wondering why she was even allowed out of the coffin. She thought, “She’s just a burden. Wouldn’t it be better if she were gone?”

“Don’t call me grandma; it’s bad luck. Crawling out of a coffin, who knows if you’re human or ghost? I’m telling you, pack your things and get out. Jian married you, so you’re his responsibility. Don’t think you can stick around here and drag my son down. My son never had a full meal growing up, and with you four burdens, his life’s only gotten harder. You’re standing here just fine, aren’t you? No missing limbs or anything. What makes you think you can cause trouble for Jian?”

"That kid must be blind to even think about marrying you," Hsu Caihua's words cut into Faang Xinrann like sharp knives, leaving her chest aching.

Faang Xinrann let out a cold laugh. Luckily, she wasn't the original person in this situation. She wouldn't let herself be upset over the mistakes of an ignorant old woman.