Ning Xingde was no longer particularly heartbroken over his mother Wei Xiaomei’s death. What remained in his heart now was excitement and anticipation.
After being locked up again, his father had sent a telegram to a certain relative.
That relative’s identity could not be exposed for the time being, nor could he openly help them. However, as long as Yan Bingqin and Ning Lu were dealt with, Ning Xingde would be able to take his wife and Ning Yue to seek refuge with that relative.
When that happened, both he and his sister would be arranged jobs in the city. After things quieted down, his father would also be released and brought over to live there.
After all, that relative was now the son-in-law of a very important figure.
When Ning Yue returned home, she no longer cared about Mother Lin’s constant scolding.
Instead, she became excited and spent days making plans.
In the end, she came to a conclusion:
A woman had to be ruthless to secure her position.
If she was going to act, she would do it thoroughly—to avenge her mother and eliminate future trouble once and for all.
Ignoring Lin Anguo’s cold attitude over the following days, she quietly prepared her plan.
Meanwhile, Ning Lu and Yan Bingqin continued getting up early every morning to run.
Combined with their diet plan, intense daily exercise, and the spring water from Ning Lu’s mysterious space, the speed at which they lost weight was astonishing.
The villagers could hardly believe their eyes.
“Lu Lu’s mother, both of you have lost so much weight!”
“Exactly! Have you not been eating properly lately? Lu Lu’s father may have passed away, but you still need to take care of yourselves!”
Because Yan Bingqin was beautiful, several people even considered introducing potential marriage partners to her.
Others had begun taking an interest in Ning Lu as well.
Although Lin Anguo had spread rumors about her, her beauty was difficult to ignore. Even if there were flaws in her reputation, many felt that marrying such a beautiful woman would still be a blessing.
Unfortunately for them, before anyone could come forward, Ning Lu and Yan Bingqin were already preparing to leave.
Their train departure date was approaching.
The day before leaving, Yan Bingqin took Ning Lu to visit several women in the village whom she had always been close to.
They chatted together, and Yan Bingqin gave away their extra grain, flour, cooking oil, and other supplies.
The women were deeply concerned and repeatedly held her hand, offering advice and encouragement.
After more than twenty years of friendship, there were real feelings between them.
Everyone felt reluctant and saddened by the farewell.
Yet life often led people down different roads.
Yan Bingqin felt both reluctant and relieved, while also filled with hope and nervous anticipation.
Life in this village had never been easy for her.
It wasn’t only Ning Tiedan constantly harassing her—many women had also treated her poorly out of jealousy.
During the years when Ning Tiegen was away, she had raised Ning Lu alone, swallowing all her hardships in silence.
Perhaps in a new place, everything could begin again.
That night, Ning Lu found herself unable to sleep as well.
For some reason, she thought about the military officer she had met before.
Lu Huaichuan.
His handsome features, sharp and commanding aura, pleasant voice, tall frame, and striking appearance all came to mind.
She wondered if the military base would be full of men like him.
She knew she could not live with her mother and stepfather forever.
The best outcome would be finding her own job—or perhaps getting married.
If she married, her future husband would most likely also be someone from the military.
Ning Lu vaguely remembered that Commander Xie had a son and a daughter from his previous marriage.
According to common experience, children from a first marriage often disliked stepchildren brought by a new wife.
Thinking about that gave her a headache.
Still, for her mother’s happiness, she decided to take things one step at a time.
If Commander Xie’s children treated her poorly, she would simply become independent as soon as possible.
As long as Commander Xie treated her mother well, that would be enough.
As she drifted toward sleep, she suddenly heard rustling noises behind the house.
Instantly alert, she used her space ability and silently appeared behind a nearby haystack hidden behind the house.
Soon she saw someone sneaking around.
It was Ning Yue.
Leaning on crutches, she had come to do something terrible.
It was two o’clock in the morning.
Behind Ning Lu’s house, Ning Yue had piled up firewood, poured kerosene over it, and stuffed flammable newspapers among the wood.
She was just about to shove the burning papers through a window.
Ning Lu rushed forward.
Throwing a sack over Ning Yue from behind, she kicked the flames aside before they could spread.
Then she dragged the struggling Ning Yue to a quiet place and beat her soundly.
Only after Ning Yue lost consciousness did Ning Lu stop.
She hoisted the unconscious woman onto her shoulder and dumped her behind the Ning family’s house.
By then, the Ning family house had already caught fire.
Since Wei Xiaomei’s death and Ning Tiedan’s imprisonment, Ning Xingde and his wife had become extremely lazy.
The yard was cluttered with junk, and dry leaves were scattered everywhere.
The flames spread rapidly.
By the time Ning Xingde woke up, the house had become a sea of fire.
His wife had discovered the blaze while going outside during the night and had escaped immediately.
Ning Xingde, however, was trapped inside as the house began collapsing around him.
The neighboring villagers—including Yan Bingqin and Ning Lu—were awakened.
Everyone rushed over to help fight the fire.
Eventually, they managed to extinguish it.
But the Ning family house had been burned beyond recognition.
Ning Xingde’s hair had been completely burned off.
When he was finally rescued, he lay on the ground screaming in agony, his appearance horrifying.
Someone then discovered Ning Yue.
She had just regained consciousness.
Covered in bruises, she cried out:
“Someone attacked me! A thief attacked me!”
People searched her pockets and found matches and a kerosene bottle.
“Ning Yue! Did you start this fire? Why would you burn your own family’s house?!”
Ning Yue looked around in shock.
Only then did she realize that the house reduced to ashes was her own.
She froze.
Ning Xingde glared at her.
Then he lunged forward and grabbed her throat.
“Ning Yue! You idiot!”
Ning Lu and Yan Bingqin didn’t even need to say anything.
The villagers spoke for them.
“She meant to burn her aunt and cousin alive!”
“First she stole her cousin’s fiancé. Then she poisoned Yan Bingqin and Ning Lu, only to kill her own mother instead!”
“And now she’s committing arson! Heaven has eyes—it’s her own family home that burned down! Her own brother got burned!”
“Shameless! Such a vicious and stupid woman!”
Ning Lu sneered.
“Ning Xingde, did the two of you plan this together?”
At that moment, the village chief arrived.
Looking at the ruins, he became furious.
“Ning Yue, what exactly were you trying to do? If the fire had spread further, who knows how many people in the village could have died!”
“Your mother is dead. Your father is in prison. Haven’t you learned anything?”
“What you’ve done is against the law!”
Ning Yue panicked.
“I didn’t do it! I was just passing by! I don’t know how the fire started!”
Who was the mysterious person who had beaten her unconscious?
She pointed at her injuries.
“Look at me! I’m covered in bruises! Someone attacked me and framed me! Why would I burn down my own family home?”
An investigation was conducted.
In the end, it was confirmed that Ning Yue had indeed been assaulted.
But it was also clear that she had started the fire.
Fortunately, only her own family’s house had burned.
Whether to pursue legal action would depend on Ning Xingde’s decision.
Ning Xingde’s burns were severe, and he was taken to the town hospital.
When his wife saw his condition, she vomited on the spot and immediately fled back to her parents’ home.
As a result, Ning Yue was left to care for her injured brother.
She cried herself nearly hysterical.
The people who were supposed to die were Ning Lu and Yan Bingqin.
Why had her own brother ended up suffering instead?
She cried bitterly until Ning Xingde finally regained consciousness from the pain and handed her a phone number.
“Call… Uncle… ask him… to save me…”
Ning Lu and Yan Bingqin paid no more attention to the matter.
They completed the transfer of their house, packed their belongings, and took an ox cart into town.
From there they traveled by bus to the city and finally reached the train station.
Soon they boarded a train bound for the Northwestern Military Region.
The train carriage was filled with unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells.
Surrounded by the crowded passengers, both Yan Bingqin and Ning Lu felt nervous and uncertain about the future.