In the granary, there were rice, wheat, corn, and other grains. Likewise, Shen Shujiao only took half of them.
As for cured meats—such as preserved pork, duck delicacies, and sun-dried salted fish—she took only a small portion, just enough to satisfy cravings when she felt like it.
Compared with dried goods, she preferred fresh meat.
Since she wanted to leave a good impression on those above, she had to show sufficient sincerity so as not to arouse suspicion.
After collecting everything in the house, Shen Shujiao imitated her eldest uncle Shen Shengchang’s handwriting and wrote a letter.
Then she used cosmetics to put on a disguise.
She had learned this technique in her previous life as a wandering spirit, watching Shen Xueman do it.
That day, when Shen Xueman wanted to frame Huo Zhoubai’s grandfather, she planted a forged treason letter in his safe.
Shen Shujiao had watched as Shen Xueman, as if performing a living transformation, used simple makeup to completely change her face.
Only then did Shen Shujiao realize that cosmetics weren’t just for making people prettier—they could also turn one person into someone else entirely.
Looking at the person in the mirror who bore no trace of her original appearance, a chill, murderous intent surfaced in Shen Shujiao’s eyes.
In this life, she would make the wicked pay for their crimes.
She would never give Shen Xueman—that transmigrated novel character—the chance to snatch everything that belonged to her.
……
Shen Shujiao’s eldest aunt, Wang Huifang, had been born into an official’s family in the late Qing dynasty. She was a cherished young miss, doted on by her parents, and had grown up strikingly beautiful.
She married down to a businessman and was pampered and indulged by Shen Shengchang her entire life.
Wang Huifang lived a rather refined, bourgeois lifestyle and liked to have Fu Ji pastries every afternoon.
Although it was a time of strict crackdowns, she thought they might soon go to Hong Kong and would no longer be able to enjoy such treats. So she had the Fu Ji shop deliver afternoon tea to Shen Garden.
Shen Shujiao went to Fu Ji, bought the exact pastries Wang Huifang liked, then disguised herself as a Fu Ji employee and went to Shen Garden.
Because Wang Huifang disliked clumsy servants damaging the presentation of her afternoon tea, Fu Ji staff always came personally to arrange the pastries.
When Old Madam Wang opened the door and saw Shen Shujiao dressed in Fu Ji staff attire, she didn’t look closely.
“Madam isn’t home right now. After you set everything up, remember to cover it.”
“Yes,” Shen Shujiao replied respectfully with her head lowered.
“Go arrange it yourself then. I still need to watch over the kitchen while they prepare food for the young miss.”
Without waiting for a reply, Old Madam Wang hurried off.
Watching her retreating figure, Shen Shujiao’s lips curled into a cold, resolute smile.
Since the great movement had begun, only Old Madam Wang remained as a servant in Shen Garden.
She had been a servant of Wang Huifang’s family for generations, serving Wang Huifang since childhood. She never married, watched Shen Xueman grow up, and treated her like her own daughter.
The fact that she was so anxious to prepare food for Shen Xueman showed just how badly Shen Xueman had been harmed by the medicine Shen Shujiao forced on her.
Shen Xueman wasn’t pregnant, so Shen Shujiao had never expected those pills to truly destroy her.
But seriously injuring her was more than enough.
Shen Shujiao didn’t linger and headed toward the pavilion where Wang Huifang usually had her tea.
After placing the pastries, Shen Shujiao went behind a rockery and used her space to turn invisible.
Not long after, Old Madam Wang came over. Seeing the pastries covered with a lid, she complained irritably:
“What an ill-mannered little slut—she left without even saying a word. When Madam comes back, I’ll make sure she complains to Fu Ji and gets you fired.”
Muttering curses, Old Madam Wang left. Only after seeing her take the food container and leave did Shen Shujiao come out of the space.
With no one left in Shen Garden, and thanks to her experience as a ghost in her previous life, Shen Shujiao easily found the secret chamber where Shen Shengchang hid his valuables.
Wealthy households all had secret rooms for storing assets—it was just a matter of whether outsiders knew where they were.
That was also why, during these strict times, families targeted by the Red Armbands were often searched so thoroughly that the ground was dug three feet deep.
If a family under investigation didn’t voluntarily reveal the existence of a secret chamber and it was discovered, the punishment would be severe.
Planning to go to Hong Kong, Shen Shengchang had sorted and stored all his assets in the secret chamber.
Shen Shujiao selected some valuable items, then placed the letter inside one of the calligraphy paintings.
Her main purpose in coming to Shen Garden was to have them sent down for reeducation; collecting their assets was merely incidental.
After placing the letter, Shen Shujiao went to Shen Shengchang’s granary.
Having seen too many people suffer from hunger in her previous life, Shen Shujiao placed great importance on food.
Compared with the Shen family’s old residence, which had been unoccupied for over a month, Shen Garden’s stores were far more abundant.
The ice cellar was stocked with large quantities of fresh pork, beef, chicken, ducks, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruits.
There were especially many boxes of rare fruit preserves.
Shen Shujiao showed no restraint, collecting and collecting until she was satisfied. Then she left Shen Garden, mounted her bicycle, and headed toward the street.
……
In the hospital ward!
Looking at Shen Xueman lying on the bed, her face as pale as paper, Wang Huifang’s eyes were bloodshot and twisted with ferocity.
“That little slut Shen Shujiao actually dared to harm my precious daughter like this. Once I find her, I’ll tear her to pieces.”
Shen Shengchang’s face was equally grim. “She’s always been simple and timid. How did her temperament change so suddenly?”
“Xueman is still unconscious. We won’t know the details until she wakes up.”
At that moment, Shen Jinlong entered with a dark expression.
“Has my sister still not woken up?”
“No. Have you found that little slut Shen Shujiao?” Wang Huifang asked through gritted teeth.
“No. I searched the Shen family’s old residence thoroughly and didn’t find her.”
“She did something so terrible to Xueman—she must be hiding in a secret chamber. Tonight, take people to the old house. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find that little slut,” Wang Huifang said viciously.
Shen Jinlong recalled how Shen Shujiao had locked the door of the illegal clinic, forcing him to kick it for half an hour before breaking in. The doctor had said that if they’d arrived a few minutes later, his sister’s life would have been in danger. The thought made him so furious he wanted to grind Shen Shujiao’s bones to dust right now.
“Alright.”
“But at a time like this, if people discover us digging up the old residence, it’ll be very dangerous. Maybe we should wait a bit longer,” Shen Shengchang said.
Wang Huifang cried bitterly. “Look at how our poor Xueman has been harmed! I can’t wait even a minute. We’re digging up the old house today.”
Seeing his wife cry so miserably, Shen Shengchang said nothing more to stop her.
The three of them watched Shen Xueman together, when they saw her eyelids flutter and slowly open.
“Xueman, you’re finally awake! You scared Mom to death. What happened? Weren’t you supposed to help Shen Shujiao abort the baby? How did you end up hurt so badly by her?”
Shen Xueman recounted how Shen Shujiao had forced her to drink three times the dosage of abortion medicine. Hearing this, all three of their faces twisted like demons.
“Ah—this is infuriating! Shen Shujiao, you little slut. No matter where you hide, I’ll dig three feet into the ground to find you and make you drink six times the abortion medicine!”
“Mom, after Shen Shujiao forced me to take the abortion pills, I had a strange dream. In the dream, I knew where Second Uncle’s family hides their valuables, and the crescent jade pendant Second Aunt gave Shen Shujiao is a divine treasure that can store everything. Let’s go to the old house quickly and see if my dream was real!”
As she spoke, Shen Xueman tried to get out of bed.
This chapter ends here (please click the next chapter to continue reading).