Her father, Liu Changying, was taken aback.
A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.
How could she possibly know?
That shouldn’t be possible…
She had just been born at the time…
Having seen her fair share of people, Liu Shiqi could tell at a glance that her own father was the type who appeared dull on the surface but was cunning and scheming underneath.
She then looked at the old man, her maternal grandfather Hao Zhong, who was clearly a shrewd little old fellow.
As for the woman, her mother Hao Fu, she seemed kind-hearted and amiable.
[Father, Mother, Grandfather…]
[They’re all wearing coarse cloth clothes, patches layered upon patches—it looks like their clothes are made entirely of patches.]
[They have straw sandals on their feet, with patches all over the uppers too.]
Liu Shiqi frowned. [This is really living too poorly!]
Her grandfather and mother…
Only then did they confirm that they could truly hear her inner thoughts.
They were so shocked that it took them a long moment to react.
[They look much worse off than people in modern rural areas…]
[If I stay with them from now on, will I have to eat chaff and bran? And work in the fields?]
[Might I even have to carry manure?]
Grandfather, Father, and Mother: Probably not…
Actually, Liu Shiqi had misunderstood. In the rural areas of this era, having a set of clothes for each person was already considered a sign of a decent household.
Some impoverished families only had one set of clothes for the entire family, worn only by whoever went out. Shoes were even rarer.
However, given Liu Shiqi’s life experiences, she had no way of understanding this.
Because she originally lived in the modern era, as a top-tier assassin wanted by multiple countries.
It was during her last mission to assassinate a high-ranking official in Country M that she met her end.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself transmigrated into a book she had once read.
And she had become a doomed, malicious antagonist tool character named Liu Shiqi.
In the original book, dissatisfied with being sent back to the village, Liu Shiqi frequently caused trouble at the Liu Manor in the county town. In the end, she was severely beaten, and her father brought her back to the village to recover.
As soon as her injuries healed, she grew arrogant and entangled herself with the most promising scholar in the village, who was also the Male Lead in the book.
The Male Lead was already engaged to the village chief’s daughter, but she paid no heed, clinging to him shamelessly and causing great embarrassment.
Her family was at a complete loss.
Liu Shiqi conspired with local ruffians to ruin the village chief’s daughter’s chastity. Although they failed, the village chief’s daughter committed suicide to protect her virtue.
From then on, the village chief’s daughter became the Male Lead’s White Moonlight.
Eventually, it was discovered that Liu Shiqi was behind it all.
She was thrown into the county jail, and the Male Lead and the village chief secretly bribed the jailers. In the end, she died in humiliation inside the cell at the age of only thirteen.
Thus, the tool character Liu Shiqi exited the story.
Actually, when she had read this book before, she had even thought:
It was fortunate that the village chief’s daughter died and became the Male Lead’s White Moonlight, giving the Male Lead a devoted and loyal persona.
Otherwise, if the Male Lead had truly married the village chief’s daughter and later rose to become a powerful official,
he would have had an unrefined Chaff-and-Bran Wife at home. Then she wouldn’t have been a White Moonlight but rather a stain—a mosquito’s blood.
Once the Female Lead appeared, the Male Lead would likely have become a scumbag who abandoned his Chaff-and-Bran Wife!
His character would have collapsed!
Thinking of this, a dark glint flashed in Liu Shiqi’s eyes.
She wasn’t the original Liu Shiqi—she wasn’t that foolish.
She wouldn’t become a tool character. She would cherish her life and stay far away from the Male and Female Leads!
Besides, in her previous life, she had been an orphan, trained from childhood to become a professional assassin.
She had lived a life of following orders, dancing on the edge of a blade, and died at only twenty-five.
Since heaven has granted her a second chance at life, she must cherish it well.
This lifetime, she will live according to her own heart.
Living freely and unrestrained, without any constraints.
No longer manipulated by anyone.
Thinking this, she blinked her eyes, gathered her thoughts, and looked at the three people before her.
【These are my family in this life!】
【How truly extraordinary!】
【In my previous life, I had no family. Although the days were somewhat dull, they passed just the same!】
【In this life, I have a family. If they treat me well!】
【I can treat them well in return. If they treat me poorly, then I will leave!】
【The world is so vast—there must be a place for me!】
She looked at her maternal grandfather, named Hao Zhong, known as Old Man Zhong. He seemed to be a Barefoot Doctor.
He appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, a lean but not stooped, spirited old man.
His hair and beard were both graying, and his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
Her father, Liu Changying, was ostensibly a distant branch and illegitimate son of the Liu family in the county town, who had long since separated to live on his own. In reality, he had another identity…
He looked to be in his forties, with bronze-colored skin, very thin, but quite tall.
Her mother, Hao Fu, was under forty, with wheat-colored skin, a round face, large eyes, and a relatively tall figure.
Having learned some medical skills from Old Man Zhong, she could also be considered a Barefoot Doctor.
At this moment, all three of them wore cautious expressions on their faces.
Especially after hearing Liu Shiqi's inner thoughts.
As Liu Shiqi observed them, they were also observing her.
Old Man Zhong: Having lived most of my life, today I’ve truly seen a ghost. I can actually hear this girl’s inner thoughts! Could it be that I’m about to die…
Old Man Zhong’s expression turned somewhat grim.
It seemed he needed to prepare for his funeral arrangements as soon as possible…
The time had come to pass down the family heirloom and its secret…
Hao Fu could hardly contain her excitement, her body trembling slightly:
Oh my heavens, this, this, this! I can actually hear my daughter’s inner thoughts? Have I gone mad?
Oh no, oh no, I really must be mad!
I need to see a doctor!
But… I am a doctor myself…
Hmm, it seems my daughter looks down on us for being poor, but we aren’t that poor…
Liu Changying narrowed his eyes: She seems to know a lot…
And why did she mention a previous life?
Liu Changying pressed his lips together, his eyes dark and inscrutable.
Back then, when he saw the master of the Liu mansion, he deliberately found a way to switch the babies.
In such a difficult situation, he went along with the plan, hoping his own daughter could survive.
But he never expected that twelve years later, the other party would actually want to swap the two children back…
Why on earth would they do that?
Liu Shiqi allowed her family to observe her. Although she was not wearing the fine silks and satins of the Liu mansion’s young lady, only ordinary clothes, they were still much better than what the villagers wore.
Moreover, as a modern soul who had crossed over, her demeanor and bearing were natural and poised.
Her skin, having been nurtured in the Liu mansion for over a decade, was fair and radiant.
Added to her natural good looks, in the eyes of the villagers, those who liked her thought she resembled a fairy who had stepped out of a New Year painting.
Those who disliked her, or had grievances with Liu Changying’s family, felt that Liu Shiqi, despite her young age, was somewhat too alluring and fox-like.
Old Man Zhong and Mrs. Hao both looked at her with shining eyes, yet hesitated, not daring to approach.
Liu Shiqi slung the cloth bag over her shoulder and thought to herself.
【These birth parents and maternal grandfather are indeed much more pleasing to the eye than those people from the Liu mansion!】
【But why aren’t they acknowledging me? Have they not recognized me?】
【Or is it because they still have their adopted daughter, Liu Shiqiao, in their hearts?】
【So they don't welcome me?】
【That's quite possible, after all, Liu Shiqiao lived with them for twelve years…】
【How could they just turn cold-hearted so easily!】
【Sigh!】
Mrs. Hao was the first to react, startled.
She couldn't let her own daughter misunderstand, so she quickly stepped forward and called out cautiously.
"Shi, Shi Qi. I am your birth mother…"
Liu Changying also came to his senses. Some things couldn't be figured out in just a moment.
Even if there were schemes, Liu Shiqi was, after all, his own flesh and blood, and he couldn't treat her poorly.
He stepped forward, forcing a slight smile, and said, "Shi Qi, I am your father…"
He then pointed to Old Man Zhong, "This is your maternal grandfather."
Liu Shiqi nodded.
Old Man Zhong's eyes grew slightly red. With age, it was easy to become sentimental.
He said, "Hurry and take Shi Qi home. The sun is getting stronger, don't let her get sunburned!"
Seeing how fair and radiant Liu Shiqi was, he couldn't bear the thought of her returning to her own home only to get tanned.
"Alright, alright. Shi Qi, come home with your mother!" Mrs. Hao's eyes welled up with tears as she carefully took Liu Shiqi's hand, ready to head home.
Just then, an aunt hurried over and said to Mrs. Hao.
"A-Fu, hurry, go take a look."
"Zhuang Laoda actually sold Zhuang Yan!"