The sudden voice in her mind startled Hehua.
Fortunately, she quickly realized it was the system, Niu Niu.
【Niu Niu, what do you mean “No”?】
Niu Niu sighed helplessly.
Sure enough, being reborn didn’t automatically increase one’s intelligence.
【Although your family has split from the main household, you all lived in the old family home before, and the separation just happened recently. Your grandmother hasn’t actually suffered yet. Your family only moved out a short while ago, and the villagers’ attention hasn’t completely shifted away from your family.
Your eldest uncle is very good at keeping up appearances. On top of that, your grandmother still has some savings that he hasn’t managed to get his hands on yet, so he’s still treating her fairly well for now.
Neither your grandmother nor your father knows your eldest uncle’s true nature. Right now, all the bad things are being done by your eldest aunt, while your eldest uncle still maintains the image of a good person.
People don’t truly learn a lesson until the pain hits them personally and deeply enough to leave a lasting impression.
People of your grandmother’s generation believe that family scandals should never be made public. Besides, after a family division, it’s considered normal for the parents to live with the eldest son. Even if she knew your eldest uncle’s true character, unless her life was in danger, your grandmother would still help him maintain his reputation because he’s her son. Otherwise, why do you think, in your previous life, she only admitted she had been mistreated after your mother repeatedly questioned her when she was close to death?
Even if your father found out about the things your eldest aunt has done, he still wouldn’t completely break ties with your eldest uncle. At most, he would frequently warn him and visit your grandmother more often. He wouldn’t bring her back to live with him. Your grandmother would never leave your eldest uncle’s household because it would make her eldest son lose face. Your father wouldn’t do it either. After all, that’s his older brother. He simply can’t imagine his brother being that bad. He would only think it’s all your eldest aunt’s fault and that your eldest uncle can’t control his wife.
If your father insisted on bringing your grandmother over, not only would your eldest uncle have a reason to completely sever ties with him, but most of the village would support your eldest uncle. Following the eldest son after a family division is a local custom. Your grandmother would also resent your father for embarrassing her eldest son. Your father’s reputation would suffer, and you know how important reputation is in a village during this era.
Pretend you don’t know anything. If you want to catch a wolf, you have to be willing to sacrifice the bait. Let your grandmother suffer a major loss. Let her make the same fatal mistake she did in the previous life. Let her be cheated out of everything and mistreated until she’s near death. Only then will both she and your father truly see what kind of person your eldest uncle is and completely give up on him.
At that point, you can step in and expose everything for the entire production team to see.
By then, your grandmother’s heart will have gone cold toward your eldest uncle, and your father will resent him as well. Only then will they have the determination to completely break ties. Once the villagers know the truth, they’ll only criticize your eldest uncle. They’ll believe your father did nothing wrong. Anyone who tries to persuade your father to reconcile will probably be torn apart verbally by your grandmother’s old friends. Besides, those people will be afraid their own children might copy your eldest uncle’s behavior someday, so they’ll definitely support your father.
It’s better to cut through the mess cleanly with a sharp knife rather than letting things drag on endlessly. As for your grandmother’s health, as long as you help me collect enough energy, we can exchange it for a Restoration Serum. Then your grandmother can live out her natural lifespan without any problems.】
Hehua thought about it for a moment.
【Okay.】
Hehua wasn’t particularly smart, but she listened to good advice.
More importantly, her grandmother had never been especially affectionate toward her, making it easier for her to harden her heart.
When they all lived together, her grandmother had always favored boys over girls. She gave Hehua less of everything. While she never beat her, she often scolded her in private, and the insults were harsh. Calling her a “money-losing burden” was actually one of the milder things she said.
Their relationship simply wasn’t very deep.
Besides, Niu Niu was there, and it wouldn’t affect her grandmother’s lifespan anyway.
The reason she had agreed to bring her grandmother home wasn’t because of affection.
It was because she herself would be married off in a few years.
It was also because her grandmother understood that she would eventually depend on her daughters-in-law and therefore never mistreated them.
Most importantly, it was because of her father.
Her mother wouldn’t make things difficult.
Her father would be happy.
That was enough.
As for her brothers and sisters-in-law, her grandmother wouldn’t make life difficult for them either.
This matter would take time and wasn’t urgent.
For now, Hehua set it aside and turned her attention to a more pressing issue.
Money.
Their household goods had all come from the family division, and most of them were old and worn out.
They needed replacements.
They didn’t have enough grain.
They still had to build a house.
They were short on money.
When Niu Niu had sorted through her memories, it had also shared several novels set in this era. Hehua knew that one of the most common opportunities those female protagonists encountered involved finding wild ginseng.
She didn’t think she was the protagonist.
But she had Niu Niu.
Her eyes lit up.
【Niu Niu, can we go into the mountains and dig up a few ginseng roots?】
Niu Niu: “…”
【You’re really not being modest, are you? A few ginseng roots? Do you think ginseng grows like radishes in your family’s vegetable garden?】
Hehua felt a little guilty.
She had already prepared herself for Niu Niu’s usual sarcastic criticism.
Unexpectedly, Niu Niu didn’t scold her.
【The valuable medicinal herbs only grow deep in the mountains. Setting aside the fact that there are tigers, wolves, and wild boars there—which are extremely dangerous and beyond your ability to handle—you also know my current condition. I’m very weak. Right now, all I can really do is talk with you.
The energy I used to reveal the storyline came from dispersing my own form and gathering what little power I could. The only reason I know your local geography is because I scanned the area during the brief moment when I entered this world and some energy leaked out.
Soon, I’ll have to activate self-preservation mode and enter hibernation.
There’s no way I can provide the constant energy needed to explore the deep mountains, help you locate treasures, and avoid dangers. If you want me to stay awake longer, then you need to start earning energy as soon as possible.】
Hehua knew that in their agreement, Niu Niu had already fulfilled its part.
She hadn’t fulfilled hers.
The thought of Niu Niu falling asleep made her uneasy.
【Niu Niu, how do we get this energy?】
Niu Niu’s tone became more serious.
【As long as you do good deeds—deeds that benefit the country and the people—we will receive corresponding amounts of energy. The only difference is how much. You can think of it as earning merit.
Of course, since we’re bound together, if you use me to commit evil deeds, both of us will be punished by the Main System.
In mild cases, energy will be deducted.
In severe cases, we will be erased.】
Hehua jumped in fright.
Seeing that she understood the seriousness of the situation and wasn’t likely to act recklessly, Niu Niu felt satisfied and began offering suggestions.
【Let’s focus on earning energy first. We should save enough to exchange for a Strength Pill.
Once you take it, your strength will increase significantly, giving you a much better chance of protecting yourself.
That way, even if I enter hibernation, you’ll still be capable of gathering energy quickly enough to wake me up again, and I won’t have to worry about your safety.】
Hehua thought Niu Niu’s plan made perfect sense.
Just as she was about to reply, her mother shoved her lightly.
“What are you daydreaming about? I’ve been asking you something.”
Hehua looked blank.
“Huh?”
Meng Chunxing rolled her eyes.
“Huh what? I asked if you’re feeling uncomfortable anywhere. You went into the river yesterday. It’s only June and not that hot. Don’t catch a cold.”
Hehua knew her mother was worried about her.
“I’m fine. Strong as ever.”
Meng Chunxing lowered her voice.
“Don’t be so reckless in the future. If you see someone fall into the river, don’t immediately jump in to save them.”
“You got lucky yesterday.”
“Do you know that even a half-grown boy can drown? Sometimes even a strong adult laborer can’t pull someone out successfully. People struggling in the water have tremendous strength.”
“Next time, call for help. Don’t go in yourself.”
Call her selfish if they wanted.
Call her lacking in revolutionary spirit if they wanted.
She simply didn’t want her daughter sacrificing herself for others.
She definitely didn’t want her daughter dying to save someone else.
She didn’t need a heroic daughter.
As long as her daughter lived safely and peacefully, even being a coward was fine.
Hehua grinned.
“I know, Mom. I understand.”
“Yesterday was different. What choice did I have? I couldn’t let Third Brother jump in.”
That reminded Meng Chunxing of something that had felt off yesterday.
“Did you already know something beforehand?”
Hehua smiled mysteriously.
“Can’t say. Can’t say.”
Meng Chunxing curled her lips.
“Always acting mysterious. Fine. Don’t tell me.”
“As long as you don’t get yourself hurt.”
Mother and daughter worked together, and before long breakfast was ready.
One by one, the rest of the family started waking up.
Hehua returned to her room to get ready.
Hehua had the classic appearance of a dragon-type beauty wrapped in a youthful face—baby-faced but well-developed, around 160 centimeters tall, slightly chubby, clever and lively, full of energy, with a touch of wildness.
If there was one thing she wasn’t satisfied with, it was that her skin was a little dark.
After tidying herself up, changing into clothes typical of the era, and tying red ribbons into her hair, she stepped out of her room and headed for breakfast.