Qianshan Village was tucked deep in the mountains, isolated from the outside world and desperately poor.
Normally, bicycles were a rare sight in the village, let alone a four-wheeled vehicle made of iron like this.
So when a mighty jeep bearing a military license plate came rumbling down the muddy road into the village, the entire Qianshan Village erupted.
“Oh my goodness! What kind of vehicle is that? It’s huge!”
“That’s a jeep! Only important officials get to ride in those!”
“Which leader has come to inspect the village? Hurry and tell the village chief!”
A group of children in ragged padded jackets, their noses running, chased after the jeep, yelling excitedly even as they swallowed mouthfuls of dust.
The village women sitting by the roadside also put down their sewing and craned their necks to peer inside.
“Hey, look at that woman in the passenger seat. Why does she look so familiar?”
“Doesn’t she look like Su Man, that good-for-nothing girl from Su Laosan’s family?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Didn’t Su Man get sold to that Wang Shazi from the neighboring village a couple of days ago? I heard she ran away that night. Zhao Guihua has been cursing her all over the place.”
“Exactly. That girl has such a miserable life. How could she possibly have the good fortune to ride in a jeep?”
The windows weren’t completely shut.
The villagers’ voices drifted into the vehicle with the wind.
Su Man listened expressionlessly, the corner of her lips curling into a cold smile.
Her reputation in the village had long since been ruined by that shrew, Zhao Guihua.
Lazy. Greedy. Ungrateful. Shamelessly involved with men…
Those accusations had been hurled at her in both of her lives.
Today, she was going to throw every last bit of that filth right back at them!
“Drive straight to my family’s house.”
Su Man pointed toward the dilapidated little dirt-walled courtyard ahead.
“Okay.”
Lu Zhan asked no questions. He simply stepped on the accelerator.
The jeep roared forward, sending several hens by the roadside flapping wildly into the air in fright.
The vehicle came to a steady stop in front of the Su family’s rickety wooden gate.
At that moment, bursts of laughter and curses could be heard from inside the courtyard.
“Mom, so what if that dead girl ran away? At least we’ve already got the bride price money.”
It was the voice of Su Man’s useless younger brother, Su Gang. He sounded as though he was chewing on something, his words muffled.
“What are we going to do if that Wang Shazi’s family comes looking for her? We don’t have the money to give back!”
“What’s there to be afraid of? That dead girl ran away herself. It’s not like we refused to hand her over. Besides, she’s so weak. In weather this cold, she might already be dead somewhere in a mountain ditch.”
Zhao Guihua’s shrill, vicious voice rang out, filled with malicious delight.
“Good riddance if she’s dead! Then she won’t come back and demand a share of the family property!”
“Eat up! I specifically killed this chicken for you. You need to build up your strength. After New Year’s, Mom will find you a good wife—one a hundred times better than that dead girl!”
The sounds of slurping chicken soup came from inside.
Sitting in the jeep, Su Man heard every word clearly.
Her hands clenched tightly into fists, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.
It had been the same in her previous life.
She had been sold to a fool and subjected to endless torment.
Meanwhile, this family of bloodsuckers had used the money they got from selling her to feast and enjoy themselves, while even cursing her to die.
How could these people be called family?
They were clearly her enemies!
“Get out.”
Lu Zhan suddenly reached over and took hold of her icy fist.
His palm was warm and dry, carrying a reassuring strength.
“Don’t dirty your hands.”
“I’m here.”
Su Man took a deep breath.
The murderous fury in her eyes faded, replaced by an almost frightening calmness.
She pushed open the door and jumped out.
Lu Zhan followed close behind. His towering frame was like a moving iron tower, blocking the curious gazes from all around.
He went to the trunk and took out the two bottles of Moutai, two cartons of cigarettes, and a large bag of candy.
But his posture didn’t look like he had come to deliver gifts.
He looked more like he had come to confiscate the entire household.
Su Man walked up to the gate.
The door was only half-closed, with the latch still fastened from inside.
Clearly, the family was secretly enjoying some good food and didn’t want anyone else to see.
“Su Man, what are you going to do?”
More and more villagers gathered around. Someone recognized her and shouted in surprise.
Su Man ignored them.
She took half a step back and raised her leg.
She put all her strength into this kick.
It wasn’t only for the grievances she had swallowed in this life.
It was also for the blood feud she carried from her previous one.
BANG—!!
A deafening crash rang out.
The already flimsy wooden gate was kicked so hard that the latch snapped. Both panels came crashing down, sending clouds of dust into the air.
The scene inside the courtyard was instantly exposed to everyone.
A small table stood in the middle of the yard.
Zhao Guihua, Su Laosan, and Su Gang—the family of three—were gathered around a pot of stewed chicken, eating until their mouths were slick with grease.
Su Gang was still clutching a large chicken leg and stuffing it into his mouth.
The sudden crash startled him so badly that his hand jerked.
The chicken leg fell to the ground and landed right in a pile of chicken droppings.
“Ah! My chicken leg!”
Su Gang cried out in anguish.
Zhao Guihua was startled as well, nearly choking on the chicken bone in her mouth.
She sprang to her feet, grabbed the broom beside her, and before she had even seen who had broken the door, she started cursing.
“Which bastard kicked down my door?!”
“Are you tired of living?!”
“Believe me, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
The dust gradually settled.
Su Man stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light.
She wore a brand-new dacron dress and little leather shoes, her hair neatly styled without a strand out of place.
Her polished appearance was completely out of place in the shabby little courtyard.
She stared coldly at Zhao Guihua, a mocking smile curling across her lips.
“Zhao Guihua, it’s only been a few days, but your voice is still as loud as ever.”
“What? You’re eating chicken with the money you got from selling me, and you’re not afraid of choking to death?”
Zhao Guihua froze.
She rubbed her eyes, unable to believe that the beautifully dressed woman standing before her was the same stepdaughter she had always been free to beat and abuse.
“Su… Su Man?”
“You dead girl! You actually dare come back?!”
Once she recovered from her shock, Zhao Guihua’s anger immediately overwhelmed her surprise.
She assumed Su Man had been unable to survive outside and had returned to beg for food.
“You worthless money-loser! You broke my door! Can you even afford to pay for it?!”
“Perfect! Wang Shazi’s family has been looking for you! Since you’re back, we’ll just tie you up and send you back!”
Zhao Guihua raised the broom and charged forward like a madwoman, swinging it straight toward Su Man’s face.
The surrounding villagers gasped.
Su Man stood perfectly still.
She didn’t even blink.
Just as the filthy broom was about to strike her—
A large military boot suddenly shot forward.
BANG!
“Get lost!”
The roar exploded like thunder.
Zhao Guihua was sent flying backward like a rag doll.
“Ahhh—!!!”
She crashed heavily onto the ground, landing directly on the pot of chicken soup.
Scalding hot broth splashed all over her body, and she screamed like a slaughtered pig.
Lu Zhan withdrew his foot and stepped in front of Su Man.
One hand was casually tucked into his pocket, while the other carried the two bottles of Moutai.
His icy gaze swept across the three people in the courtyard.
“Let me see who dares lay a finger on her.”
For a moment—
The entire courtyard seemed to freeze.
Su Laosan was so frightened that the chopsticks slipped from his hand.
Su Gang cowered in the corner, trembling violently.
This man…
He was terrifying.
He looked like an evil spirit that had crawled straight out of hell.