Wei Yao felt dazed for a moment. During the time she had fainted, she had been surrounded by a misty haze, struggling with great effort to control her body.
When she finally pushed through the mist, she could see everything clearly before her: endless black soil and more than a dozen massive warehouses, all filled to the brim with supplies. Not only that, but beside the warehouses was a small courtyard, identical to the villa where she had been tricked into being Li Ying’s nanny for a year in her previous life.
Wei Yao finally understood. So that was it—no matter how hard she tried in her past life, she could never catch up to that broken shoe Song Liping. It turned out that woman had a golden finger.
That jade pendant was clearly her possession. It seemed Chang Yongqin had secretly given it to Song Liping.
Yesterday, in a moment of confusion, she had taken it and hung it around her neck. It was probably because it had come into contact with her blood that the space had opened and recognized her as its master.
Wei Yao touched her neck. The jade pendant had vanished, as if it had never existed.
Chang Yongqin frowned, her expression growing impatient. In the past, whenever she spoke, Wei Yao would listen carefully, never once leaving her waiting for a response after talking for so long.
“Wei Yao?”
“Oh, you’re right. What about Song Yang and Song Hui? Bring the children over. I miss them.”
Hearing this, Chang Yongqin felt relieved. Sure enough, she was still easy to manipulate. No matter what she said, Wei Yao would agree. A smile crept into her eyes as she handed the red sugar millet porridge to Wei Yao.
“Then eat first. I’ll go get the children. They miss their mother too. You’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few more days. Don’t tire yourself out when they come.”
Watching her retreating figure, Wei Yao sneered coldly. She still had a bloody wound on her head, yet this old woman didn’t even ask about it. As expected, her heart was as black as ever.
But then again, wasn’t this exactly how she had been in her past life—skilled at striking a blow and then offering a sweet date, coaxing Wei Yao into slaving away for the Song Family?
After opening the thermal container, she placed it directly on the table. The porridge was so watery it could reflect her face, pale and bland. It was supposed to have red sugar added, but it was probably just the dregs scraped from the bottom of the sugar jar!
When the nurse came to check on her, she glanced at the red sugar millet porridge on the table, her face full of disdain. Anyone who didn’t know better would think it was dishwater.
“Comrade, if you have any difficulties, just tell me. I and the doctor who treated your injuries will help you.”
Tears streamed down Wei Yao’s face the moment she lowered her head.
“Thank you, comrade. I… I wonder if I could trouble you and the doctor to write me a medical report. I want to report this to the public security bureau and file for divorce. If I keep living like this, I won’t survive.”
The young nurse’s eyes lit up at these words. This was a new society, and she admired women who dared to resist. Besides, she and the attending doctors and nurses were all aware of the injuries on this woman’s body.
“Comrade, if you’ve made up your mind and need witnesses, just come to us.”
“Alright, thank you, comrade.”
An hour later, Chang Yongqin brought the two children to the hospital. She didn’t stay long before hurrying away.
Wei Yao held Song Hui in her arms, with Song Yang nestled close by her side. Mother and children were all in tears. The young nurse who had stood up for her earlier watched them, her anger rising wave after wave.
Before long, everyone at the nurses' station knew: Wei Yao in Ward Three, Bed Five, had not only been brutally abused by her in-laws until she was severely injured, but even while critically ill, she still had to care for her two young children.
Seizing a moment when no one was around, Wei Yao used the pretext of fetching water to take a can of powdered milk from her space. After mixing it with warm water, she carefully fed Song Hui, then handed Song Yang a few bread rolls stuffed with pork floss.
The little one, concerned for her, insisted she eat first as soon as he received the food. Wei Yao felt a warm comfort in her heart.
Once the children were fed, she found a nurse and checked herself out of the hospital directly. Her wages had been hidden in the pocket of her trousers when she returned home. The Song family had only paid the hospitalization fee when they brought her to the hospital and had done nothing else—a fact duly recorded in the hospital's records.
Wei Yao was not afraid of any investigation.
After leaving the hospital, she first went to the neighborhood office and recounted her situation in detail. In those days, people tended to advocate reconciliation over separation. Fearing the neighborhood office staff might not believe her, she pulled two female colleagues aside, unbuttoned her clothes, and had Song Yang join her.
Seeing the mother and child covered in scars and their emaciated figures, the onlookers were instantly filled with righteous indignation.
Accompanied by Liu Chunling, the deputy director of the neighborhood office, she then took the children to the Public Security Bureau. With witnesses, hospital records, and the police officers' inquiries with the nurses, everything became clear.
Wei Yao led the sizable crowd to the doorstep of the Song family. Neighbors who were not at work poked their heads out to watch.
"Officers, Director Liu, I apologize, but could you wait here for a moment? I’ll take the children inside first. Please come in a little later. Some things aren’t just what I say—you need to see with your own eyes how little respect I have in this household."
"Alright, go ahead. If the Song family dares to mistreat you in front of us, this matter won’t end today."
Wei Yao nodded and entered the courtyard.
Chang Yongqin, who was tearing cabbage leaves in the yard, was momentarily surprised to see her return but quickly lowered her eyes.
"You’re back. It’s not that I want to criticize you, but you’re a grown woman fighting with children. A trip to the hospital cost five yuan. Hurry inside. Oh, and hand over this month’s wages. The family is running out of food, and all you do is spend money."
Wei Yao replied, "Mother, I still have a bloody gash on my head. Aren’t you going to ask how I am?"
Song Liping immediately snapped, "It’s just a cut. Why are you being so dramatic? If it were serious, would you have been discharged so quickly? Hmph, my mother is already speaking kindly to you, and you’re still not satisfied? You weren’t beaten enough, I tell you. You should consider yourself lucky to marry into our Song family—your ancestors must be smiling in their graves. Now hurry up and give my mother your wages."
Wei Yao snorted coldly. Now that she was well-fed and rested, it was time to confront them.
She retorted directly, "Song Liping, this is a matter for our Song family. What does it have to do with you, a married daughter? Besides, Mother said from the start that she was saving the wages for us. She’s been saving them all these years, so I won’t be handing them over anymore."
Wei Yao paused briefly before continuing, "And yes, my ancestors’ graves are indeed smiling—if I hadn’t married into your family, I wouldn’t have learned that cabbage can be divided into hearts and outer leaves, or that eggs shouldn’t go to a daughter-in-law recovering from childbirth but to a daughter upset about not being able to buy clothes. Mother always says she hasn’t spent my money, so please return the savings Song Mingrui and I have kept with you all these years."
Song Liping, upon hearing Wei Yao's words, suddenly lunged forward like a wild beast, her sharp fingernails nearly jabbing into Wei Yao's face.
"You shameless bitch, say one more word! Money, money, money—that's all you care about, you uncultured brute! I never agreed to let my eldest son marry you in the first place. A sent-down youth like you, a mud-legged peasant, should be grateful just to marry into our Song Family. What's wrong with my mother frying an egg for me? What does it have to do with you? If you can't eat it, that's just your fate—you'll never have the fortune to eat eggs in this lifetime! Mother, did you see? This is the woman my eldest son insisted on marrying, even if it killed him—just as vulgar and savage as he is!"
Chang Yongqin pretended to scold Song Liping, then sternly said, "Xiao Wei, can't you go a single day without stirring up trouble? Liping's father and I are still here. We're not spending your money, and you're making a life-or-death fuss over an egg? If you can live with it, stay; if not, get out!"
Wei Yao curled the corner of her mouth into a faint smile. These words weren't just etched in her heart—they were also heard by Liu Chunling, the deputy director of the neighborhood committee outside, and the police officer.