Following the Gossip System’s instructions, she muttered under her breath. The ring on her finger suddenly floated up and vanished in a flash of light.
At the same time, a peach blossom pattern appeared on Li Qingge’s wrist. The pattern looked delicate and vibrant, forming a striking contrast against her fair skin.
Li Qingge realized that her spiritual sense was now closely connected to the Spatial Ring. The supermarket inside the ring and the space on the underground floor—she could see them with her eyes closed, as if a screen were floating before her. When she thought about going in, her entire body vanished.
Seeing the large supermarket before her, with its dazzling array of goods and countless varieties, Li Qingge’s heart immediately felt at ease. This was her foundation for surviving in this era. It was 1974 now, and in a few years, the college entrance examination would resume and she could return to the city. With this supermarket, even if she were sent to the countryside, she could live quite comfortably.
Curious, Li Qingge picked up a chicken leg from the deli section. The warmth that hit her face made her realize that the items in this supermarket were still kept warm. She couldn’t help feeling delighted, and unconsciously took a bite of the chicken leg.
“Mmm, delicious.”
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—it tasted like free-range chicken, not the mass-produced kind.
Without realizing it, she ate five chicken legs.
Li Qingge wiped her mouth and went down to the underground floor. The first floor was empty, but there was lighting below, so it wasn’t too dim to see clearly.
“Out.”
By the time she came out of the Dimensional Space, it was already five in the morning.
Li Qingge tossed the Skin-Whitening Pill into her mouth. It dissolved instantly with no particular sensation. She closed her eyes and went back to sleep—she needed to rest well to keep dealing with this family.
At eight in the morning, she was woken up again by a barrage of banging on the door.
Li Qingge didn’t make them wait long this time. She opened the door directly—she wanted to see what kind of trouble this family was going to stir up now.
“You damned girl! I’ve been knocking for ages and you only open now? Are you deaf?”
Li Ming’s face was grim, dark circles under his eyes, his eyes bloodshot—clearly he hadn’t slept well all night.
An Fenglan stood behind him with a livid face, saying nothing.
Li Huan and Li Le were also yawning one after another. Why should they have to keep watch at the hospital while this bitch slept soundly at home?
Li Huan’s gaze lingered on Li Qingge’s face, and she froze.
Wait—she hadn’t seen her for just one night, but somehow this bitch looked radiant, even more beautiful than before. Her skin was glowing white, not a single pore visible on her face. It was simply infuriating.
Shameless vixen, always trying to seduce men.
Li Huan felt bitter inside and wanted to stir up trouble.
“Big Sister, Mom and Dad both went to the hospital. Don’t you care at all?”
Li Qingge glanced at her lazily.
“You’re right, I don’t care at all. What does it have to do with me whether other people live or die?”
“Unfilial daughter! I’ll beat you to death!”
Li Ming jumped up to hit her, but suddenly noticed that Li Qingge now held a rolling pin in her hand.
She brought it down on Li Ming’s head without mercy, making him shriek in pain as several lumps swelled up on his head.
Seeing how vicious she was, An Fenglan and her two daughters shrank against the wall, not daring to make a sound, afraid they’d be the next ones to get hit.
Li Qingge tapped the rolling pin against her palm, looking at the man who was now a pathetic mess with a half-smile.
She let out a cold snort. “Who are you going to beat to death?”
His senses returning, Li Ming endured the pain and hid the hatred in his eyes. In a hoarse voice, he said, “I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again.”
Li Qingge mocked him. “Tsk, what a coward. Someone like you deserves to be called a father? Get out of my sight—you’re an eyesore.”
Li Ming trembled in fear and quickly went to stand in the corner, facing the wall to reflect on his mistakes.
“As for the rest of you…”
Li Qingge pointed the rolling pin at the three women. “Go make breakfast right now. Hurry up—if you don’t want a beating, get moving.”
The three of them didn’t dare delay and rushed into the kitchen to start cooking.
An Fenglan had a fractured right hand, so she could only pick vegetables with her left. She was seething inside—this damned girl, it was always An Fenglan who bullied her. She never dreamed she’d be bullied by Li Qingge in return. It was so unfair.
She kept comforting herself internally: just endure a little longer. In six days, this girl would be gone, sent to the countryside to suffer and toil. Her hard days were still ahead. With that thought, she felt a bit better.
Li Qingge leaned against the doorframe like a supervisor, watching them cook.
Feeling that oppressive gaze on their backs, the two sisters felt like needles were pricking them. They had no choice but to put away their little schemes and obediently cook.
“Ah… where’s my big piece of meat? It’s gone!”
An Fenglan screamed as if someone had murdered her entire family.
Li Qingge kicked her impatiently, and the screaming stopped abruptly.
“I ate the meat. Got a problem with that?”
An Fenglan’s face turned ugly, her heart aching at the loss. “N-no problem.”
Li Qingge scolded, “Then get back in there and cook.”
The mother and daughters continued cooking, and in a short while, steaming hot dishes were placed on the table.
The four of them looked at each other, none daring to sit down.
Li Qingge placed the rice porridge and stir-fried dishes in front of herself, then pushed the cornmeal buns and pickled vegetables forward.
“You all sit down and eat too.”
The four of them thought: We’ll eat your grandmother’s leg. You get the good food while we gnaw on cornmeal buns.
In the end, they obediently sat down, but the meal was tasteless for everyone.
An Fenglan’s heart was as bitter as if she had eaten coptis root, still aching over her lost meat.
Li Qingge paid them no mind. She finished the porridge and dishes cleanly, with no intention of leaving them a single bite.
After eating, Li Qingge sat there like a lord. She loved the look of people who couldn’t stand her but couldn’t do a thing about it.
Her gaze settled on Li Ming’s face, and she began today’s gossip session.
[Oh my, what a big scoop. That deadbeat dad is truly pitiful.]
Li Ming, who was gnawing on a cornmeal bun, heard the voice and couldn’t help but look up at the opposite side. Strange—his eldest daughter clearly hadn’t opened her mouth, so how could he have heard a voice speaking? Was he having hallucinations?
Before he could figure it out, his eldest daughter’s voice continued.
[Does that cheap deadbeat dad know his stepwife has cuckolded him? Besides me, the two daughters he dotes on most aren’t even his biological children. Hilarious.]
Li Ming: He was certain his eldest daughter hadn’t opened her mouth. Could what he just heard be his daughter’s inner thoughts?
His heart was filled with shock and doubt. Impossible—the daughters he doted on most, how could they not be his own flesh and blood?
[Hmm, I remember stepmother will sneak off to meet that wild man tonight. Watching the show is what matters—can’t miss something this fun.]
Li Ming’s eyes turned bloodshot, and he didn’t even notice the chopsticks slipping from his hand.
An Fenglan picked up the chopsticks and handed them back to him. “Ming-ge, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
He glanced at her, then closed his eyes, letting out a suppressed “Mm.”
After breakfast, Li Qingge dragged out a reclining chair, crossed her legs, and basked in the sun at the doorway.
Ever since taking the Skin-Whitening Pill, she felt her body had improved—no more dizzy spells—and she had become even more beautiful. She was very satisfied.
She waited and waited, all the way until the sun slanted toward the west, before she saw her stepmother glance around furtively and slip out the door.
Li Qingge: Even with a broken wrist, she doesn’t let it stop her rendezvous. This stepmother is a true warrior.