Yu Lian jolted awake and bolted upright, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Behind her, within the warmth of the bed curtains, her son was fast asleep. The first light of dawn had not yet broken, and most people were still lost in their dreams.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
The He family’s nannies were already up, and the faint sounds of cleaning could be heard from the hallway outside.
The dream she just had was so absurd that the sight of her own son, He Ning’an, dying in a struggle session had left her unable to recover for a long time, her heart pounding like thunder.
Fortunately, it was just a dream. Her precious darling was perfectly fine.
Thinking it over, the He family was at the height of its power. How could their property ever be confiscated? The dream was simply too ridiculous.
As her thoughts raced, a hurried knocking came from the door.
“Young Madam, something’s wrong! A call came from your mother’s house saying your sister has been admitted to the hospital again.”
“I understand! Don’t wake the child.”
Ever since she married He Lin four years ago, she had lived alone with her child in this small Western-style villa. He did not visit often, and when he did, his primary purpose was to see the child.
Yu Lian got ready and went downstairs. After giving a few instructions to the nanny looking after the child, she left in a hurry.
“Honestly, this Young Madam of ours is something else. She ignores her own son and runs back to her parents’ house every single day.”
“Tsk, tsk. A woman like her can only rely on her womb to stay relevant.”
The He family nannies were badmouthing Yu Lian behind her back. She knew, but she didn’t care. Her marriage to He Lin had been the result of her own schemes and threats to begin with.
Half an hour later, she arrived at the hospital. Her sister was still in the treatment room getting stitches.
“Lianlian, Mother has troubled you again. Your sister got up early this morning to cook, and while she was looking for something, a tin box on the cupboard fell and hit her head.”
Wang Meixia spoke with a hint of guilt, giving a brief account of what had happened that morning.
Yu Lian was wealthy now. Especially after her sister’s previous illness had been treated, she had saved up a significant amount of money—enough for her family to live on for a lifetime.
However, she usually didn’t give a single cent to her biological mother. There was no other reason than the fact that this woman, who had been widowed at a young age, was too weak. She was so weak that over the years, the family had been bled nearly dry by her uncle’s family.
When her sister had suddenly fallen ill back then, Yu Lian had been driven to a dead end. She had cast aside all sense of propriety and used her child to secure her position, becoming the trophy wife of the eldest son of the Yuncheng Chamber of Commerce.
For years, she had been criticized and belittled by those around her.
Initially, Yu Lian would feel hurt, but she had now habitually learned to ignore it. It was because her sister had been saved; she now had a healthy body and could play as freely as any other child her age.
Wang Meixia noticed that her eldest daughter was acting strange today. Not only did she seem unconcerned about her younger sister, but she also sat there blankly without saying a word.
“Lianlian, did the He family give you a hard time again?”
She reached out and patted her daughter’s shoulder. “It’s because Mother is useless. I’ve caused you suffering.”
Yu Lian looked up, a strange sensation blooming in her heart.
That bizarre dream from this morning was aligning with reality! Her sister’s hospitalization wasn’t due to her old ailment!
In her dream, on the day her sister accidentally split her head open and went to the hospital, there was a massive shift in policy. The He family didn’t have time to react before they were silently surrounded, ending in the confiscation of family property.
In an instant, the He family’s houses, factories, and bank accounts were all frozen.
They were only permitted to take a few changes of clothes and personal items.
“What time is it!”
She grabbed a passing doctor. The middle-aged doctor was wearing a wristwatch.
The doctor on duty looked strangely at the woman, whose eyes were filled with urgency.
“Comrade, it is 6:17 AM.”
In the dream, the He family’s main residence was sealed off at 9:00 AM, right before the family members went out, while the other villas were sealed half an hour later.
At the thought that her son would die a tragic death and the members of the He family would either be killed or injured during the struggle sessions, Yu Lian could no longer sit still. She grabbed her bag and ran out.
After a moment’s thought, she turned back.
She handed the bag to her mother. Earlier, thinking her sister’s old illness had recurred, she had brought all the cash she had at home. Now it seemed as though Heaven was helping her.
“Mom, you must hold onto this bag tightly. It’s of vital importance.”
Wang Meixia was weak and in poor health herself, and she had never been able to do much for her daughter. Now that her daughter was suddenly and solemnly entrusting her with a bag, she nodded with grim determination.
“Go on, Lianlian. Your sister and I will wait for you here.”
“Mom, you must keep it safe. You cannot lose it.”
With that, Yu Lian ran out of the hospital without looking back. She wanted to rush back while it was still dark.
According to the dream, no one would be watching the house yet at this hour. She had to get back quickly and move all the money she could.
It was already too late to sound the alarm. The He family was already surrounded by members of the investigation team, and even their phone lines had been tapped for several days.
Despite having donated more than half their assets upon the founding of the country to become Red Capitalists, the He family still couldn’t escape the great tide of the era.
Fortunately, the hospital was not far from where she lived. Yu Lian sprinted back to her front door, adjusted her state of mind, and forced out a few tears.
The nanny cleaning at the entrance soon noticed her return.
“Young Madam, why are you back?”
Yu Lian sobbed twice. “Ah Ling, stop sweeping. My sister has to be hospitalized again. The doctor said her old illness has flared up. I’m going to pack a set of bedding and spend the night there to look after her.”
“Ah? How can that be? Wasn’t she doing fine recently?”
“I don’t know. Early this morning her heart started acting up, and she turned purple all over. She almost fainted and hit her head on the stove; she even needs stitches.”
She spoke as she cried, not forgetting to hurry inside.
She made quite a scene upon her return, crying as she went upstairs. The two nannies in the house exchanged looks and shook their heads.
They had known for a long time that Yu Xin was a sickly thing who went to the hospital every few days.
They secretly lamented that Yu Xin was too pitiful; she would likely spend her whole life living in a hospital.
“Mama, why did you come in from outside?”
“Be a good boy and listen to the two nannies. Mama will be back as soon as it’s light out.”
It was winter, and at this hour, the sky was not yet bright. The little boy, who had been woken up, rubbed his eyes and yawned as he asked in a soft, sweet voice.
Yu Lian desperately wanted to take her son with her to escape this catastrophe.
But even if she went to the hospital, she could hide for a moment but not for a lifetime.
As the daughter-in-law of the He family, she naturally wouldn’t escape the investigation.
It was only a matter of time. Carrying large bags and a child would make her too big a target and arouse suspicion.
The little fellow’s money wasn’t much less than her own. As the only grandson of the He family for seven generations, everyone in the family except for his mother pampered him endlessly, giving him whatever he wanted.
It was only thanks to having a strict mother like her that He Ning’an was much more well-behaved than other children from similar backgrounds.
As she spoke, she gently pried open He Ning’an’s piggy bank. The money in the credit union certainly couldn’t be touched; once the time came, anything associated with the He family would be seized.
She could only take the cash. Fortunately, her reputation preceded her, so she wasn’t afraid of people wondering why she had no cash left.
Yu Lian went over and gently coaxed the child back to sleep. She took a cotton quilt to use as a cover, tied it up with a rope, and carried it on her back as she prepared to leave.
She looked hurried, but didn’t forget to instruct: “Ah Ling, remember to simmer the soup longer so it’s more nutritious. Bring it to the hospital before lunch. We’re still on the third floor.”
“Yes, I’ll deliver it on time.”
Yu Lian stepped out into the morning dew.
She carried a quilt and a pillow on her back.
Stuffed inside the pillow core were miscellaneous bills and coupons that, added together, were enough to sustain a large family for over a decade.
She raised her hand to check the time. There were less than three hours until the confiscation of the He family property.