Feng Yiyi picked up the bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist, then hugged the old lady tightly.
“Grandma, you are my real grandmother. I will never leave you.
Even if there truly comes a day when I have to leave, I’ll take you with me.”
“Oh, don’t drag me along,” the old lady sighed. “These old legs of mine are useless now. I can’t help you with anything.”
“You still have to help me look after the baby, right? My good grandma!” Feng Yiyi said with a grin.
“You only know how to sweet-talk me. Alright, enough talking. I’ll go cook for you.
Lie down and rest. I’ll make you some ginger soup later.”
With that, the old woman left.
Lying on the bed, Feng Yiyi thought: The original host was born to Third Concubine. Her legitimate elder sister was also fourteen, born just one hour earlier.
It was said that after the legal wife gave birth, she became bedridden and entrusted her daughter to Third Concubine to raise.
About two months later, the legitimate daughter, Feng Qianhua, was taken back.
Yet her own biological mother, Third Concubine, did not dote on her—instead, she constantly favored that legitimate daughter.
Whenever Feng Qianhua bullied her, she would be the one beaten severely.
The legal wife had four sons and one daughter in total. Feng Qianhua was spoiled to the heavens, and the mistress of the house treated her coldly as well.
Her brothers all sided with the elder sister too, as if she were an outsider.
Her father, Feng Nantian, ignored her completely. No matter what she did, as long as her sister shed a few crocodile tears and twisted the story, she would be punished.
Later, when an old maid once remarked that the original host resembled the legal wife, Third Concubine had that maid beaten to death with rods.
Sigh! Whether I return to that household or not doesn’t matter. But the original host’s grudges—I’ll repay them sooner or later. Now isn’t the right time.
First, I need to make money. And if I want to get rich, I’ll have to rely on my old profession.
Since the mountains are close by and my adoptive father used to gather herbs there, I’ll take a look tomorrow.
Just then, loud voices erupted outside.
“Mother, I heard that girl Feng Yiyi is dead.
Wang the Landlord is looking for a suitable match to arrange a ghost marriage for his foolish son.
When he saw that our Yiyi was pretty, he took a liking to her and paid ten taels of silver to arrange the ghost marriage.
She has no parents, so as her aunt, I agreed.”
It was Liu Meifeng speaking smugly.
“You shameless woman, Liu Meifeng! You sold Yiyi just like that?
She may not have parents, but she still has a grandmother—I’m not dead yet! Get out!” the old lady roared.
“Mother, why are you so stubborn?
The silver can be used as dowry for your ‘precious granddaughter.’
Besides, she’s not even your biological granddaughter!” Zhang Dahu, Yiyi’s uncle, added.
“Why don’t you sell Zhang Jiaojiao instead? Get out! Neither of you is any good!”
The old lady grabbed a broom and started hitting Liu Meifeng and Zhang Dahu.
“Mother! Let’s talk this out! Don’t hit us!” Liu Meifeng shrieked as she retreated.
“You heartless wretches! All the money her parents earned was spent by you!
And this is how you treat their daughter!” The broom came down again.
At that moment, festive music sounded in the distance. A group of people were carrying a bright red bridal sedan chair toward Feng Yiyi’s house.
“Mother, hear that? The bridal sedan has arrived!” Liu Meifeng said happily.
The old woman was so furious she didn’t even know what to curse anymore.
Just then, a voice came from inside the house.
“Grandma!”
Liu Meifeng saw Feng Yiyi standing there, pale as paper, her face bloodless and hair loose and disheveled.
“Ghost!” she screamed.
Terrified, she bolted outside without looking—and crashed straight into the sedan chair.
A plump matchmaker was knocked to the ground. “Oh my poor back! Who’s the blind fool? That hurt!”
Someone helped the matchmaker up. She dusted herself off and glared at Liu Meifeng.
“Liu Meifeng, what are you doing?!”
“Matchmaker Liu… Feng… Feng Yiyi has come back as a ghost!” Liu Meifeng stammered.
“A ghost? Ghost or not, she’s coming with us today.
If we miss the auspicious hour, Master Wang won’t be easy to deal with!”
Matchmaker Liu strode forward and saw Feng Yiyi. “Who are you? Human or ghost? State your name!”
“Do I look like a ghost to you?” Feng Yiyi asked, her hair hanging loose.
One of the sedan carriers muttered, “Looks like a ghost to me…”
“Liu Meifeng, explain yourself! She’s clearly alive, yet you arranged a ghost marriage. How immoral can you be?”
“At the time she was dead! Who knew she’d come back to life!” Liu Meifeng defended herself.
“I don’t care! Master Wang has already prepared everything for his son’s ghost marriage. They’re waiting!” the matchmaker snapped.
Feng Yiyi’s uncle whispered to his wife, “If we beat her to death now, the ghost marriage will go through, and we’ll get the silver.”
Liu Meifeng nodded.
Zhang Dahu picked up a large wooden stick and quietly approached Feng Yiyi from behind.
Fearing she might be bullied as a child, Feng Yiyi’s grandfather had hired a martial arts instructor to teach her.
She sensed someone approaching—it was her uncle.
Realizing his ill intent, just as he swung the stick down fiercely, Feng Yiyi sidestepped swiftly.
Then she kicked him hard.
With a cry of “Ah!”, Zhang Dahu fell to the ground, unmoving.
“You murderous wretch! You dare strike your own uncle!” Liu Meifeng wailed, sitting on the ground.
“Get out—all of you!” Feng Yiyi grabbed the stick and struck Liu Meifeng.
With a thud, Liu Meifeng yelped, “No justice in this world! The brat even hits her aunt!”
She dragged the fallen Zhang Dahu and ran off.
“Stop! Return the silver—and add five taels for our wasted effort!” Matchmaker Liu shouted.
“I only took ten taels, so I’ll return ten!” Liu Meifeng shouted back.
Soon the two began arguing fiercely, following each other all the way back to Liu Meifeng’s house.
Matchmaker Liu threw a tantrum. “If you don’t pay fifteen taels today, we’re not leaving!” Everyone sat down inside her house.
Left with no choice, Liu Meifeng paid fifteen taels to send them away.
Furious, she muttered, “That wretched girl cost me five taels.
Better that she’s alive—she’ll fetch an even higher price sold to a brothel.”
…
Back at Feng Yiyi’s house, the courtyard finally fell quiet.
“How did I give birth to such an unfilial son!” Grandma gritted her teeth in anger.
“Grandma, if they dare come again, we’ll beat them out.
When I have money, I’ll buy a wolfhound to guard the house. If they come, we’ll let the dog bite them,” Feng Yiyi said.
Grandma couldn’t help but laugh at that.
…
Early the next morning, Feng Yiyi took a small shovel and a sickle and headed into the mountains.
The hills were dense with trees and covered in thorns.
But the air was fresh.
Seeing nothing much around the outskirts, she ventured deeper.
Suddenly, a large, fat rabbit darted out, startling her.
Quick as lightning, Feng Yiyi hurled the sickle.
Before the rabbit even understood what had happened, it fell dead.
She bled it, placed it into her basket, and continued walking.
By accident, she tripped over a stone.
When she looked up, she spotted something near a large tree—it looked like ginseng.
She stepped closer for a careful look.
It was actually two ginseng plants.
Her face immediately broke into a smile.
She tied red strings around the stems and carefully began digging with her small shovel.
With years of experience, she successfully unearthed the ginseng intact.