Jiang Ning lightly pinched her thigh.
It hurt. So this wasn’t a dream. Could it be the legendary space?
Inside the room, there was a wooden bed frame, a table and chairs by the window, and on the table, a half-meter-high mirror. Jiang Ning’s heart lifted with joy, and she hurried over. The mirror clearly reflected her appearance.
It wasn’t her modern look, but the original owner’s appearance.
The original owner had been mistreated at home, always starving, so thin she was almost just skin and bones, with a pale, waxy complexion. Add the sun and wind from working outside, and her face was covered with freckles. She only resembled Jiang Ning by about three or four parts.
Her eyes and brows were thin, lacking any sparkle, but her body was tall and slender.
This was so ugly, Jiang Ning thought to herself. Looks like she’d have to work on her health and restore her original appearance.
Jiang Ning looked up and gazed out of the window. Everything around her appeared hazy, the visibility barely ten meters. The ground was flat, and not far off, there was a well emitting a mist.
Could it be spiritual spring water?
Excitedly, Jiang Ning pushed open the door and walked toward the well, full of curiosity and excitement.
Around the well, a faint fragrance lingered, and the scent alone made her feel refreshed.
When she got closer to the well, the mist seemed to grow denser.
A label on the well read “Spiritual Spring Water.” This water could help expel impurities from the body, and drinking it regularly could strengthen the body. If used for irrigation, it could accelerate plant growth.
Indeed, it was a good thing, Jiang Ning thought, excited.
She cupped her hands and drew some water, bringing it to her lips and taking a sip.
The water was cool and sweet, like nectar, instantly penetrating her every cell. The fatigue in her body disappeared at once.
With this space, Jiang Ning felt a new sense of security. She smiled contentedly.
Looks like her parents really did prepare something good for her.
At this moment, Jiang Ning had no idea that her parents had no such ability to give her a space; everything had been deliberately arranged by “someone.”
She tried to control herself with her mind, silently muttering “out,” and in the blink of an eye, she was back in the thatched hut.
She then muttered “in,” and in another blink, she found herself standing in front of the well.
Just as Jiang Ning was feeling pleased, she vaguely heard some noise outside the hut. She quickly left the space, hid behind the door, and waited—
The door was quickly pried open, and a small figure stealthily entered, seemingly about to start rummaging.
Jiang Ning appeared behind her, delivering a swift strike to the back of her head, knocking her out cold.
Turning the person over, it was indeed Old Lady Jiang, apparently attempting to steal silver.
Looking at the empty house, Jiang Ning was relieved that she had wisely hidden the silver beforehand.
However, thinking of her space, she also felt like it was unnecessary for her to hide it at all.
To be honest, she really wanted to beat the old lady up, but looking at her, if she did that, tomorrow the villagers would probably drag her into the pond.
After all, disobedience was a serious crime.
Moreover, she couldn’t exactly accuse an elder of stealing silver. Saying anything might just lead her to be forced to hand it over.
In this era, a young woman was considered part of her father’s family, and it was unimaginable for her to hold a large sum of money.
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and then dragged the old lady toward the hall.
Turning a corner from the back courtyard, she saw that Mrs. Niu and Jiang Xiu were waiting there. Upon seeing her dragging the unconscious Old Lady Jiang, their eyes widened in alarm.
Just as they were about to scream, “Murder—”
Jiang Ning was quick. She threw Old Lady Jiang to the ground.
Before they could react, she swiftly approached and struck them on the neck, knocking both of them unconscious.
Jiang Ning then stacked all three of them like a pile of corpses on Old Lady Jiang’s bed, turned around, and started walking back.
A few steps in, she turned back.
With the space, she thought, she might as well collect some interest!
She found the key on Old Lady Jiang, and after searching through her wardrobe, she found the entrance to the cellar.
Though small, the cellar contained three sacks of grain: rice, flour, and millet.
Jiang Ning happily took them.
Nice, now she had food freedom!
If only there were a kitchen in the space. Then she could cook her own meals.
After putting everything back in place, Jiang Ning went to the firewood room, took the silver, and stored it in the space.
Only then did she go back to her room and continue sleeping.
When she opened her eyes again, the morning sunlight had already streamed through the window of the thatched hut. She stood up and walked to the window.
Just then, a heart-wrenching scream came from the direction of the hall:
“My food! Which scoundrel stole my food—”
In an instant, the frantic voice grew louder, “Ah… my food!”
Old Lady Jiang kicked open Jiang Ning’s door, her narrow eyes squinting as she scanned the thatched hut, searching for the missing food.
Remembering that she and Mrs. Niu hadn’t found the silver last night, and that they’d both been knocked out by this girl, she was now losing her food. She felt murderous.
With hands on her hips, she pointed at Jiang Ning and shouted, “You little wretch, tell me, did you steal the food and hide it?”
“Shut up!”
Jiang Ning, irritated, rubbed her ears and mocked, “If you haven’t done anything wrong, you shouldn’t fear ghosts knocking on your door. It must be all the wicked things you’ve done, and now the heavens are punishing you.”
Before Jiang Ning could even fully enjoy the first rays of sunshine in the countryside, Old Lady Jiang’s noise shattered the peace. Early mornings were so annoying!
“Stop spouting nonsense! There are only a few of us in this house, and if it wasn’t you, then who else could it be? Did you collude with outsiders to steal the food and sell it? Either you hand over the food today, or you hand over the silver…”
This old lady really didn’t learn her lesson. Seeing her getting more and more worked up, Jiang Ning grabbed Old Lady Jiang’s hand. With a little force, Old Lady Jiang instantly screamed in pain:
“You little wretch, trying to murder your dear grandmother will land you in prison.”
She couldn’t understand how Jiang Ning had suddenly become so strong; no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t break free.
“Afraid? Fine, I’ll take the whole family with me to hell… No one gets to live well,” Jiang Ning said with a creepy smile.
Old Lady Jiang turned pale with fear. “You… are you possessed? You weren’t like this before.”
“Curious about why I changed? Let me tell you the truth. I went to the underworld yesterday, and King Yama said I wasn’t meant to die yet. He asked me to come back to the mortal world to punish evil and promote good!”
“So, this power is a gift from King Yama himself. Do you believe that I could punish you, an evil person, right now? Maybe I could even accumulate some merits in the process?” Jiang Ning sneered, pulling at Old Lady Jiang’s collar as she whispered in her ear.
Jiang Ning was clear in her mind. With the space and the divine power, what was there to be afraid of?
Only by controlling these demons and evil spirits could she live a peaceful life.
“You… don’t try to fool me!” Old Lady Jiang struggled desperately, but couldn’t break free.
“Fool you? Granny, how many evil deeds have you done? Don’t you know it yourself? When you go to the underworld, just wait to be fried in boiling oil!” Jiang Ning laughed coldly.