She was quite satisfied that the original body had a strong foundation. At seventeen or eighteen years old, it was just the right age to fully restore her combat skills from her previous life, and even improve further!
Tong Linsheng had said that all his daughters were beautiful, and to ensure they wouldn’t be bullied, learning some martial arts was essential. If their husbands dared to hit them after marriage, they should beat them down.
The Tong Family girls never lost when fighting children of the same age. If anyone tried to bully them unfairly, then don’t blame the Seven Fairies for fighting together—they’d definitely beat you until your head was covered in bumps!
“We should still avoid fighting as much as possible. More trouble is worse than less,” Tong Jiahui said.
“But Mom, good people get bullied, gentle horses get ridden. If we aren’t tough enough, people will chew us up until even our bone fragments are gone!”
“Ah, the current situation really isn’t favorable for us. Yuheng, I’ve thought it through. If we can go to your grandfather’s side, let’s all go.
I can also apply to go down to support rural construction. I heard those who volunteer get subsidies, and the policy allows minor children to go down with their parents. I could bring your younger sisters. My job can be transferred first. Who do you think I should give it to?”
“Vice Director Zhang. He had a good relationship with Dad. In the half year since Dad passed, his wife has helped us a lot too. His son graduated last year, and if he can’t find a job this year, he’ll have to go down too. Why not transfer Dad’s Security Department job to him?”
“Alright. Then when I transfer my job out later, he can help with that too. I’ll discuss this with him tomorrow. We need to keep it confidential until it’s done.” Tong Jiahui said.
“I understand. Mom, your job should go to Uncle Gu’s Sister Yanting. She’s physically weak and definitely couldn’t handle going down. Then we can ask him to help arrange for us to go to the same place, so it’ll be easier for us to speak up.”
“Good, Yuheng has really grown up, she’s the pillar of the family now!”
Tong Jiahui felt comforted, but also a bit saddened. When her husband was alive, he cherished his daughters dearly. Since her father’s family was sent-down, they had experienced many things and gradually matured.
Early the next morning, Tong Yuheng woke all her sisters up for morning jogging and taught them a set of Military Boxing. Since their father passed, they hadn’t practiced for a long time!
“Big sister, do we really have to practice boxing?” Little Seven Yuqi lingered in bed, unwilling to get up!
“We definitely must practice. There are still plenty of bad people in this world, we need the skills to protect ourselves!” Yuheng picked her up and patted her back, asking Old Six Yuxuan to supervise her, then went to the kitchen first to help Mom prepare breakfast.
“I can handle it, you’ll be leading them in boxing practice soon anyway.” Tong Jiahui was already accustomed to preparing three meals a day for the whole family.
Tong Yuheng took her sisters to the square. After exercising for half an hour, everyone had a light layer of sweat on their foreheads, then they ran home for breakfast.
The Tong Family breakfast consisted of cornmeal porridge and mixed grain steamed buns, with some egg sauce and pickled vegetables mixed in, topped with a few drops of sesame oil. The flavor was excellent, really whetting one’s appetite.
Even such ordinary meals drew envy, and someone started making sarcastic remarks again:
“These Tong Family girls eat so well, Tong Jiahui really treasures these worthless daughters!”
"Exactly, look at how they dress—none of them have patches on their clothes. Their family must be wealthy, able to feed and dress their daughters well."
"Tong Linsheng has three thousand yuan in compensation payment. Tong Jiahui also works and earns wages. I heard because they have many children, they get some survivor's subsidy every month!"
"Oh! So Tong Jiahui, a widow, lives better than us!"
"That's right! I heard her family background is high, but they were sent-down. When they left, they must have given her a lot of money? Before, her parents often bought food and clothes for their children—they looked like wealthy people."
Tong Yuheng: They're just a bunch of troublemakers! They can't stand others living well! They're all jealous dogs who envy those who have and mock those who lack!
They had heard such talk often and didn't care. Gossip behind their backs was just like the chirping of crickets—if anyone dared to talk nonsense face-to-face, they'd argue back or even fight back.
After finishing their meal at home, the seven sisters carried their schoolbags and went to school. The Steel Factory's children's school combined elementary, junior high, and high school, divided into separate sections for each. Entering the school, they each headed toward their respective teaching buildings.
Before even entering the classroom, Tong Yuheng overheard several girls and Fan Yaqing gossiping about her and her sister.
"Yaqing, why are you always so nice to the Tong sisters? I think they're quite arrogant and don't really take you seriously!" This was someone speaking up for her.
"My uncle's sons have taken a liking to them and plan to propose after graduating from high school! How could I not be good to my future cousins-in-law?"
"What? They're dating your uncle's two sons? Impossible! Tong Yuheng can take over her father's job right after graduation.
Even if Tong Yuyao doesn't have a job, she studies well and can get one herself after graduation. Your uncle's sons have no jobs. The Tong sisters are so high and mighty—could they really like them?"
"That's not certain. My dad is in the Tail-Cutting Committee and can look after their family. My cousins are tall and strong, capable men. If they marry into my uncle's family, they won't suffer!"
While Fan Yaqing was gossiping, Tong Yuheng stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face!
"Smack!" Fan Yaqing's face immediately turned red, leaving a clear imprint of five fingers!
"Tong Yuheng, why did you hit me right away!" Fan Yaqing was furious.
"What's wrong with hitting you? If your mouth is foul, you deserve it!" Tong Yuheng glared at her coldly, making her shudder.
"Spreading rumors early in the morning to ruin our reputation. Have you eaten shit, saying we're dating those two troublemakers from your uncle's family?
And tall and strong? I think they're comparable to fat pigs. Even if our eyes were on the soles of our feet, we wouldn't look at those two worthless scoundrels!"
Tong Yuyao unleashed a torrent of insults, berating Fan Yaqing mercilessly. Tong Yuheng wasn't incapable of cursing, but her second sister had even sharper words—so she let her showcase her talent!
"And your dad can look after our family? Do we need you? It'd be better if your dad didn't harm us! And you, are you any good yourself? All the troublemakers in the neighborhood love to gather around you. Stay away from us sisters from now on, so we don't get stained by your foul smell!"
"Tong Yuyao, you're pushing me too far! I won't let this go!" Fan Yaqing, humiliated by the insults, lunged forward aggressively. The few girls who had initially wanted to stand up for justice, seeing how formidable the Tong sisters were, automatically backed away.
Clearly fake friends!
Tong Yuheng grabbed her collar, yanked her forward, and looked down from above at her neck—there it was, the jade pendant hanging right there. Good, it's still there. Today, it will return to its rightful owner!