“Your Aunt He can’t manage you anymore. As your father, I can’t just keep letting you behave like this…”
Ning Zhongyi’s gaze was cold and stern as he spoke in a righteous tone.
His anger wasn’t truly about disciplining Ning You. It was because he felt his authority had been challenged, and he wanted to give her a small lesson.
Of course, there was another more important reason—related to Wen Ya…
Ning Hong was excited, her face flushed red, silently hoping Ning You would be badly beaten.
Ning Yu was even more openly eager for chaos, clapping his hands excitedly.
“Dad, teach Ning You a hard lesson! She hit my mom and stole her salary! Make her return the money!”
He Meili’s expression changed slightly. She lightly slapped her son on the back in mock anger.
“What are you saying?”
“Your sister Ning You is your real sister. How can you say such cruel things? What have I taught you…”
These words were of course meant for Ning Zhongyi. In reality, she wished Ning You would suffer even more.
Seeing the situation escalate, Ning You knew that if she didn’t make a big move today, it would be hard to end things.
She put down what she had just bought.
Then she suddenly remembered something she had heard in the past two days. Her eyes lit up—an opportunity to fight for her rights had just come knocking.
If luck was good, she might even be able to trap this scumbag father.
Before Ning Zhongyi could swing his whip, Ning You quickly grabbed a washbasin and a wooden pestle from the doorway.
One hand holding the basin, the other holding the pestle, she rushed out of the house.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
Several loud thuds startled the neighbors.
Ning You sat down on the steps, adjusted her legs, and found a comfortable position.
She lowered her eyes slightly, putting away her usual indifference, replacing it with deep sorrow.
Then she began to sing softly:
“Little cabbage, yellow in the field,
Lost my mother at seven or eight years old.
With father I could still live well,
But I fear father will marry a stepmother.
After the stepmother came for three and a half years,
She gave birth to a younger brother stronger than me.
Brother eats noodles, I drink soup,
Holding my bowl, tears fill my eyes…”
The song was filled with sorrow and misery, making listeners’ eyes sting.
Hearing the sound, neighbors gathered around one after another.
They recognized her—it was the same little girl from earlier.
Ning You tried hard to recall the most painful and desperate moments of her past life, but nothing came. She couldn’t even force out real tears.
“…”
At this point in the performance, she had no choice but to make it convincing.
She pinched her thigh hard. Pain brought tears to her eyes.
Still worried they wouldn’t hold, she quickly went through the original owner’s memories again.
Soon, tears began streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Seeing the girl in such a pitiful state, the neighbors—who already knew about the Ning family situation—felt deep sympathy.
And hearing the lyrics—
Fear of father marrying a stepmother… brother eats noodles, I drink soup…
How miserable!
If Comrade Wen were still alive, she would be heartbroken.
Just as the neighbors’ sympathy reached its peak, footsteps were heard.
It was Ning Zhongyi and He Meili, holding a whip.
Someone who had received kindness from Ning You’s biological mother immediately changed expression and stepped in front of her.
“Comrade Ning, what are you doing with that whip?”
Ning Zhongyi hadn’t expected so many people downstairs. He quickly wrapped the whip around his hand and forced a smile.
“Nothing, just the child is disobedient. I was only scaring her…”
The person frowned in confusion.
“Disobedient? You mean Ning Yu, right? That kid is only seven or eight, of course he’s mischievous. He does need discipline.”
People around nodded.
“Of course it’s Ning Yu. Everyone knows little You is hardworking and obedient.”
“Exactly!”
A sharp-tongued woman, Aunt Zhou, who disliked Ning Yu, sneered.
“That boy is spoiled rotten. I know you’re busy, Comrade Ning, but you still need to discipline your child.”
Others weren’t afraid of Ning Zhongyi either and agreed.
Ning Zhongyi prided himself on being an intellectual and didn’t want to argue with women. He gave He Meili a look.
He Meili said unhappily, “Aunt Zhou, why are you talking about my son? He’s just a child. Why are you arguing with a kid? That’s really something.”
Aunt Zhou replied coldly, “Don’t change the subject!”
“Don’t you know how disliked your son is in this compound? Which child even plays with him? If you’re not awake yet, go home and sleep more!”
Others nodded again.
He Meili was furious.
Ning You watched the scene and realized the stepmother’s reputation here was already so bad that she was practically being publicly condemned.
Aunt Zhou, seeing He Meili speechless, gently took Ning You’s hand and patted it, full of sympathy.
Look how badly this child has been treated…
Then she turned to Ning Zhongyi.
“As the saying goes, ‘with a stepmother comes a stepfather.’ But I believe Comrade Ning is an intellectual. He wouldn’t favor a stepdaughter over his own child, right?”
Ning Zhongyi quickly glanced at Ning You, suppressing his anger.
“…Of course not. Aunt Zhou is right.”
Then, in a commanding tone, he said to Ning You:
“Ning You, if you have grievances, say them behind closed doors. Don’t come out and disturb the neighbors. Go home!”