"Let go of me, you little wretch!" Chen Guilan struggled, her expression terrifying, like a full-blown shrew. "What are you doing? Are you rebelling? Are you trying to turn the world upside down?"
"What am I doing? I'm hitting you." Tian Sangsang said lightly, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes. She raised her hand and, without hesitation, gave Chen Guilan two slaps. Her strength was not to be underestimated—even though she was unwell, the two strikes left Chen Guilan, a brawny rural woman, staggering sideways.
"Mom!" Tian Tian screamed, rushing to help the fallen Chen Guilan. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Tian Sangsang and weakly accused her, "Cousin, how can you hit someone? This is completely unreasonable! How can you be so disrespectful to your elders?!"
"Now you're questioning how I can behave like this? Where were you earlier? Your mom can hit me, but I have to just take it?" Tian Sangsang couldn't stand her pitiful demeanor. If Sangsang wasn't wrong, she definitely saw a sinister glint flash through Tian Tian's eyes.
Chen Guilan pushed her daughter aside. No one had ever humiliated her like this. She stood up, ready to attack Tian Sangsang again.
Tian Sangsang took a step forward, standing tall with her chest puffed out. Luckily, the original body she inhabited was a hefty one—broad and imposing. Her glare was enough to intimidate, and paired with her fierce expression, she truly looked like a village tyrant.
Granny Zhong arrived with Meng Shuyan, just in time to see a crowd gathered at Tian Sangsang's door.
"Make way, everyone, make way." Granny Zhong squeezed through, carrying Meng Shuyan.
Granny Zhong set Meng Shuyan down, her face crinkling with concern. "Tian Sangsang's wife, what's going on here? Why is everyone gathered around?"
Chen Guilan adjusted her clothes, frustration boiling within her. Upon seeing Meng Shuyan moving closer to Tian Sangsang, she was overcome with hatred. In full view of everyone, she reached out and struck Meng Shuyan's back, snarling, "You little nobody, just like your tramp of a mother!"
The tiny boy stumbled from the blow, his short legs buckling as he fell to his knees on the ground. His small eyebrows knitted tightly—it was clear he was in considerable pain.
Tian Sangsang looked at the child's stubborn expression and thought it was so much like her younger self. Heart aching, she scooped him into her arms.
Granny Zhong's heart ached even more. She clutched her chest and shouted, "What are you doing? No matter what the problem is, what's it got to do with Yanyan? How can you hit a child!"
"Exactly, Tian Sangsang's wife, you're taking it too far—this has nothing to do with Yanyan."
"The poor child is so small..."
Perhaps due to her maternal instincts, a surge of energy rose up within Tian Sangsang. Anger surged in her eyes as she grabbed a bamboo basket nearby and smashed it onto Chen Guilan's forehead.
"You little wretch, you're hitting me!" Chen Guilan's chest heaved violently as she shoved Tian Tian's hand away, looking ready to perish together with Tian Sangsang.
Tian Sangsang shielded her son behind her, her eyes red. Picking up a nearby broom, she shouted sharply, "Come on, I dare you to take another step forward and see what happens! From now on, if you dare lay a finger on my son or try to attack me again, I won't hold back!"
She swept a cold glance around the scene. "Let me tell you, my family may have no one left, but I, Tian Sangsang, am not someone to be bullied! Stop dumping every dirty accusation on me. Can't you use your brain for once? I can do anything if I'm pushed too far—if you provoke me, none of us will have a good time! Get the hell out of here, all of you!!!"
Kind people are trampled; gentle horses are ridden. Tian Sangsang understood that at this moment, if she appeared weak and passively let Chen Guilan hit her, the villagers would forever see her as someone they could bully at will—even a stray dog might think it could piss on her. Life was meant to be lived for one's comfort, wasn't it? If being kind would only lead to being bullied, then she would take on the role of a villain to make others fear her. They'd hesitate before trying to oppress her. Moreover, a villain is best countered by another villain—it was pointless to reason with someone as unreasonable as Chen Guilan; brute force was the only answer.
The people around displayed varying expressions, but one thing was consistent—their gazes were no longer as brazen as before. Chen Guilan, for once, showed a rare flicker of fear and was pulled away by others. Tian Tian glanced back reluctantly, frustration evident in her eyes.
And with that, the crowd dispersed like startled beasts...
Only Granny Zhong remained standing, staring at Tian Sangsang in disbelief. The Sangsang of old was never this bold. However, when she saw Tian Sangsang suddenly break into a cold sweat, clutching her head in pain, she managed to suppress her shock. Perhaps the crisis had forced this outburst from her. It was evident she had been feigning bravery—she was still the same Sangsang deep down.
Tian Sangsang had been holding herself together all this time, but now that everyone was gone, her vision darkened, her strength dissipated, and she collapsed onto the bed, unable to get up again. Before losing consciousness, she saw Granny Zhong's worried face and heard the soft, milky voice of a child calling, "Mom."
...
Tian Sangsang felt like she'd been asleep for an eternity. When she woke, her headache was considerably better.
With steely resolve, she forced her eyes open—a difficult feat, as it felt like her fat was creating resistance. She bent her left elbow, pushed down with her hand, exerting all her strength like a nursing infant; her other hand supported her weight on the bed. Using the proper technique for a "dead fish flip," she hoisted herself upright.
Gasoline odor mixed with stench and a sour smell made Tian Sangsang cover her nose in discomfort.
Wait, this gasoline odor seemed to be coming from her. She sniffed again—it truly was!
Why would she smell like gasoline? It was a familiar scent, reminiscent of some Indian clients from her company days. Tian Sangsang had once worked as a translator for a company, regularly interacting with international clients. Among them were a few Indian clients, whose unique smell left a lasting impression on her.
As for the stench...
This was supposed to be her bedroom—or roughly what could barely count as one. There was a bed for lying down and a wooden desk cluttered with mirrors, combs, and other miscellaneous items. The ground was filthy; it was a mud-floor house, naturally uneven and now covered in dirt and bits of grass. In one corner lay a pile of stuffed cloth—likely dirty clothes waiting to be washed, the apparent source of the stench.
As for the sour smell...
Tian Sangsang sniffed again—it seemed to be wafting from the kitchen.
The bloody smell on her body was gone, likely wiped away in a rough manner. The person who had helped clean her up... Tian Sangsang suddenly thought of her neighbor, Aunt Zhong.
Something small was inching toward her, and as Tian Sangsang's eyes lit up, her heart melted like cotton candy. It's true that at a certain age, a woman's innate maternal instinct makes her yearn for a child.
And so, in a moment of mutual staring...
The timid Meng Shuyan, crouched in a corner, heard movement and lifted his small head. He immediately stood up.
Today had been particularly awful for Meng Shuyan.