With a deafening "Bang!", the bedroom door was kicked open with such force that it slammed against the wall before rebounding.
The commotion at the Liu family home startled the neighbors. Several families in the alleyway dropped what they were doing and rushed out to see what was happening.
Ma Cuihua’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the man and woman tangled together on the bed. She lunged forward, grabbed Lin Qin by the hair, and dragged her off the bed, screaming hysterically, "You shameless, trampy harlot! To think you’d drag some wild man into my house! I’ll beat you to death, you shameless, filthy bitch!"
Ma Cuihua’s curses poured out in a relentless torrent. While one hand yanked Lin Qin’s hair, the other struck her across the face, blow after blow.
Lin Qin was jolted awake by the pain.
Seeing that familiar, youthful face before her, the hatred in her heart ignited like a wildfire, spreading rapidly. Even though she suspected she was dreaming, she recklessly fought back. She used every ounce of her strength to grab Ma Cuihua’s hair and bit down hard on her arm.
"Aaaah!"
A shrill, piercing wail cut through the air.
Ma Cuihua rolled on the ground in agony, and even as Lin Qin was dragged down with her, she refused to let go.
Liu Yongguo and his wife, never expecting that the usually timid and submissive Lin Qin would resist—and act like a rabid dog, refusing to release Ma Cuihua—were so stunned they forgot to react.
Ma Cuihua’s youngest daughter, Liu Li, was the first to snap out of it. She rushed toward Lin Qin, punching and kicking. "Let go of my mom, you shameless bitch! Let go!"
Lin Qin winced in pain; the physical sensation told her this was all real—not a dream!
Listening to the neighbors outside pointing fingers and whispering, she began to realize the truth.
She had been reborn! She had returned to the moment the nightmare of her previous life began.
It was these people right here: Ma Cuihua, Liu Yongguo, Xu Manzhi, and Liu Li.
They had framed her by setting her up with a stranger in her bed to make her infidelity look real. They had even summoned her family to witness it, ensuring she would be brutally beaten by them.
No one had listened to her side of the story. The end result was that she had been dragged back to her parents’ home, insulted the entire way, and forced into a divorce.
Her own village had no place for her. With nowhere left to turn, she had chosen to end her life by jumping into a river. It was only by coincidence that she was saved by another victim from that same night.
Though she survived, she lived the rest of her days under the judgment of others. Her daughter was bullied and ridiculed because of her, and she had spent her life at the Liu family working like a beast of burden, treated worse than livestock.
Depressed and broken, she had fallen gravely ill in her forties. Without money for treatment, she had suffered for two years before her tragic life finally came to an end.
Seeing the man on the bed remain motionless, clearly still unconscious, she realized she had to save herself!
"Didn't you hear me tell you to let go of my mom? You filthy, shameless woman!" Liu Li raised her foot to stomp on her.
Lin Qin’s daughter, Liu Yaya, rushed out just in time, hugging Liu Li’s leg tightly. "Little Aunt, don’t hit my mom! Don't hit my mom! My mom isn’t that kind of person! Waaah..."
Liu Li nearly fell from the sudden embrace and, overcome with embarrassment and rage, kicked Liu Yaya aside. "You little brat, get out of my way!"
Liu Yaya rolled twice on the ground, wailing in pain.
Hatred burned even brighter in Lin Qin’s eyes. She released Ma Cuihua, scrambled to her feet, and clamped her hands around Liu Li’s throat. "Bully my daughter? I’ll kill you!"
Ma Cuihua’s eyes bulged with terror. She screamed, pounding the floor, "Eldest son, hurry! Hurry and beat this crazy woman to death! She’s going to kill your sister!"
Liu Yongguo and his wife immediately charged forward.
Knowing she was no match for them, Lin Qin let go decisively, raking her nails across Liu Li’s face twice before shoving her toward Liu Yongguo and Xu Manzhi.
"Ah! My face! My face hurts so much! Mom!" Liu Li clutched her face, collapsing into her parents’ arms, sobbing in terror.
Lin Qin’s reaction had caught everyone off guard.
Liu Yongguo was completely incensed. "You bitch! I’m going to end you!"
"Bang!" With a loud thud, Lin Qin smashed a small ceramic jar of pickled vegetables at Liu Yongguo’s feet and shrieked at the top of her lungs, "Call the police! Call the police! Uncles and aunties, I’ve been framed! I don't even know the man on that bed! Whoever calls the police for me, I’ll give you five yuan!"
The four members of the Liu family all changed color.
Ma Cuihua shrieked even louder, "Don't call the police! She doesn't have any money! Don't listen to her! Lin Qin, you have no shame, but the Liu family still has a reputation! No one is allowed to go!"
Lin Qin sneered, "I’m telling you, I’m calling the police today! I’ll own up to what I’ve done, but don’t you dare try to pin your filth on me!"
The neighbors were shaken by Lin Qin’s resolute demeanor—it didn't seem like she was lying. Furthermore, Lin Qin had always been honest and low-profile; she didn't seem like the type to be loose with men. Some began to believe her, but no one dared to move. Five yuan was a lot, but they still had to live here; offending the Liu family wasn't a wise move. Besides, they weren't sure Lin Qin could actually produce the money.
Seeing the crowd unmoved, Lin Qin’s heart sank to the bottom of a well.
Just then, Lin Qin’s father, Lin Yi, along with her second uncle, Lin Zhi, and second aunt, Li Lian, arrived.
As soon as Li Lian entered the room, she charged aggressively toward Lin Qin.
Lin Qin knew this woman meant to strike her.
As Li Lian raised her hand, Lin Qin dodged quickly.
Li Lian’s palm slammed heavily against the cabinet—the sound alone was painful to hear.
Li Lian winced, clutching her hand and cursing, "You wretched girl! You do something so shameless and then you have the nerve to dodge? Our Lin family must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to produce a shameless tramp like you!"
Lin Qin swept a cold gaze over Li Lian, showing no shred of the respect one might have for an elder.
In her previous life, it was Li Lian who had spread rumors throughout the village, making it impossible for her to stay in Shanglin Village, eventually forcing her to jump into the river.
Li Lian was startled by Lin Qin’s gaze. Her aggressive momentum faltered, but she still stiffened her neck to scold, "Did I say something wrong? You’ve done such a disgraceful thing, can’t you even be scolded?"
Lin Qin didn't argue with her; she only looked at her father, who stood by, honest, dull-witted, and utterly lost.
Lin Yi was only in his early forties, but his hair was half-grey, and he looked weathered and weary. He had no sons, only two daughters. The eldest was married far away and only returned once a year, and the other was her.
In her past life, after she survived the river jump, she had been too ashamed to return to the village. Lin Yi had lived out his days in lonely poverty, constantly bullied by others in the village, and hadn't even received fair compensation when the village land was developed—all because of her!
Lin Qin swallowed the bitterness in her heart, walked over to Lin Yi, and gritted her teeth. "Dad! Go to the police station and report this for me. I’ve been framed. This matter must be investigated clearly today!"
"What did you say?" Lin Yi looked at Lin Qin in disbelief, then glanced at the Liu family. Seeing them shift their eyes evasively, his heart sank.
Lin Zhi, standing nearby, frowned. "Second niece, you can't just say things like that! Your reputation is already ruined. If you make a scene, your father won't be able to show his face in public anymore!"
Lin Qin looked at the two-faced Lin Zhi and smiled calmly. "Thank you for the advice, Second Uncle, but I must report this today. If the police say I really did bring a stranger home, I’ll throw myself against this wall right here to give everyone an answer! But if I didn't do it, no one will be framing me!"
Lin Zhi looked at Lin Qin in surprise. In his memory, Lin Qin had always been a silent, timid girl who wouldn't say a word even if you poked her. When had she become so fierce?
Lin Yi finally reacted and nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay, okay! Dad will go right now."
He believed that the daughter he had raised himself was not the type of person to be loose.
Just as Lin Yi reached the doorway, he paused and turned back, asking, "Which way is the police station?"