The neighborhood show had just ended, and the residents had yet to return home. Hearing Yang Fangyun’s shrieking, they were instantly seized by curiosity and swarmed into the Shen household.
"Oh my heavens! They really did clean you out! How did they even manage to take the spittoon? Yang Fangyun, did your sharp tongue finally provoke someone you shouldn't have?"
"Good grief, not even a pair of drawers left? This has to be a personal vendetta. What kind of common thief clears a place out so thoroughly? They might as well have scraped the plaster off the walls."
"..."
Auntie Zhang, whom Shen Man was holding onto, was the one who despised how Yang Fangyun treated her own daughter the most. The two of them usually traded barbs whenever they met, and the other neighborhood women close to Auntie Zhang were equally outspoken. They chattered away, all convinced that it was Yang Fangyun’s foul mouth that had brought this retaliation upon the Shen family.
Shen Jianye had initially assumed it was just a bout of bad luck, but now, he too began to suspect Yang Fangyun.
"Stop shouting and think about who you’ve actually offended! We’ve been picked clean—this has to be revenge from an enemy!"
Shen Jianye’s lack of trust infuriated Yang Fangyun. She threw herself flat on the ground and began to wail and throw a tantrum.
"I didn't! Where would I even find the time to offend anyone? I don't even work! If anyone offended someone, it was you! Ah—all the money I saved for years is gone, and now you’re doubting me! I don’t want to live anymore! I can’t go on!"
She thrashed around on the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust in no time.
The onlookers tactfully retreated a few paces. Just then, a thought struck Yang Fangyun, and she snapped her head toward Shen Man, who was standing in the crowd, glaring at her with cold eyes.
"Shen Man! Was it you, you wretched girl? Did you forget to lock the door when you went out and let the thieves in? I’ll show you for not locking the door!"
She scrambled up, ready to strike, but Auntie Zhang quickly shoved Shen Man behind the other women.
"What are you spouting about? You bring trouble upon yourself with your enemies and now you want to pin the blame on Manman? Can’t you see your own lock was smashed to pieces? That proves Manman definitely locked the door before she left! If you have anyone to blame, blame yourself—don't go around slandering others!"
Yang Fangyun knew full well that their door had been smashed open, but she was simply too angry and needed someone to vent on. Her two sons were standing at the doorway, looking terrified; she couldn't bring herself to blame them.
She could only blame Shen Man!
Who told her to insist on going out to watch television so late? If she had just stayed home, none of this would have happened!
Yang Fangyun went mad trying to push past the women to drag Shen Man out and give her a beating. Just then, the police officers finally arrived.
Seeing the chaotic scene, the officers hurried in to prevent the situation from escalating.
"That’s enough! There are too many people here; nobody move a muscle, or you’re all coming back to the station with us!"
With the police intervening, Yang Fangyun could only glare daggers at Shen Man, not daring to strike.
Soon, another wave of onlookers arrived, and the police conducted a thorough investigation of the house. The Shen family hoped the police would identify the thief, but the results were disappointing. The officers sighed, explaining that because too many people had tramped through the house, there was no trace of the culprit left. The family would have to chalk it up to bad luck.
Hearing this, Yang Fangyun fainted from sheer rage.
Shen Ling, who was hiding in the crowd to watch the spectacle, poked Ding Rulan’s arm with a look of malicious glee. "Mom, have they been struck by divine retribution? To run into something like this—they really deserve it."
"Indeed."
Ding Rulan patted her daughter's hand with a smile and feigned concern as she walked to the front. "Oh dear, the police said they would keep investigating; the things will be found sooner or later. Why did you have to go and faint from anger, sister-in-law?"
Her appearance and cold sarcasm made the Shen family members furrow their brows; her arrival never boded well. Shen Jianye wanted to tell her to keep quiet, but Ding Rulan spoke first, offering comfort.
"Big brother, hurry up and get sister-in-law to the hospital. If you lose your livelihood and then she ends up having a stroke, you really won't be able to go on living."
Shen Jianye’s chest heaved with rage, but he couldn't lash out in front of the crowd for fear of her causing a scene.
Just as he was feeling angry and helpless, Shen Man stepped forward.
"Second Aunt, we’re all one family. Is it really appropriate for you to say such things right now? However, I know you’ve always been straightforward and must be worried about us deep down. Since we live so close, why don't you let us stay at your place tonight?"
"That won't do!"
Ding Rulan reflexively retorted, but then she turned to see the strange looks the neighbors were casting her way. Though the two families had never been on good terms, they were relatives, and the Shen family had helped her and her daughter many times. Now that the Shen family had suffered such a disaster, refusing to help while living so close would be inexcusable.
Shen Ling realized her mother had been backed into a corner and quickly stepped forward to explain.
"That’s not what Mom meant. It’s just that we don't have extra rooms, and with so many of you, there's nowhere to sleep. However, we do have a few spare quilts at home. Why don't we bring them over so you can make do for now? We can all think of a better plan tomorrow."
Once she said this, the judgmental stares diminished significantly.
Just as Shen Ling’s lips curled into a smug smile, Shen Man walked up to her. "That works too. I’ll go with you to get the quilts."
The crowd dispersed, and with the neighbors watching, Shen Man followed Shen Ling. Even though Shen Ling and Ding Rulan were reluctant, they had no choice but to bring her home.
As soon as they entered the house, Shen Ling immediately adopted a haughty expression. "Shen Man, what’s wrong with you? Who told you to talk like that back there?"
Shen Ling and her mother had spent over a decade using a supposed "life-saving grace" to incessantly threaten and exploit the original owner's family. Yang Fangyun and the others weren't willing to suffer, so the honest original owner had been the one paying back the "debt" all those years.
In reality, the life-saving story was nonsense. Shen Ling's father had died due to his own drunken mistakes at the factory. Because they were the only two brothers working there at the time, and Shen Ling's mother had made such a scene, the factory had labeled it an act of heroism just to keep her from escalating the matter.
Shen Ling’s family kept all the compensation and pension money, yet they had saddled the Shen family with a debt of gratitude. Growing up, Shen Ling had always held herself above the original owner, treating her like a slave and even forcing her to marry the man Shen Ling had rejected in a pre-arranged marriage.
The original owner might have been a pushover, but Shen Man was not. Even if she had to take over this marriage, the Shen Ling family would have to pay a price.
"Why shouldn't I talk like that? You know better than I do how your father really died. Stop using this ‘life-saving grace’ nonsense to boss me around."
Shen Man lifted her chin, her demeanor radiating an intensity that both shocked and intimidated the mother and daughter. But Shen Ling soon recovered and squinted, threatening her.
"What do you mean, ‘know better’? Stop pulling that stuff with me. If you keep this attitude up, don't blame us for turning our backs on you!"
Shen Man shrugged. "Whatever. Go ahead and make a scene. At worst, my father loses his job, and then we’ll have nothing left to lose—we’ll be the ones with nothing to fear. You can go ahead and become a stepmother to a ‘living widow’ yourself."
Shen Ling hadn't expected the usually obedient Shen Man to say something so harsh and irresponsible. Her heart skipped a beat, and she had an ominous premonition. Was it possible that the stimulation had driven Shen Man insane?
She wouldn't give up, trying to probe her one more time. "You’re really not afraid of your father losing his job?"
Shen Man grinned coldly. "What do you think?"
"..."
*It’s over,* they thought. *This is genuinely bad.* They never imagined that an honest person pushed to the brink could be this ruthless, even disregarding her own family.
Shen Ling and Ding Rulan exchanged a look. They both realized they couldn't cross her right now.
They had no choice but to soften their stance.
"Fine. Making a scene won't be good for anyone. As long as you don't go back on your word, we can spare you a few quilts."
The scheduled date was two days away. If Shen Man didn't leave on time to join her husband at his post, Shen Ling would have to go herself. She didn't want to spend her youth as a "living widow" and a stepmother. She was destined to be a high-ranking officer’s wife and live in glory!
Thinking of this, she decided to endure it for now.
But Shen Man pushed her luck. Taking the quilts wasn't enough, and she made another demand.
"I’m afraid of the cold, and I can't sleep on the floor. I'll be staying in your room for the next two nights. I don't mind sleeping with you."
Shen Ling hadn't expected her to be so shameless.
She roared internally, *You don't mind, but I do!* But she couldn't show it on her face; she could only clench her teeth and force a smile.
"Fine. I don't mind either."