Chapter 128: Get Lost! I’m Not Buying That Act of Yours

Inside the pigsty, Lin Xiaodou was busy taking the temperature of a piglet.

Zhu Qingqing ran over, her face burning with fury. "Lin Xiaodou, if you have a problem with me, come at me directly! Why are you targeting Xu Mo?"

The supervisor had been on the verge of relenting, but his attitude changed completely after speaking with Lin Xiaodou. It had to be something she said.

Lin Xiaodou asked, "Who is Xu Mo?"

Zhu Qingqing paused. "He was just sent down here today. You were away, so you haven't met him yet."

"That’s a ridiculous thing to say. If I don't even know him, why would I target him?" Lin Xiaodou sneered. "Besides, this Xu Mo just arrived, yet you’re defending him so fiercely. Did you know each other before? Zhu Qingqing, having an unspeakable relationship with a convict is something I’ll have to discuss with Director Hu."

Zhu Qingqing panicked, shouting, "You're lying! I have no relationship with him at all! I was just standing up for what’s right!"

"Standing up for what’s right? So, you’re questioning the supervisor’s judgment?" Lin Xiaodou scoffed. "The supervisor was promoted by Director Hu himself. Why don't you go tell him that to his face?"

"Why would I do that!" Zhu Qingqing was incensed, glaring at her. "It’s obviously you pulling strings behind the scenes. Stop making excuses; you just like making my life difficult!"

Lin Xiaodou replied, "Zhu Qingqing, you think far too highly of yourself. Who do you think you are? Do you expect the whole world to revolve around you?"

Zhu Qingqing lifted her chin, retorting, "I am favored by the heavens..."

Her words were cut short. A slender, fair hand shot out and clamped around her throat, hoisting her into the air. It was Lin Xiaodou. She had been busy with chores earlier, but now that the work was done, it was time to discipline this incessantly nagging woman.

"It seems you took my warning from last night as empty wind if you dare to come here and bark at me again." Lin Xiaodou’s gaze was icy, her grip tightening.

Zhu Qingqing’s face turned purple, her eyes wide with terror as she looked at the person before her. She had assumed Lin Xiaodou’s threats the previous night were just meant to scare her. She hadn't expected her to be this violent. With her throat crushed, she couldn't breathe. In this moment, Zhu Qingqing finally realized the true terror of Lin Xiaodou.

Just before Zhu Qingqing lost consciousness, Lin Xiaodou tossed her aside. "That’s enough of a lesson for today. Don’t get in my face again, or you’ll face the consequences!"

Lin Xiaodou strode away. Zhu Qingqing collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, tears of fear streaming down her face. That very evening, she requested leave and went home.

***

Early the next morning, Lin Xiaodou was eating in the cafeteria when a loud, boisterous voice rang out from outside: "Which one of you is Lin Xiaodou! Get out here!"

Lin Xiaodou calmly swallowed her food. Ignoring Sister Chen’s worried look, she strolled toward the door. Standing at the entrance was a tall, sturdy woman wielding a butcher's knife, glaring at the crowd with a fierce expression. When she saw Lin Xiaodou step out, she froze.

*Good heavens*, she thought, *this person looks like a fairy from a painting; she almost blinded me.* Zhu Damei was stunned when the young woman confirmed she was Lin Xiaodou.

"So you’re the violent girl who bullied my sister and made her cry?" She couldn't believe it—how could such a beautiful fairy be so brutal?

"It is me, and she wasn't lying." Lin Xiaodou admitted it frankly, but she wasn't about to be misunderstood. "The reason I hit her was that she was insolent and started pointing fingers..." She recounted what Zhu Qingqing had done in a loud voice.

The onlookers were left speechless by Zhu Qingqing’s bizarre behavior. Was she an idiot? Picking a fight for a convict for no reason and nearly causing trouble—she was nothing but a headache. They couldn't understand why she would do such a thing.

"That convict, Xu Mo, is quite handsome. Zhu Qingqing must have taken a liking to him, which is why she acted so impulsively," Lin Xiaodou said, looking at Zhu Damei with feigned sincerity. "Comrade, you must tell your parents about this so Zhu Qingqing doesn't go down the wrong path."

Since Zhu Qingqing had run home to tattle, Lin Xiaodou decided to fan the flames and make the situation even bigger.

"Oh, right. Okay." Zhu Damei had arrived in a rage, but she left completely bewildered.

Back home, her sister Zhu Qingqing immediately approached her. "Sister, did you get revenge for me? That woman is hateful; she hurt me so much yesterday."

Zhu Damei looked at her face. "Little sister, do you know someone named Xu Mo at the pig farm?"

Zhu Qingqing paused. "Did Lin Xiaodou tell you something?"

Zhu Damei asked, "Just tell me, are you interested in that Xu Mo? Do you want to be in a relationship with him?"

Zhu Qingqing blushed and pouted. "Sister, why are you being so blunt? Nothing is even set in stone yet!"

"Dad! Mom! My sister wants to date a convict!" Zhu Damei bellowed, scaring the daylights out of their parents in the kitchen.

***

"Who is it! Which rascal dares to lure our precious daughter away!" The father grabbed a knife and the mother a spatula as they stormed into the main room.

Zhu Damei quickly recapped what had happened. Her parents were furious and immediately scolded Zhu Qingqing. To maintain her original persona, Zhu Qingqing kept her head down and remained silent like a frightened quail. Seeing their daughter’s pathetic appearance, their anger began to subside.

"Qingqing, these convicts aren't good people. For the sake of your reputation, you need to be careful. Listen to us—don't have any more contact with him, okay?"

Zhu Qingqing bit her lip and nodded. "I understand."

"Good," her father said. "Rest at home for the day, and I’ll take you to the farm tomorrow morning myself."

Her mother added, "Don't be sad. I made your favorite braised pig trotters today. You’ll love them!"

Zhu Qingqing curled her lip in a mocking smile. The original owner of this body liked braised pig trotters, but she certainly did not. Her family was so selfish, forcing her to give up the person she liked just for the sake of their reputation. One day, she would use her own strength to escape this house and make everyone look at her with new eyes!

***

The next morning, Zhu Qingqing was escorted back by her father. In the office, he assured Director Hu, "Don't worry, my daughter is the most obedient and sensible girl. This won't happen again."

Director Hu replied, "Fine, I’ll give her one more chance. If she causes such a scene again, she’s out."

Hearing this, Zhu Qingqing was terrified. Jobs were hard to come by in this era, and being a veterinary apprentice was the easiest work available. To avoid being fired, she had to be extremely careful.

Over the next few days, Zhu Qingqing didn't speak to the male lead, Xu Mo, once. Even when Xu Mo gave her pitiful looks, exposing the welts from the whip on his arms, she restrained herself. She had planned to endure for a while longer, waiting for the storm to blow over before secretly helping Xu Mo.

But she didn't expect that, because she ignored him for a few days, Xu Mo would turn around and go straight to Lin Xiaodou.

"Sister, please don't argue with Sister Zhu because of me. I feel terrible about it."

Lin Xiaodou, having been fed a mouthful of his manipulative, sugary words, kicked him flying. "Get lost! I’m not buying your act!"