Chapter 688 - 593: The Culprit

No matter how unresponsive Xiao Man was, her heart went completely cold after hearing that conversation.

But she didn’t dare turn back. She didn’t dare run home. When she left, Liu Fengying had told her, "From now on, you belong to the Wang Family. Once you walk out this door, don’t look back, or your younger siblings will suffer for it!"

Back then, Xiao Man had still foolishly believed Liu Fengying was her real mother and that her siblings were her own flesh and blood. How could she possibly bring herself to harm them?

She could only brace herself and go to the Wang Family, leaping into another pit of fire.

In her past life, abused and beaten by Wang Quezi, her forehead poked as the Wang family matriarch called her a barren hen, Xiao Man had definitely harbored hatred for Liang Panqiu.

Liu Fengying was sharp and formidable. In her past life, even Granny Mo had been wary of her and rarely visited the Mo Family Courtyard. Mo Laoer, however, had inherited Grandpa Mo’s Knowledge Youth House, which had a spacious courtyard and extra rooms. So, when Granny Mo and her children came to visit, they would go to Mo Laoer’s home. That was why Xiao Man had only ever heard of Liang Panqiu without truly knowing her. She never imagined that it would be Liang Panqiu who ultimately pushed her into that pit at the Wang Family’s.

Because his ex-wife had run off, Wang Quezi would often go to his former mother-in-law’s house to raise hell. He had a violent temper, beating people and smashing things. When drunk, he’d even stage suicide attempts at their doorstep—trying to hang himself or slit his wrists. This would bring the entire Wang Family to the ex-in-laws’ home, screaming and demanding an explanation. His former mother-in-law was at her wit’s end and knew no peace. Liang Panqiu was a relative of the Mo family from Gongdao Village and often visited Mo Laoer’s family. Since she knew of Xiao Man, she must have understood her temperament. She also knew full well that Wang Quezi had become unhinged and was trouble, yet she still gave her own sister this idea, unhesitatingly pushing Xiao Man toward Wang Quezi. It just proved what a black-hearted piece of work Liang Panqiu was in her past life!

After her rebirth, Xiao Man had subconsciously tried to erase that humiliating and tragic marriage from her past life, deliberately sealing away the related memories. Perhaps that was why she hadn’t thought of Liang Panqiu at all. Even just now, when she’d been upstairs and heard Zhang Lanni say, "Liang Panqiu is my mom," it hadn’t stirred anything in her. But when Liang Panqiu’s face suddenly appeared before her, she simply froze. All those awful, repressed memories detonated like a time bomb. BOOM. The defenses she had so carefully constructed crumbled to dust, laying bare all the ugliness and agony. She had no choice but to face it. There was no escape.

Inside, she felt like she was being fried in oil and roasted over a fire, yet her body was frozen, unable to move. Xiao Man was on the verge of a breakdown. She hated this feeling, and she loathed the culprit who caused it even more.

She had almost forgotten. Forbearance is the greatest taboo for a Cultivator. They believe in settling scores swiftly—repaying kindness and taking revenge without delay. If one is forced to endure the unendurable, it can easily form a Heart Demon. That demon could emerge at any moment, cause her cultivation to deviate, destroy all her progress, and even annihilate her, leaving nothing but dust!

A small, warm hand patted Xiao Man’s clenched fist. Qiuyan’s sweet, clear voice murmured, "Sis, why are your hands so cold? Here, take this. It’s a sticky rice cake Big Sis roasted by the stove. It’s crispy and smells amazing. We can share it!"

Half of the rice cake was pressed into Xiao Man’s hand, its warmth spreading from her palm throughout her body. She slowly exhaled and said softly, "Thank you, Qiuyan."

Qiuyan giggled. "When I get a chance to go to the city, I’ll learn to be polite like you. But I’m not doing it at home!"

"Fine, have it your way." Xiao Man lowered her gaze, hiding the glimmer of warmth in her eyes. Her thick, slightly curled lashes fluttered. When she looked up again, her gaze was as sharp as a knife, aimed directly at Liang Panqiu, who was beaming a warm smile at her.

Liang Panqiu was pulling Zhang Lanni over, intending to speak with Xiao Man, when she was struck by that icy glare. Her heart leaped. A chill ran down her spine and sweat beaded on her forehead as she stopped in her tracks. She racked her brain but couldn’t understand it. ’I didn’t visit Gongdao Village when Xiao Man was a child. I’ve been visiting my family here more often these past two years, but Xiao Man was never around. I’ve never done anything to offend her, so why is she looking at me like I’m her mortal enemy?’

In the moment Liang Panqiu hesitated, Qiuyan had already pulled Xiao Man over to a brazier in the corner of the room to sit down. As the sweet, soft rice cake melted in her mouth, Xiao Man’s senses returned, her mind clear once more.

’Even though this is a new life, my past life still happened,’ she thought. ’I can’t have suffered that visceral pain for nothing. The people of Little Wang Village must be punished. And from this day forward, Liang Panqiu can forget about ever having a good day again.’

’Even if she has no idea what happened in our past life, she’s still the same in this one—greedy and always scheming against others. If I were still that same weak, vulnerable Xiao Man, she’d probably sell me off again just to earn a small finder’s fee, without a single thought for my pain and helplessness!’

Liang Panqiu’s home, Dawang Village, was separated from Little Wang Village by just a stretch of fields, close enough to hear each other’s chickens and dogs. In her past life, after Xiao Man married into the Wang Family, she never saw the matchmaker Liang Panqiu again. While she was being abused and trampled upon, Wang Quezi’s ex-wife made a grand return and was welcomed back with celebratory firecrackers. That woman was Liang Panqiu’s niece. There was no way Liang Panqiu didn’t know about the suffering Xiao Man was enduring. Yet she never showed her face or said a word, revealing a heart just as cold, dark, and vicious as Liu Fengying’s.

’How could I ever forgive her!’

Meanwhile, Liang Panqiu impatiently pushed past Granny Mo and girls like Liang Yanliu who were blocking her way. She was still fixated on bringing her daughter over to cozy up to Xiao Man. ’She knows,’ Liang Panqiu thought, ’that Xiao Man sends a lot of things back to Grandpa Mo’s family all year. Food, clothes, household goods—all trendy new things from the big city. Just look at Xinghua and Qiuyan in a new outfit every day, and even Da Zhi and Dapeng are dressed so sharply they don’t look like country boys.’ Especially Xinghua. She even had a skirt for the winter. Lanni had said it was called a winter skirt, a new fad from the city. ’Look at her in that bright red wool skirt,’ Liang Panqiu mused, ’it makes her skin look as white as snow and her hair as black as ink. Her face is all pink like a delicate flower. It really is seventy percent presentation and thirty percent natural beauty. She looks just like an actress from a pictorial! If she weren’t already engaged, I’d be trying to set her up with my relative’s son who works at the township government. I’d definitely earn a fat red envelope for that match!’

Liang Panqiu sighed internally. ’A shame,’ she thought. ’That matchmaking fee is a lost cause now. The only thing to do is take advantage of Xiao Man being home for winter break. I’ll have my daughter get close to her, become good friends. I’ve heard Xiao Man is very generous with her friends from the village. My daughter will be her good friend and her cousin—the benefits are sure to be endless!’

Just as the mother and daughter approached Xiao Man and Qiuyan, Yu Wumei and Jiabao emerged, each carrying a small charcoal stove filled with glowing coals. Yu Wumei called out, "Time to set the table! We’re ready to eat! We’ll start with hot pot, and the braised rabbit will be out in a little while!"

With Grandpa Mo present, the Liang Family girls instantly became a picture of diligence. They all rushed toward the kitchen, their words suddenly sweet and obedient.

"Uncle, Aunt, you should rest! Let us do the work!"

"Where are the vegetables? I’ll wash them!"

"I’ll set out the bowls and chopsticks!"

"I’ll serve the rice then!"

Xiao Man and Qiuyan exchanged a speechless look. ’Good thing we’re not helping,’ the glance seemed to say, ’otherwise, how would our cousins get the chance to put on a show?’