Chapter 8: Chapter 8
The truth proved that even honest people could throw quite the tantrum when provoked!
Thinking back to her scumbag father and stepmother's expressions—like they'd swallowed eight hundred catties of dog shit yet had to force it down—An Ning secretly applauded the original owner of this body in her heart.
But soon her smile faded. Just how desperate must a girl raised with the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, molded by feudal society, have been to wager the lives of her entire clan? And to threaten her own biological father at that!
After her daily mental cursing of that inhuman scumbag father, An Ning pulled her younger brother closer and instructed Suxin and the other maids to bring over the prepared fruits and pastries:
"You must not have eaten properly coming here so early. Have some snacks to tide you over."
"Later I'll have the kitchen prepare your favorites—the Eight Treasure Duck you loved as a child, and braised lamb, how does that sound?"
Indeed, ever since her pregnancy, without her even asking, the Hengwu Courtyard kitchen had been fully equipped, ensuring she lacked nothing. All provisions came directly from the main estate.
"Elder sister, there's no need for such trouble..."
The thirteen-year-old boy had arrived anxiously after hearing the prince's residence summoned him, worried whether his sister suffered mistreatment here. But seeing her glowing complexion and the lavish spread of at least a dozen types of fruits and snacks, the visible luxury in the room, and the overly attentive maids practically ready to hand-feed her—his unspoken concerns stuck in his throat.
Fortunately, An Ning couldn't read his thoughts. Truthfully, apart from that first month in the palace, she hadn't suffered at all here.
Some believed emotional pain was the real suffering, but An Ning thought those people had never truly experienced material deprivation—begging temperamental aunties just for a full meal, distributing flyers in sweltering heat wearing heavy mascot costumes, squeezing into tiny rented rooms during breaks, enduring summers without AC to save tuition...
In her view, if basic needs weren't met, what meaning did psychological comfort have?
Finding imperial banquet flavors in sweet potato buns? Sorry, she couldn't manage that delusion in any lifetime.
Keeping these thoughts to himself, the boy silently vowed to study hard to become his sister and future nephew's protector.
An Ning had guessed correctly—the Majia household spared no luxuries for morning meals, and the journey had left Long'an famished. Yet even so, he only nibbled a few pastries with refined manners, careful not to embarrass his sister before the maids.
An Ning sighed—poverty indeed matured children early. In the original owner's memories, her stepmother's spoiled son threw tantrums over every dissatisfaction. Only their father, with his utterly biased judgment, could believe such a pampered good-for-nothing had prospects. No wonder after all these years he remained a petty sixth-rank official.
To make the boy comfortable, An Ning dismissed the maids during the meal. Only then did he relax somewhat as they exchanged updates about their lives.
From her brother, An Ning learned their scumbag father had been living large—no promotions but several new concubines, some already bearing children. For a minor sixth-rank official's household, it had become quite lively.
This surprised An Ning not at all. The stepmother was vicious and petty, but hardly shrewd—otherwise she wouldn't have openly mistreated the first wife's children. Her bullying succeeded only because their father was a lustful, conscienceless wretch.
The original owner's mother had been remarkably capable—when she married, the scumbag was just a common bondservant with only a modest shop and mediocre property. She managed the household, cared for her mother-in-law, and strategized business growth in spare moments. Years of hard-earned savings all went to her husband's networking.
Having official status in the capital provided advantages, especially for children's futures. During the Three Feudatories Rebellion when the court needed manpower, her father lucked into a position.
A sound plan, but perhaps from overwork, the mother died soon after enjoying any benefits of being an official's wife, leaving her children to the stepmother's cruelty.
The stepmother, Lady Hada, absurdly brought in beautiful concubines right after bearing a son, to undermine the first wife's memory. With new distractions, the father grew comfortable rejecting reminders of his former controlled life, blaming his deceased wife for jealousy—never mind they'd been too poor for concubines initially!
Now it became the dead woman's fault. As the courtyard sisters said: men were the world's most reliably losing investment.
But this brother showed promise! Studying the boy, An Ning's eyes gleamed with amusement. She'd noticed his hints about stirring chaos in the troubled household.
Realizing he couldn't fool his sister, the boy scratched his head sheepishly. An Ning mentally applauded the original owner—this kid had spine. Knowing to fight back was good; she had no patience for doormats.
After lunch, An Ning inquired about his studies—his confidence blossomed discussing this topic. Despite hardships, he studied diligently, planning to attempt the imperial exams soon regardless.
Excellent—her mission target was resilient grass growing through cracks, requiring only occasional watering rather than intensive care.
Before his departure, An Ning happily packed fine fabrics for her brother, selected decent but unfashionable jade pendants from her overflowing jewelry box (ones she'd never wear), plus the original owner's saved twenty taels of silver. With her current wealth, she added eighty more to round it out.
Worried he'd be too frugal, she included tonics. Initially refusing, he finally accepted her insistence.
"The Imperial College is the pinnacle of learning, full of nobles' sons. Showing up shabby just invites bullying."
"And once enrolled, be generous with classmates—never appear stingy..."
Chattering like a doting sister, she moved the long-separated boy to tears, vowing to study hard to support his lonely sister. She omitted that these gifts were crumbs from her fortune.
Since her pregnancy, her lord husband had showered her with income-generating estates and shops, complete with managers—she just collected profits.
Admittedly, being a slacker was shameful... but oh so comfortable!
Watching her brother leave reluctantly, An Ning happily returned to her new novels, only grudgingly taking a courtyard stroll under the matrons' nagging.
Her system watched flabbergasted—especially after peeking at Consort Zhangjia in the rear palace, squeezed among lower-ranked concubines, anxiously protecting her pregnancy while enduring Consort De's subtle torments.
Was this... the luck of the lazy? The system couldn't comprehend.