Gu Jiaojiao was beginning to question the female lead's supposed kindness, but she didn't rush to speak.
She just stared blankly at the green base of the white walls in the Su family's living room. The green and white combination gave off a sense of thriving vitality.
In the center of the living room, against the wall, was a CRT television on a cabinet, a tin candy box, and a tray with the "double happiness" character.
"Mom~ My heart aches just seeing my little sister cry~ Mom~ Please say something to her. She seems so sad~"
"Hmph! What does she have to be sad about? Our Sheng Family raised her for eighteen years for nothing. What more does she want?"
Gu Jiaojiao: ...
'What's with the female lead's tone? She's so ridiculously whiny with every word. I was just spacing out, and she's trying to pin this on me!'
'No wonder the original owner of this body was no match for her and ended up so miserable.'
'Damn it!'
'The female lead in the book is a real hypocrite, acting all high and mighty while wanting to hog all the glory.'
'I was thinking of trying to get along peacefully with the female lead before, but now it seems impossible.'
'I still don't know if the female lead had anything to do with the original owner's death. If she did, then she can't blame me for disregarding the kindness of being raised by her family.'
'Putting all that aside, I'm no punching bag. I'm not going to live a life full of frustration.'
'I was lucky enough to be reborn, so why shouldn't I live my life to the fullest!'
'So what if the female lead was reborn too? *I* know the entire plot.'
'Who's afraid of who?'
Gu Jiaojiao quickly made a decision. She would take the initiative and test the female lead to see if she had harmed the original owner of her body.
"Mom, I don't want anything. I'm married now. I lived with the Sheng Family for eighteen years before.
I saved up eight hundred yuan in New Year's money and gave it all to my sister. She even said that since I ate the Sheng Family's food for eighteen years, I'd have to slowly pay back eighteen years of living expenses."
"What? Gu Jiaojiao, you actually had eight hundred yuan of pocket money? And you gave it all to Xingxing?"
The Sheng family's third son, who had just stepped through the door, asked in astonishment. He hadn't called her Jiaojiao in over half a year.
Ever since his biological sister came home, Gu Jiaojiao had thrown endless tantrums to compete with Xingxing for their family's affection, which made him so angry he wanted to hit her.
He knew Gu Jiaojiao was supposed to pay a formal visit home today, so he'd specifically made plans with friends to go play ball outside, just to avoid her.
But then a friend told him that Gu Jiaojiao had been unconscious for two days and two nights, and he started to worry about her a little.
So he decided to come to the Su family's house to check on her. The moment he walked in, he overheard this bombshell. Eight hundred yuan! Meanwhile, he usually only had eight yuan on him all year round.
And of that eight yuan, Gu Jiaojiao had been the one to give it to him several times. 'Doesn't Jiaojiao usually spend any money?'
'No wonder she was always crying and threatening to die. He and his second brother had thought she was just trying to get sympathy and compete for affection.'
'Turns out she was heartbroken over the money. Anyone would cry their heart out after giving away eight hundred yuan at once.'
Seeing her third brother's expression change like a kaleidoscope, Sheng Xinglian knew this was bad.
So, she put on the same sad act as before and said, "I told her I didn't want it~ My little sister insisted on forcing it on me~ She even told me to buy some nice clothes for a country bumpkin like me~"
"Gu Jiaojiao, are you even human? How could you say that about your sister? If it weren't for you, would she be a country bumpkin?"
Mrs. Sheng cursed, furious, her eyes glaring fiercely at Gu Jiaojiao.
In contrast to Mrs. Sheng's explosive anger, Gu Jiaojiao was remarkably calm. The original owner of her body had indeed said something like that.
Sheng Xinglian often used to say to the original Jiaojiao, "Little sister, I'm just a country bumpkin from the village. I'm not worthy of nice clothes. I don't want this money."
The original Jiaojiao was a simple-minded girl, so she would always go along with what Sheng Xinglian said.
"Just take it and buy some clothes. You're the young lady of the Sheng family now. If you dress a little better, you won't be a country bumpkin anymore."
There was nothing wrong with that conversation, but her second and third brothers, who only ever heard half of it, were not happy.
The two brothers would scold the original Jiaojiao harshly and call her an ungrateful brat. This kind of thing happened almost every other day.
Just as Gu Jiaojiao was formulating a proper comeback for Sheng Xinglian, she heard the Sheng family's third son say meekly...
"Mom, don't be angry. If Gu Jiaojiao gave me eight hundred yuan to buy clothes, she could call me a country bumpkin, she could call me a bumpkin country, I'd still be happy."
"Sheng Shiwu... You... Are you trying to anger me to death too?"
Mrs. Sheng was so furious her features twisted into a grimace, her face turned purple-red, and she looked like she was about to explode.
"Gu Jiaojiao, I can't stand the sight of you! Don't bother with the homecoming visit, just stay here at the Su family's house. Xingxing, we're leaving."
After speaking, Mrs. Sheng left without a backward glance. Sheng Xinglian stomped her foot and ran after her.
She had encouraged her mom to come with her today because she wanted Gu Jiaojiao to give her the gift money she received for her wedding.
She had spotted a new dress the day before yesterday. The college entrance exams were next month, and she wanted to look pretty for them.
It wasn't that the Sheng Family wouldn't give her money, but whenever she went out to eat or shop with Song Zijin, she always paid for herself.
She didn't want Song Zijin to look down on her, and the money her parents gave her was hardly enough to cover her expenses.
After all the drama today, she had gotten nothing. Sheng Xinglian turned and shot Gu Jiaojiao a vicious glare.
"Xingxing, why are you glaring at Jiaojiao?" Sheng Shiwu asked. The fact that Jiaojiao had actually given Xingxing eight hundred yuan made him think that maybe Jiaojiao wasn't so unbearable after all. At least she was very good to Xingxing.
Eight hundred yuan! He decided he had to have a good talk with his second brother when he got back. Maybe there had been some misunderstanding between them and their sister.
"Jiaojiao, take care of yourself. Don't be so frugal from now on. I'm heading back now."
Gu Jiaojiao gave Sheng Shiwu a slightly puzzled look, which he mistook as her being incredibly moved.
He left in a hurry, leaving a completely bewildered Gu Jiaojiao behind.
In Gu Jiaojiao's memory, it had been a very long time since Sheng Shiwu had spoken to the original Jiaojiao in a kind and pleasant tone.
He had always attacked her fragile heart with vicious words, leaving her in a constant state of anxiety.
But now, Gu Jiaojiao no longer needed anyone's affection.
Yet he... had suddenly turned nice!
'How was the original Jiaojiao supposed to feel about this!'
"Jiaojiao, don't be sad. Are you hungry? I'll go make you something to eat." Su's mother didn't quite know how to comfort her.
"Mom, let me help you cook." Gu Jiaojiao wasn't actually sad at all.
Without waiting for Su's mother to agree, she quickly followed her into the kitchen. The Su family's kitchen wasn't large, but it was kept very clean.
Su's mother was a diligent woman. Although she had spent her days in tears ever since her son was disabled, she still managed to keep the house neat and tidy.
Gu Jiaojiao scanned the room. The Su family didn't have a refrigerator, only a wooden cupboard for dishes.
With the June weather, there was certainly no fresh fish or meat in the kitchen. Gu Jiaojiao saw a few eggs.
There were also some tomatoes, and some dried noodles in the cupboard. Gu Jiaojiao decided to make tomato and egg noodle soup.
Seeing Gu Jiaojiao take over the stove, Su's mother went to tend the fire. Gu Jiaojiao washed a pot and filled it with water.
Once the water boiled, she put the dried noodles into the pot. Then, she washed another pot to make the tomato and egg soup.
A few minutes later, the rich aroma of tomato and egg soup drifted out, causing Su Qinchun, who had followed them, to slow her steps in hesitation.
She stared at Gu Jiaojiao in disbelief. The Sheng family supposedly had household help, so the Sheng family members never had to do any chores themselves.
And yet, Gu Jiaojiao had somehow made such a fragrant egg soup. "Gu Jiaojiao, did you waste all of our eggs?"