Chapter 24: Chapter 024: Younger Sister Sheng An
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Sheng An was only a year younger than her, with healthy, glossy wheat-colored skin. A high nose bridge and heroic eyebrows. In today’s aesthetic standards, she didn’t look beautiful; many people in the village even said she was ugly behind her back.
But in the future, she would definitely be a goddess who could captivate both men and women.
When Sheng An saw her, her eyes flared up immediately, and she aggressively said, “Why did you come back? How dare you come back?”
“An’an, don’t talk to your sister like that,” Shen Luhua scolded unhappily.
“Mom, at this point, are you still protecting this troublemaker? Don’t you think she hasn’t harmed me enough?” Sheng An’s voice trembled as she spoke, glaring at Sheng Ning as if she wanted to devour her.
“I’m sorry, An’an,” Sheng Ning apologized guiltily. In her past life, she only met Sheng An once before she died.
At that time, Sheng An’s body was sent back by the town chief’s family. But all the uncles and elders said that a married daughter, especially an adopted one, shouldn’t dirty the Sheng family’s ground.
They wouldn’t let Sheng An’s corpse enter the house no matter what. The harsh and venomous insults would anger anyone who heard them.
Sheng Ning still clearly remembered Sheng An’s emaciated body lying in a coffin at the village entrance.
She never took a step into the house, even in death.
“You… why are you looking at me like that?” Sheng An felt uncomfortable under her gaze. The fierce look she had wore down, and she even took a step back. After stepping back, she felt embarrassed and rushed to Shen Luhua, pulling her arm. “Mom, don’t bother with her. Let’s go.” She said, pulling Shen Luhua towards the farmland behind the village.
“An’an, don’t be so stubborn.” Shen Luhua, seeing her stepdaughter finally come back, felt she must treat her well as a stepmother. Otherwise, if the rumors of her being harsh spread, the family would have no good reputation left.
“Mom, am I your real daughter, or is she?” Sheng An jumped up in anger, glaring hatefully at Sheng Ning. Her black and white eyes slowly welled up.
“You always tried to please her since we were kids. The best food, the most fun things, you always gave them to her first. When it was busy on the farm, I did all the house chores. She wanted to join the Song and Dance Troupe, so you made me marry the town chief’s fool just to pull strings and send her there. What more do you want? Do you really have to drive me to death to be satisfied?”
Sheng An’s words were like a blunt knife, cutting into Sheng Ning’s heart, leaving it bloodied and raw.
“I’m sorry, An’an.” Shen Luhua felt deeply pained for her daughter. At that moment, she couldn’t bring herself to comfort her stepdaughter, so she could only apologize, “Ningning, you should go home and rest first. I’ll come back and make something delicious for you.”
“Delicious? We can barely keep the pot boiling.” Sheng An said bluntly.
Shen Luhua smiled awkwardly. The family was indeed too poor. To pull strings and send Ningning to the General Union, they had sold everything they could. Now they were just waiting for the autumn harvest, or else the whole family would go hungry.
“Mom, you go ahead. My sister is not in a good mood; don’t worry about me,” Sheng Ning said, wiping her tears with her sleeve, smiling at her stepmother who she once deeply disliked.
She realized she had been such an idiot. Such a good mother was a blessing she had earned through many lifetimes. In her past life, she hadn’t treasured her well, but this time, she would definitely be a filial daughter and a qualified sister.
Shen Luhua widened her eyes in disbelief at her words, and even the furious Sheng An looked at her in shock.
“Mom, I’ll go back and cook first. Come back early!” Sheng Ning smiled gently. The sharp look she used to have was gone. When she looked at Shen Luhua, her eyes were warm and kind, making one feel especially comfortable.