Chapter 7: My Dad Slept with Eldest Aunt

Within Si Muchen’s small body, an unprecedented surge of violent energy churned wildly!

[Ahhhhh—Host, stop! Don’t, don’t do it!] The System let out a piercing electronic shriek, its glowing orb flickering frantically: [Calm down! Calm down! I have a way to make up for it! Really!]

Si Muchen’s hand paused at his neck, his dark eyes filled with icy coldness.

“Speak!”

The System, still trembling with fear, spoke rapidly: [—Energy! As long as there’s enough energy, I can successfully transfer the misfortune from your body! The transferred misfortune can even turn into good luck! I’ve already found another System in this world overflowing with energy—I can steal it!]

Si Muchen’s hand didn’t move.

The System hurriedly pressed on: [Host, believe me, once all your misfortune turns into good luck, you’ll be able to pick up money, gold, and treasures just by walking around!]

[The more energy we have, the more transfers we can make, and what’s left will be nothing but good luck! And not just any good luck—the kind where you pick up so much money your hands go numb!]

[Host, don’t you want to clear your family’s name? With good luck on your side, you’ll achieve twice the results with half the effort!]

The System used every persuasive word it could think of in its entire existence!

Wuwuwu… This was so hard for it! On its very first mission after coming of age, it had encountered such a difficult host!

Si Muchen slowly lowered his hand, complex emotions swirling in his eyes.

He had no interest in picking up coins, but… clearing his family’s name…

He remained silent for a long time.

So long that the System shivered, thinking he was about to lose it again.

Finally, a cold voice spoke: “If you dare lie to me again…”

“I wouldn’t dare! I promise to complete the mission!” The System’s glowing orb nodded frantically, even though it had no neck to speak of.

…

Early the next morning, Yu Wanqin was already up.

She went to the kitchen and looked around, finding the cabinets stocked with fine rice, white flour, cured meats, sausages, and even eggs.

Thinking of how Tongtong had followed her, eating coarse grains and wild vegetables at home, the little girl’s body so thin she barely had any flesh on her bones.

Her heart grew heavy again.

She didn’t hold back, taking out all the good ingredients to make fragrant egg pancakes and rice porridge.

After Tongtong woke up and had breakfast, mother and daughter held hands and went out together.

In the courtyard, several aunties were sitting together, picking vegetables and chatting.

Yu Wanqin brought out the pancakes she had made for everyone to try.

These pancakes were made according to the flavors of her hometown, using Sichuan-style methods—spicy, savory, and crispy.

The locals had never tasted anything like it and found it quite novel.

“Oh my! Sister Wanqin, your cooking skills are really something! This is so delicious it’s almost intoxicating!” Liu Lan, the wife of Political Commissar Chen, ate with relish: “By the way, where’s your Deputy Battalion Commander Lin? I haven’t seen him around.”

The Lin family’s drama from yesterday had caused quite a stir, and everyone was waiting for the follow-up.

Liu Lan’s question piqued everyone’s curiosity.

Several pairs of eyes immediately turned to Yu Wanqin.

Yu Wanqin remained calm and was about to answer.

But beside her, Tongtong, who had been nibbling on her egg pancake, wiped her little mouth and answered brightly: “Auntie, my dad? He went to sleep with Eldest Aunt at the guesthouse last night!”

Everyone’s expressions turned to shock, their eyes practically glowing with excitement!

Big news!

Deputy Battalion Commander Lin had claimed nothing was going on with his sister-in-law, yet here he was—with his wife showing up, instead of staying with her, he went to sleep with his sister-in-law at the guesthouse?

Heavens!

Tongtong blinked her innocent big eyes, her face full of childish curiosity. “Aunties, are the beds in the guesthouse extra big? Why did Daddy have to sleep with eldest aunt? Do all daddies sleep with their eldest aunts?”

“Pfft—”

Chen An’an, the third son of Liu Lan’s family, was squatting nearby brushing his teeth. Upon hearing this, he spat out a mouthful of water.

A few years older than Tongtong, he understood a bit more and spoke quickly.

“That’s not true at all! My dad only sleeps with my mom. My mom says only married couples share a room!”

Tongtong’s adorable little face immediately scrunched up in confusion, her beautiful big eyes filled with bewilderment as she fiddled with her fingers.

“But my daddy and mommy are the married couple… Does that mean Daddy has two wives? Hmm… No wonder Daddy and eldest aunt’s clothes are kept together… There’s only one bed at home…”

Boom—!

The adults nearby who had been eavesdropping instantly wore expressions of shock and intrigue!

Their exchanged glances were filled with meaningful implications.

This was quite the revelation!

“Ahem!” Someone coughed awkwardly. “Tongtong, dear, children shouldn’t say such things!”

“Exactly! You mustn’t say things like that outside in the future,” another tried to smooth things over, though their expression clearly showed they believed it.

Liu Lan glanced sympathetically at Yu Wanqin and spoke earnestly. “Wanqin, dear, you really need to be more careful. Men can sometimes have wandering hearts… you have to keep a close eye on them.”

Yu Wanqin promptly wore a flustered and helpless expression, waving her hands gently as she spoke softly.

“No, no, sisters, please don’t misunderstand. Zhi Guo and sister-in-law aren’t like that… He explained everything to me yesterday…”

“Eldest sister-in-law has had a hard time alone since my eldest brother passed away. Zhi Guo brought her to the family compound to take care of her. If there really was something going on, it would have happened long ago.”

The more she explained, the more it sounded like she was trying to cover things up to the others, only confirming their suspicions.

They pitied Yu Wanqin for being too naive and simple, completely fooled by others.

In the corner, a young wife who had just finished washing vegetables rolled her eyes, hurried home to toss aside her vegetable basket, and left quickly.

She was Zhang Yanfang, the little nurse who was close with Shen Wei, and she happened to be off duty today.

She had to hurry and tell Shen Wei about this, or her reputation would be ruined!

Shen Wei was currently working as a nurse at the Military District Hospital. As soon as she started her shift, she received the news from her friend and turned pale with anger!

She quickly asked for half a day off and returned at noon with red eyes, holding a listless Lin Jiaojiao in her arms and leading Lin Ruihu by the hand on her right.

As soon as she entered the family compound, she began wiping her tears.

“Jiaojiao, my poor Jiaojiao… It’s all because Mommy is useless, letting you get so scared and fall sick like this…”

Her crying immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Someone asked, “What happened to Jiaojiao?”

Lin Jiaojiao lay on her mother’s shoulder, her face pale, not saying a word, her lips pursed and eyes teary.

In her heart, she thought bitterly, I must drive that little brat and her mother out!

Shen Wei sighed. “I don’t know what happened. Yesterday, when my sister-in-law came, she drove our whole family out. Jiaojiao might have gotten scared and developed a high fever in the middle of the night. Thankfully, Zhi Guo hadn’t left yet and helped me take the child to the hospital. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do!”

Everyone sighed in sympathy.

So they hadn’t slept together—they had gone to the hospital instead.

Zhang Yanfang immediately chimed in, “Exactly! I heard it all today—some people just opened their mouths and accused you of seducing your own brother-in-law. Heaven knows, it was clearly her bullying others!”

Another young wife, Li Xue, who was close to Shen Wei, also chimed in, “Yes! How heartless can you be, nitpicking with your own family? How could you drive someone out in the middle of the night? Look at Jiaojiao’s pale little face—she must have been terrified!”

The group echoed each other, their words dripping with accusations that Yu Wanqin was petty and intolerant.

Tongtong blinked her eyes.

Feeling a bit disdainful inside.

Their acting skills are so poor.

Now it’s her turn to perform.

Time to show these bumpkins what real acting looks like.

Let them see what the System’s performance rules are all about!