Quick Transmigration: The Gossip Master Took the Black Lotus Script - Chapter 13

What kind of little white rabbit could become a stepmother and torment her predecessor’s child to death? Seeing Chen Juhua constantly threatening to “report her,” she had enough.

“Go ahead and report me! Who doesn’t know that brat has already cut ties with our family? If the police say I’m a fraud, I’ll be the first one to object.”

As soon as she finished, she yanked out a tuft of Chen Juhua’s hair. Chen Juhua howled in pain and fought back fiercely.

Half an hour later, the brawl ended with both sides battered and bruised. The two women sat on the ground, panting and glaring at each other. It was Luo Ning who finally broke the stalemate.

“Auntie, even if Xiaofang has cut ties with your family, the fact remains—we paid four hundred yuan for a job in Zhang Xiaofang’s name, right?”

This was an undeniable fact, and no matter how sharp-tongued Xiaofang’s stepmother was, she couldn’t refute it.

Luo Ning continued pitifully, “Auntie, our family scraped together that money by emptying our savings. Even if the deal fell through, the money should still be returned.”

Return the money? Most of it was already spent—what was she supposed to do, drain the family’s reserves? She was unwilling.

Her eyes darted around slyly, and she began playing the victim herself: “Luo Ning, Auntie watched you grow up, but I also have my difficulties. The old at home are old, the young are still young, and that money has long been spent. Even if I want to return it, I can’t.

“Besides, I’m a victim too. If it weren’t for Xiaofang suddenly backing out and even stirring things up at the factory, would we be fighting like this?

“You and Xiaofang get along, don’t you? Why don’t you go talk to her and ask her to give you the job? Then everyone would be happy, don’t you think?”

Her endless chatter circled one point only: no money, and certainly no life. If Luo Ning had the ability, she should go demand the job back from Xiaofang herself. That way, Xiaofang would be shipped off to the countryside—a win-win for her.

Luo Ning was furious at this shamelessness. She had already gone to Xiaofang first, thinking that a bit of pitiful pleading would make her give up the job like before. But Xiaofang, now just as hard-hearted as that slut Luo An, wasn’t fooled. She had the gate guard throw Luo Ning out, not even granting her a meeting. Even if Luo Ning had three heads and six arms, there was no way to act.

Thinking of this made her hate Xiaofang even more. All those standing in her way—once she rose to power, she’d make them suffer.

But for now, the most urgent matter was getting the money back. If not, her family would tear her apart—after all, she was the one who suggested spending money to buy Xiaofang’s job in the first place.

With that in mind, she steeled herself and lunged toward the wall, crying, “Auntie, if I can’t get this money back, my family won’t forgive me. I might as well die right here at your house!”

Of course, she chose the time and place carefully. With a crowd watching nearby, she was quickly stopped and “rescued,” her attempt a failure.

“Old Zhang’s wife, this isn’t right. Four hundred yuan doesn’t disappear that quickly. You should pay it back—can’t just let someone die at your doorstep.”

“That’s right, this whole thing is on you. How could you sell off Xiaofang’s job behind her back? Now that she’s taken it back, you owe the money.”

“Hey, if you’re greedy enough to keep this money, maybe what Xiaofang said about you abusing her was true. Even as a stepmother, you can’t be like this—she’s still part of the Zhang family’s bloodline.”

“Pay it back. If you don’t, we’ll go to the Public Security Bureau. If she really dies here, I won’t be able to sleep at night.”

…

The neighbors chimed in one after another, and it was obvious what they thought of Xiaofang’s stepmother—her character was rotten.

With so many people supporting her, Chen Juhua calmed down. Hands on her hips, she declared, “I’ll give you two minutes to fetch the money. If you don’t, we’ll meet at the Public Security Bureau. Or better yet, I’ll have my husband talk to your husband’s supervisor and see what the leaders think of such untrustworthy people.”

That struck a fatal blow.

Because of Xiaofang’s fuss, her husband’s supervisor had already criticized him for failing to keep his family in order. If Luo’s family caused more trouble at the factory, her husband would beat her half to death.

She didn’t want to pay, but had no choice—gritting her teeth, she returned the money in full, though it pained her bitterly.

The moment Luo Ning got the money, her scheming began. “Good thing we got it back. I’ll look around in the next few days to see if there are other jobs for sale. Then we can just buy another one.”

But Chen Juhua looked hesitant, as though she had something unpleasant to say. Luo Ning noticed immediately and pressed her. Just as she was wondering what it was, Chen Juhua spoke.

“Ning Ning, this money can’t be used to buy you a job anymore.”

Luo Ning’s face darkened instantly, her tone sharp. “Mom, what do you mean by that?”

Knowing her daughter’s temper, Chen Juhua hurried to soothe her. “You know your brother’s situation. All the family’s money has to go to him first. Your father says your job will have to wait.”

“Why should my matter be pushed back? If I wait any longer, I’ll be forced to go to the countryside. Mom, I don’t want to! I’ll die there!” Luo Ning clutched her mother’s hand, crying.

Chen Juhua loved her daughter, but loved her son more. “Ning Ning, be sensible. Your brother’s future is a lifelong matter—it can’t be delayed.”

“And mine can? Are you even my mother? Before, when he could pass on the family line, you doted on him—fine. But now he’s just like me. No! Worse than me! At least I can still have children, but he can’t leave descendants. Why should I still yield to him?”

Luo Ning shouted, her voice raw, not caring about anything else. Chen Juhua, enraged, slapped her across the face. “How can you say that about your brother! Do you think he wants this? He hasn’t even wanted to go to work these past two days. Don’t you dare upset him again.”

“Girls are girls, boys are boys. Even though your father and I love you, you need to face reality. And your brother’s condition can be treated—it will be treated!”

Her voice rose louder and louder, as if to convince both Luo Ning and herself. But when the words ended, her tears began to fall uncontrollably.

Half her life had gone smoothly, but in just a few days she had been knocked back down to nothing. Only she knew the bitterness.

Seeing her mother both belittle her and strike her, Luo Ning’s eyes blazed with fury. “Fine! Since you put it that way, don’t come to me when you’re in trouble.”

She stormed out without looking back.

Chen Juhua stared at her daughter’s retreating figure, her tears flowing even harder. The injustice of fate weighed on her heart.

But none of them knew—this matter was far from over…