Su Qing glanced at the stunned middle-aged woman and quickly scanned the original owner’s memories. ’Ah, so this is the original owner’s first aunt-in-law, Zheng Erlian.’

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had met Zheng Erlian since she arrived.

It was no wonder Zheng Erlian didn’t recognize Su Qing at first glance.

In the past few years with the Old Su Family, Su Qing had always been sallow and emaciated, with dull, yellowish hair. She wore ragged clothes and carried herself with a timid, withdrawn air.

But the Su Qing of today was a different person. After two or three months of recuperating, she was no longer fragile, sallow, and emaciated. Her hair was no longer dry and yellowed. And while her clothes weren’t new, they were clean and tidy. On top of that, with dusk falling, Zheng Erlian hadn’t immediately noticed the scar on Su Qing’s left cheek. That was why she was so shocked to hear Su Mei’s words.

Zheng Erlian sized Su Qing up, and upon seeing the scar on her left cheek, she was certain. This really was Su Qing. Instantly, Zheng Erlian’s expression soured.

’Her own daughter had been bullied by Su Qing several times. Her husband, Su Jian Country, had repeatedly warned her not to provoke Su Qing and cause trouble. Fine, she had tolerated it. But today, Su Qing had brazenly appeared right in front of her. As an elder, surely there was nothing wrong with saying a few words to a junior, right?’

Bottling up her anger, Zheng Erlian said coldly, "Erya, why aren’t you greeting your elders? No matter what, I am still your first aunt-in-law. A young lady shouldn’t be so impolite."

"Oh, so it’s my first aunt-in-law," Su Qing said lightly. "It’s a bit dark, I didn’t recognize you. What’s this? Are you going to lecture me the moment you see me? Pulling rank as an elder?"

Zheng Erlian’s expression darkened. "What, you think I can’t lecture you?"

"Of course you can’t." Su Qing gave Zheng Erlian no quarter. For years in the Old Su Family home, every time Zheng Erlian returned, she had treated the original Su Qing with arrogance, ordering her around like a little servant girl. "I’ve never eaten a single grain of your family’s rice, so what right do you have to lecture me? You have your own son and daughter. If you want to lecture someone, go home and lecture them. Don’t you dare pull rank on me. Every last one of you from the Old Su Family is unworthy."

These words showed absolutely no respect for Zheng Erlian, making her face flush red with anger.

’She thought about how Old Su had been in the hospital these past few days. Not only had she been summoned to take care of her, but the old woman was constantly making trouble. One moment she wasn’t feeling well and needed someone by her side at all times, the next she was being a picky eater and demanding fine food. It had been utterly exhausting. She had just gotten back from the hospital today. She felt that if Old Su kept this up, she herself would end up in the hospital before the old woman was even discharged.’

And yet, Su Qing hadn’t shown her face at all these past few days.

"Su Qing, do you even know that your grandma is in the hospital?" Zheng Erlian asked, grinding her teeth.

"I know," Su Qing said lightly.

"If you know, then why aren’t you at the hospital taking care of your grandma? You’d rather wander around town than go to the hospital. How can you be so unfilial?" Zheng Erlian said. "Hurry up. Starting tomorrow, you will go to the hospital and take care of your grandma. Your third aunt-in-law and I are at the hospital now. Since your parents are gone, you have to fulfill their filial duties for them."

"First Aunt-in-law, don’t you try to guilt me with that nonsense. None of you elders even know the meaning of filial piety, so what gives you the right to demand it from me? Besides, I’m not some glutton for punishment. After being abused by your Old Su Family for so many years, I finally escaped. You think I’m going to run right back for more?" Su Qing said coldly. "And another thing, the only reason Grandma is in the hospital is because Third Aunt-in-law beat her and put her there."

"Your grandma is in the hospital because your third aunt-in-law hit her?" Zheng Erlian was stunned. "Really?"

Beside her, Su Mei’s eyes went wide with shock.

"First Aunt-in-law, don’t tell me you didn’t know about this?" Su Qing’s mouth fell slightly open as she feigned a look of shock at Zheng Erlian.

Zheng Erlian pursed her lips. She really hadn’t known. These past few days, not just Tian Aixiang, but even Old Su herself had only said she’d been hospitalized after a fall. ’It’s true that Old Su has been glaring daggers at Tian Aixiang,’ she thought, ’but I didn’t think much of it. I just figured the old woman was irritable because of her injury. After all, she’s been tormenting me, too.’

Seeing that Zheng Erlian truly didn’t know, Su Qing’s lips curled into a smile. "I heard Grandma’s medical bills and nutrition fees will be around one hundred fifty or sixty yuan. Grandpa even wanted me to pay eighty, but I refused. After all, Third Aunt-in-law is the one who beat her and put her in the hospital, so it’s only right that Third Uncle and Aunt pay the bill. First Aunt-in-law, did Grandpa and Grandma make you pay for the medical bills?"

Zheng Erlian stared at Su Qing, her eyes narrowing as she took a deep, harsh breath to calm the tightness in her chest. Of course her family had paid for the medical bills. They had paid twenty yuan.

’Old Su’s medical bills came out to about sixty yuan. They originally wanted our family to pay thirty, but I stopped that, so we only paid twenty.’

’I can’t believe Old Su actually tried to get eighty yuan out of Su Qing. Even if I don’t like her, I have to admit, that’s just plain vicious.’

’But this Su Qing doesn’t seem to be a pushover anymore. She actually didn’t pay a single cent.’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Oh, so you really paid." Su Qing knew from Zheng Erlian’s expression and let out a dry laugh. "First Aunt-in-law, you really played the part of the sucker, didn’t you? Congratulations, congratulations."

Before Zheng Erlian could say anything else, Su Qing continued, "First Aunt-in-law, you should hurry up and go have a nice chat with Third Aunt-in-law. Don’t waste your time thinking about how to deal with me like you used to. I’m not the same pushover I was before. If you try to plot against me, I will hit back."

With that, Su Qing turned and walked away.

Su Mei shouted angrily, "Su Qing, how dare you speak to my mom like that!"

Hearing this, Su Qing turned and shot Su Mei a cold glare. "Su Mei, have you forgotten how you slandered my mother’s reputation? The way I’m treating your mom now is me being merciful. Remember this: don’t provoke me again. Otherwise, I’ll do to your mother exactly what you did to mine, and we’ll see who comes out worse."

"You..." Su Mei was speechless. She was about to say something more, but Su Qing completely ignored her and walked away. Suddenly, Su Mei felt all her rage lose its target, getting stuck in her chest in a horribly uncomfortable way.

"Let’s go. Home." Zheng Erlian’s mind was now completely preoccupied with the fact that her family had been suckered into paying twenty yuan. After a quick word to Su Mei, she strode briskly toward home. She had to have a good talk with Su Jian Country about this. No matter what, they had to get to the bottom of it. Her family couldn’t just let themselves be swindled like this without even knowing why.

Su Qing knew that with the fire she had just stoked, the Old Su Family was bound to erupt in chaos. Not that she cared. She would never pass up an opportunity to cause trouble for the Old Su Family.

It was a shame, though, that she was leaving for a long trip tomorrow. She was destined to miss the show.