Pain.
Intense pain.
Like being pushed off a high building, her body was in a sudden state of weightlessness.
Reduced to bloody fragments!
Ni Yang jerked to her senses, eyes fluttering open amid splitting headaches.
Her blurry vision slowly cleared.
So did the muffled sounds surrounding her.
Ni Yang squinted her eyes.
Dull yellow light from above flickered, resembling that of an old-fashioned light bulb commonly found in rural areas in the 70s and 80s—enough to make one dizzy.
"Wah wah..." The sudden wail of a newborn broke out in the air.
Where was this?
Why was there a crying child?
Ni Yang suddenly realised that the situation before her eyes was all too familiar.
Before Ni Yang could comprehend it over, a skinny and tall elderly woman burst in from outside, exclaiming excitedly, "It's born! My eldest grandson has been born! Let me see my eldest grandson! My precious eldest grandson, your grandma is here!
The woman on the bed, holding the weeping infant, bore no smiles on her face, only shame in her eyes. "Mother, I'm sorry..."
It was not a boy.
It was a girl.
This was going to disappoint the old lady.
The old Mrs Mu swiftly pulled back the blanket covering the infant, tears streaking down her face as her countenance turned ominous, "My eldest grandson! Where is my eldest grandson? You wicked woman, give me back my eldest grandson!"
The abject weeping of the woman on the bed continued, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, mother. I'm sorry, I have failed the Mu family. But I promise, I promise I will give birth to a son for our Mu family in the next pregnancy!".
"Next one! You have the nerve to talk about the next one! Think, how many liabilities have you birthed! You old barren hen who can't produce sons!" Mrs Mu harshly stated, "Get rid of it immediately! We, the Mu family, can't afford such a liability!"
These unspeakable words echoed in her ears...
Ni Yang rubbed her temples with her hand.
Suddenly.
Ni Yang froze.
This pair of hands was creamy and delicate, slender beyond measure. Her hands, scarred from time and trials, couldn't possibly be this beautiful. However, the small red birthmark on the tiger's mouth was undoubtedly hers.
Ni Yang swiftly understood. These were her hands from when she was younger.
If this wasn't a dream, then it was the summer of 1983, the year when she lost everything.
At that time, her name was Mu Yang.
Ni Yang was the name she chose after escaping from this hellish ordeal.
She was born into a family that favoured sons over daughters.
Her mother, Ni Cuihua, gave birth to four daughters, three of whom were cast away!
Her father, Mu Jinbao, desired a son so much that he kept a mistress.
Ni Cuihua not only served like cattle and horse for the mistress but ultimately died under the heavy torment of that family.
And her?
She was sold to an old bachelor from the neighbouring village by the mistress, suffering endless torment!
And that ferocious, foul-mouthed person was her grandmother, Mrs Mu!
Previously, she failed to protect her mother and youngest sister. This time, even if it's just a dream, she will protect her mother and sister!
"Grandmother, please don't! Don't throw away my sister!" Ni Yang shielded her mother and sister with her arms.
A harsh slap swung towards Ni Yang from Mrs Mu, and a bright imprint was left on Ni Yang's face, "Shut up! Loss-generating child! How dare you defy me! Do you want to die?"
It hurt so much!
A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.
Ni Yang covered her left cheek, disbelief filled her eyes.
Would a dream cause pain?
This was not a dream!
She had been reborn!
She was back!
Despite the dire situation, Ni Yang was still elated.
This time, she was determined to take charge of her own destiny!
To protect the ones around her and resist Mrs Mu to the end!
Ni Yang looked up at Mrs Mu and said, "Grandma, I am your own granddaughter. When you cursed me as a loss, have you ever considered your own standing?"
Mrs. Mu, a woman herself who despised women, was utterly disgusting to Ni Yang!
Mrs. Mu was speechless, her murky eyes seemed like they might pop out!
This little burden dared to talk back!
However, this time, Mrs Mu held back her reprimand.
If she were to reprimand Ni Yang, doesn't it indirectly admit that she herself was a loss as well?
"You're utterly ungrateful. Move aside, or else I'll kill you!" Mrs Mu pushed away Ni Yang and grabbed the baby girl from Ni Cuihua's hold.
"Grandma, she's also your granddaughter. Please, don't throw her away!" Faced with this situation, Ni Yang decided to plead with Mrs Mu.
Her sister, just born, would be nothing more than a meal for wild dogs if she was abandoned in the mountains.