"What consequence is there? It's just another beating," Liang Shaofen sniffled before adding, "Mom's going first, let me know if you need anything."
Watching Liang Shaofen's retreating back, Song Yitang screamed, "Are you really content to let him bully you for the rest of your life?"
Liang Shaofen's figure paused, but she quickly moved on.
Even if she wasn't content, what could she do?
The moment Song Yitang got her household registration page, a sense of powerlessness washed over her instantly.
Song Yitang's case caused quite a stir throughout the Golden Brigade.
When Song Jianguo found out that Liang Shaofen had stolen the household registration page, he was furious and once again resorted to hitting and kicking her.
This time, Song Chenghao spoke out to stop him.
Song Jianguo always felt that something had quietly started to change after Song Yitang left.
Song Yitang learned that it should have been Li Qianjin's little sister who was supposed to go to the countryside, and it was Li Qianjin who had volunteered to take her place.
In Li Qianjin's eyes, Song Yitang was just like his little sister.
In the end, Liang Xiulian, who was convicted of the crime of trafficking girls and was originally sentenced to five years, somehow Zhao Shouzhong used some means and managed to extend the sentence to seven years.
Liang Xiulian's family kept coming over to apologize, but Captain Zhang chased them all away.
Unwittingly, Song Yitang had even become the darling of the Golden Brigade, with everyone eager to get on good terms with her.
[Mission completed, please check the space for your reward.]
Just getting home, Song Yitang heard the system's notification sound and jumped up excitedly.
She couldn't wait to enter the space.
The screen that was originally showing options for sciences and humanities, she approached and followed the tutorial.
It turned out to be not just a curtain but an electronic screen, and Song Yitang could swipe to select subjects.
This is way too advanced! She marveled inwardly.
She locked the door, skipped dinner, and dove straight into the space to experience online classes with famous teachers.
At the same time, the space also refreshed a batch of new exercises to be used in conjunction with the online classes.
Indeed, with courses taught by famous teachers, Song Yitang made rapid progress in her studies.
With just one week left before school started, and enough money in hand, she decided to cut back on work time and focus on her studies.
Just having finished a set of math exercises, the next second a score of 105 appeared in front of her.
In just two short weeks, she had improved by dozens of points!
Before she could rejoice, the noise outside interrupted her.
"You're starting school in a couple of days, I went to the commune yesterday and bought some fabric to make you a few summer outfits,"
Aunt Liu came carrying a bag of things.
But looking at the sewing craftsmanship, Song Yitang recognized at a glance it was Liang Shaofen's work.
"Oh, and I have some meat that I can't finish, take it home with you!"
Song Yitang pretended to go to the kitchen, took out a pound of pork and half a can of malted milk essence from space, then took out two sets of exercises for the first year of high school.
"How do you have the money to buy these?"
"I got a hundred from the family separation, and some are from Secretary Zhao, Aunt Liu, just take it with peace of mind,"
"And these, Xiao Hui is starting high school this year, you use this for her."
"This is from Secretary Zhao, got it using connections, from the capital, it's top-quality learning material."
Hearing it was from the capital, Aunt Liu's eyes lit up, she cursed Song Jianguo for being blind while expressing gratitude to Song Yitang.
When Aunt Liu left, Song Yitang picked up the clothes and compared them.
They were indeed a perfect fit, Aunt Liu was unaware of her size.
[Host, reaching top ten in the school-starting examination will unlock new skills.]
It didn't say what skills, but when Song Yitang heard there was more to be gained, she was filled with enthusiasm!
Aunt Liu brought the message back to Liang Shaofen; learning that Song Yitang hadn't refused, her heart was also filled with excitement.
In the past few days, Song Yitang had reached a state of neglecting sleep and meals.
Zhao Shouzhong and Li Qianjin went to visit her and were startled to see her with dark circles under her eyes.
"What a formidable youth, you will definitely achieve great things in the future!"
Zhao Shouzhong teased Song Yitang, sincerely believing in her potential.
Li Qianjin had originally intended to give Song Yitang some money his family had sent him, but upon learning that Song Yitang's savings were twice his own, he froze on the spot.
"Hahaha, you little rascal."
Zhao Shouzhong laughed with his mouth gaping.
Zhao Shouzhong brought Song Yitang two high-quality fountain pens and a bunch of ballpoint pens.
Although such stationery was abundant in the space, Song Yitang still accepted them.
On the night before school started, Song Yitang was so excited that she couldn't sleep.
The next day, Zhao Shouzhong took time off from work and, together with Li Qianjin, had Uncle Li hitch up a bullock cart to take her to town to catch the bus.
Having both experienced that kidnapping incident, Zhao Shouzhong and Li Qianjin's relationship was very good, with Li Qianjin being highly favored by Zhao Shouzhong.
They didn't expect to run into the Zhang Family of four at the village entrance: Li Ping, Zhang Rui, his sister Zhang Ting, and her husband Zhao Hongjun.
Zhao Hongjun was driving a white Citroën CX20.
Seeing a car in the remote Golden Brigade made Li Qianjin's emotions surge, and he tugged at Zhao Shouzhong, saying, "Secretary, someone in our brigade can actually afford a car!"
Zhao Shouzhong responded with an air of indifference, his tone derisive, "Don't act like a poor, uncultured person."
Li Ping and the others also spotted Song Yitang and Zhao Shouzhong; Li Ping certainly wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to kick someone while they were down.
Just as Zhao Hongjun had started the car and was about to drive off, Li Ping called out to him to stop.
A flash of dissatisfaction crossed Zhao Hongjun's eyes.
Zhang Ting had also heard from her mother about Zhang Rui's near-death experience and couldn't summon any fondness for Song Yitang.
"Tsk tsk, I say, Song Erya, if only you had been sensible back then, you wouldn't have ended up riding in a bullock cart!"
"See that? My son-in-law's car, something even city folks can't afford to drive, but my son-in-law can!"
Upon seeing Zhang Ting, Song Yitang involuntarily trembled with anger, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
In her previous life, she had died in childbirth, and before her body was even cold, Zhang Ting had arrived with people to dissect her body and quickly left with two suitcases.
To this day, she suspected that her death might have been orchestrated by Zhang Ting herself.
After all, were the things she did to harm her ever minor?
For every single thing, she wanted Zhang Ting to pay with blood for blood.
She must avenge this grievance!
Sensing that something was off with Song Yitang, Zhao Shouzhong instructed Uncle Li, "Let's go."
Seeing that they weren't taking the bait, Li Ping was furious on the spot; only after much coaxing by Zhang Ting did she agree to get into the car.
After watching Song Yitang get on the bus, the two finally left.
Song Yitang carried two large bags of things back to the dormitory before going to report for school.
After making her bed, Su Meimei arrived late. As soon as she entered the dormitory, she sat on Song Yitang's bed and acted coquettishly.
"I'm so tired, Tangtang, make my bed for me, will you?"
If it had been in the past, Song Yitang would have complied, but in her previous life, Su Meimei, posing as her best friend, had deliberately flirted with Zhang Rui to hurt her after seeing the Zhang family's rise to wealth.
She might not be able to touch Zhang Ting for now, but was Su Meimei not someone she could deal with?
"Get up, are you without hands or feet, or are you an orphan?"
"I have no obligation to help you, and I don't like other people sitting on my bed."
Su Meimei had also arrived by bullock cart, her buttocks covered in mud, and Song Yitang frowned upon seeing the dirtied bedsheets.
"What's the matter, aren't we the best of sisters?"