Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 7 - 7 7 Stealing White Sugar

“Oh, my dear Second Uncle and Aunt, what exactly is wrong with Chiang Xiao? Don’t you think we should consult the Buddha?” Song Xiyun’s anxiety intensified the more she pondered the situation. Keeping her distance, she shot frequent, distrustful looks toward Chiang Xiao.

“What kind of nonsense are you spewing?” Chiang Songhai’s temper was already simmering, and hearing her words caused his expression to darken even further.

Song Xiyun pursed her lips, insisting, “Second Uncle, I’m only worried about Little Little’s health! That creek she tumbled into isn't just any stream; it’s the one at the base of the mountain! Have you forgotten, Second Uncle, how many souls have been lost to those waters?”

Within Siyang Village, several locations were strictly avoided by the locals. Among them were Bai Gu Mountain to the west and the Nameless Creek flowing at its foot.

Though referred to as a creek, the waterway was actually quite substantial, with depths that were deceptively profound.

Setting aside the legends of Water Ghosts whispered by the elders, the Nameless Creek had truly claimed several lives over the last twenty years. This was the reason why, despite the scenic views and the abundance of fat, tasty fish, almost no one dared to venture near the banks once twilight fell.

It was a place the villagers shunned instinctively.

Song Xiyun pressed on, “Furthermore, I’ve heard that everyone who fell into that creek before ended up drowned. So why is it that Little Little managed to come back to life, huh?”

Her eyes darted around as she shivered, retreating a few steps toward the exit. She threw another wary glance at Chiang Xiao and added, “Second Uncle and Aunt, you really ought to consider what that means.”

Chiang Xiao understood immediately; Song Xiyun was accusing her of being possessed by a malevolent spirit!

Releasing a cold, mocking laugh, she began walking directly toward Song Xiyun.

Witnessing this approach, Song Xiyun felt a surge of genuine terror. She scrambled toward the door, unable to stop herself from backing away. “What are you doing? Stay away from me!”

Closing the gap instantly, Chiang Xiao reached out and seized the hand Song Xiyun was hiding behind her back. With a sudden, forceful jerk, she dragged it into view, hissing through gritted teeth, “Song Xiyun, why don't you think about whether I'll let it slide now that you've come to steal our sugar again?”

Clutched in Song Xiyun’s hand was indeed a small bundle wrapped in oil paper.

This was far from the first time she had committed such a theft.

In these impoverished households, white sugar was a rare luxury. Ge Liutao kept a glass jar filled with yellowish-white sugar sitting on the stove.

Since Song Xiyun couldn't walk off with the entire jar, she would bring a scrap of oil paper every time she visited, sneakily scooping out a small portion to wrap up and spirit away.

Ge Liutao wasn't blind to these thefts, but she felt that since they were all kin, causing a scene over a bit of sugar would be beneath them and strip everyone of their dignity. She simply couldn't bring herself to confront her, so she always acted as if she hadn't noticed.

In the past, Chiang Xiao had also been aware of it. She used to think that squabbling over sugar was petty. She viewed herself as someone destined to leave the village for the city, and she didn't want to waste her breath on such people.

But now, her patience had reached its limit.

Forget a packet of sugar—even if Song Xiyun stole a single spoonful of soup from her family, she wouldn't tolerate it!

After all, in her previous life, following her fall into the creek, Song Xiyun had been the one to maliciously kick them while they were down. She had heaped abuse on Chiang Xiao and her grandparents while they were already drowning in cruel village gossip!

If it hadn't been for Song Xiyun’s interference, her grandparents would never have been pressured into compensating the Ding Family with a bolt of high-quality cloth.

To afford that cloth, her grandfather had been forced to endure an agonizing amount of back-breaking labor.

This time, she was resolved to take back everything they owed her, one piece at a time!

Song Xiyun had pilfered sugar many times without ever being challenged; being caught so abruptly by Chiang Xiao, who was now glaring at her with such ferocity, left her both startled and livid.

This Chiang Xiao—she really was a different person!

She let out a loud shriek and violently wrenched her arm out of Chiang Xiao’s grip, throwing the packet of white sugar directly at Chiang Xiao’s face.