Chapter 12

o, I promise to go with you to open the treasure together!”Treasure!Suddenly, everyone was shocked. Even Old Master Zhuang turned his head and stared in astonishment at Old Lady Bai.He never expected...Soon, they walked to the production team's office.

Li Yan let the other squad leaders go busy first, he accompanied Ning Yuan into the office.

What looks like an office is actually an old house in a rural courtyard. There's a table and some old cabinets inside the room.

On the wall were posters of labor heroes and slogans proclaiming "Long live the people's commune!"

There was only a somewhat plump, tall middle-aged woman wearing blue work clothes sitting there, holding a ceramic teapot in her hand.

A chubby woman often appears endearingly naive.

But she had a pair of downturned eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a rather thin face, giving her an aloof and serious look.

Ning Yuan looked at her, without saying a word.

The woman frowned, her face growing even longer. She saw Li Yan behind Ning Yuan before standing up and giving a strained smile. “Secretary Li Yan, I'm truly sorry...”

"It's nothing, Auntie Bai. You chat with Ningyuan first, I'll go handle something." Li Yan nodded politely and tactfully left space for his aunt and cousin.

Ning Yuan looked at the woman in front of her, and still slowly opened her mouth: "Auntie, my living expenses..."

"You still have the nerve to ask for money!" As soon as her words left her lips, a porcelain teapot flew towards her head.

She instinctively sidestepped.

"Bang—glug!" The enamel tea jar smashed against the door and then tumbled to the ground, rolling twice.

Although Ning Yuan dodged the fate of having her head smashed, the hot water inside splashed all over her lower body.

Fortunately, the hot water inside wasn't very scalding anymore, but it was still a bit hot, making Ning Yuan involuntarily gasp and shiver her clothes: "Ouch—!"

"What are you hiding Weren't you pretty impressive this afternoon, splashing someone with mud all over them When did I ever teach you to act like a spoiled landowner's daughter!"

Bai Yi's cold and angry voice rang out.

That is, Ning Yuan came late, the hot water wasn't hot enough. Otherwise, I would have scalded her with it until she had several burns and learned her lesson!

Ning Yuan coldly raised her eyes to look at her: "Are you my aunt, or someone else's aunt Make sure you understand the whole story before you lay a hand on anyone"

It must have been Tang Zhenzhen and Huang Xuehong who did this, they couldn't handle her. They knew she was afraid of Aunt Li, so they immediately went to tattle on her. They were quick about it too.

Aunt Bai couldn't believe her eyes. Her niece, who had always been so timid and meek, was now speaking to her with such audacity.

She was stunned for a moment, then slammed her fist on the table, her triple-eye glare burning with fury: "You dare talk back to me Fine, then I'll ask you, you deny stealing things when people accused you, so where did you get the jade chili pepper It's our family heirloom, it wasn't stolen, how is it in your hands!"

Ning Yuan had a bite, then looked up at Bai Yi: "That was given to me by my grandmother when I was three years old."

Aunt Bai's face darkened: "Shut up! I don't know what your grandmother gave you. Doesn't your mother know Are you still lying!"

Ning Yuan said frankly, "That's because Grandma didn't let me tell you and Mom, saying you would definitely take it away."

Bai Yi was taken aback, then her usually stern face contorted as if she had a palette of emotions at her disposal. She gritted her teeth and said, "Your life is given to you by your mother and me, give me the jade chili!"

Ning Yuan lowered her eyes, her voice somewhat ethereal: "If there are any other requests, Auntie, why not just say them all together."

Aunt Bai saw that she had softened her stance and slightly eased her tone: "You haven't received your marriage certificate yet. Report this to the battalion immediately, claiming that Rong, who was demoted for reform through labor, plotted against you. Then kneel down and apologize to Li, saying that you are innocent!"

Ning Yuan looked at Bai Yi: "You want me to frame Rong ZhaoNan, do you know he could go to jail for ten years at the very least, and even be shot at worst"

Now sentencing is different from what it was decades ago. During the crackdown period, even peeking at women bathing could result in a death sentence.

Aunt Bai narrowed her eyes, sounding cold and ruthless: "He's a reformed criminal. He's dead, so what does it have to do with you!"

Ning Yuan looked at her for a while and said calmly, "I disagree. I can't do such a despicable thing."

Aunt Bai, upon hearing this, instantly turned pale. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "I see you're really just like what they said, sleeping in the same bed as those bad people! You've fallen so far from grace! I raised you with such care, but now you have no manners at all! Get down on your knees! Today, I'll discipline you on behalf of your mother!"

Ning Yuan looked at her eyes, enunciating each word slowly: "Auntie, you don't represent my mother. I didn't come out of your belly. I haven't eaten a single grain of rice from your family for nothing. I've done most of the housework in your home."

Bai Yi's sturdy frame froze, staring at Ning Yuan who stood there with a cold expression, as if she were looking at a stranger.

She gritted her teeth: "Will you kneel or not You say you did nothing wrong, so you dare to marry and have relations with a re-educated labor camp member without my and our family's consent"

Aunt Bai stepped closer and closer to Ning Yuan, pointing at her nose and shouting: "Don't you know this will implicate your family How will people outside look at us in the future Aren't you ashamed of how we raised you"

Ning Yuan looked straight at Bai Yi and sneered, "I've lived up to myself. Aunt, aren't you hoping that I'd date Li Yan so that he can help your elder brother and younger brother get jobs and military service recommendations"

Her mocking tone struck Bai Yi's heart like a punch.

Her stern and sharp face seemed to quiver, even her bones rattling. For a moment, she seemed to understand something: "Were you doing this on purpose"

Ning Yuan shrugged. "If you say so, then so be it. I'm not interested in being a stepping stone for others. Jade chili peppers were given to me by my grandmother, and I won't give them to anyone."

Bai Yi's face turned ashen and grim, standing there, staring at Ning Yuan's face: "Ning Yuan, you've really grown wings. I ask you again, will you kneel down and apologize Will you give me the things"

Ning Yuan continued, each word measured, her gaze fixed on her: "I won't kneel. I won't give in. I've grown up. You can't control me anymore."

You will never again be afraid of her threats and shadows!

Aunt Bai suddenly twisted her face, grabbed the solid wood stool beside her with one hand and slammed it down hard towards Ning Yuan: "Then you try!"

Ning Yuan hadn't expected that Bai Yi would suddenly become so out of control, saying she would do it and actually using a large wooden stool to hit her in the delivery room.

Such a heavy chair, if it hit her like that, she'd have at least a fracture!!

Although she put up some resistance, she dodged it. But Bai Yi was tall and strong, pushing her all the way to the edge of the door.

Aunt Bai panted excitedly, contorted her face, and reached back to pull her hair. She grabbed a stool and smashed it towards her head: "What are you running for I'm punishing you for your own good!"

Ning Yuan reacted, gritted her teeth, and suddenly bowed her head, about to ram into her legs.

Even if she got beaten up badly, she had to ram into White Auntie and call for help!

But someone was faster than her, the door "bang"ed open, a slender figure with long legs swept in fiercely.

"Ah!!" Bai Yi was kicked directly and flew backwards, crashing into the wall before falling to the ground.

She screamed and cowered in the corner.

Ning Yuan was stunned. She looked at the tall figure standing beside her: "Rong Zhaonan, how did you get here"

Rong Zhaonan lowered his head to look at Ning Yuan, who was half-kneeling. He said calmly, "If I don't come, you have to go to the hospital today. How can you get a marriage certificate"

Ning Yuan slowly let out a breath and looked at the sturdy woman curled up under the wall: "Do you think she broke her ribs"

Rong Zhaonan pushed his glasses up. “Well, I probably broke two of them. Are you blaming me”

He has been very restrained in his actions.

Ning Yuan took a deep breath: "No, thank you."

Bai Yi almost fainted from pain, trembling as she glared at Ning Yuan and Rong Zhaonan: "You traitorous dogs! You actually let someone beat me... How dare you... I raised you like my daughter..."

"Ning Yuan, you're truly insane...fallen...you only deserve to be taught a lesson by your elders! How dare you defy me!"

Looking at Bai Yi's hateful gaze, Rong Zhaonan raised an eyebrow: "Is this your aunt, or your enemy"

I've never seen anyone who beats their child with the intention of maiming them.

Ning Yuan shook her head and lowered her eyes. "I don't know either."

Even if her aunt passed away in the previous life, she still wouldn't understand why her aunt treated her so badly!

He seems to have an extremely strong desire for control and sadism. He beats and scolds her mercilessly and is willing to sell her to his cousin without hesitation.

To say complete abuse and control, it's not quite like that.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!

Even when her mother didn't want to send her to school, her aunt would insist that her mother had to send her to study, even promising to pay for her tuition.

As they were talking, the noises in the room also drew everyone else in.

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, staring at the mess in the room and White Aunt groaning on the floor. They had no idea what had happened.

"What happened" Li Yan rushed over after receiving the notice.

Li Yan entered the room to see Rong Zhaonan, burning with anger: “How is it you again, this demoted official Why aren’t you in the cattle shed What are you doing here!”

Rong ZhaoNan lowered her eyes, hiding her cold gaze behind the lenses. She spoke calmly and confidently, "Report, I'm here to pick up my partner."

“You...” Li Yan stopped himself, unsure of what to say.

Ning Yuan walked to Bai Yi's side and squatted down, interrupting him: "I had a conflict with my aunt, she wanted to hit me, I pushed her back, and I was splashed with hot water. She got hurt."

Li Yan frowned, his gaze sharply sweeping over Rong Zhaonan: "Ning Yuan, was it you or him who did this"

Nowadays, when family members fight, most people just accept it — downplaying major issues and ignoring minor ones.

But if this remodeling of the Rong family's lower-level cadres turned into a violent act against the masses, the outcome would be entirely different.

Bai Yi endured the agonizing pain, trembling as she pointed at Rong Zhao Nan, trying to say something: "He...is..."

Ning Yuan, taking advantage of the act of supporting her, suddenly pressed down on Bai Yi's broken rib.: "Tang Zhenzhen is really generous."Kao Tang Zhenzhen immediately sensed something was wrong as soon as she opened the box.Her cookie jar has been moved.She opened it and saw that besides the five do...