Chapter 54 – The Self-Pitying Stepsister in a Historical-Era Novel (Part 2)

From the memories, it was clear that this whole family was rotten to the core. Even that so-called elder stepbrother, Sun Yan, had often made inappropriate advances toward the original host.

Although it was just things like touching her hands, it terrified Wu Yu. She had secretly told her mother about it once.

But her mother had coldly brushed it off:"With your scrawny little body, what would your big brother want with you? Don't you go around making up such filthy lies!"

Brilliant. This kind of thing, which concerned her own daughter's reputation, and she dismissed it so casually—even turning the blame around. A mother like this wasn't worth keeping.

Anyway, aside from preserving her place in the city and her job, the original host hadn't placed any other restrictions on her. Which meant Wu Yu was absolutely free to deal with this lecherous brother as she saw fit.

As for her stepfather, Sun Dachuan, while he hadn't openly mistreated her, the worsening treatment Wu Yu received after her mother married into the Sun family clearly bore his silent approval.

Even if he hadn't laid a finger on her, he had benefited from all her unpaid labor over the years.

What was even more disgusting was that Yang Dani had taken Wu Yu's father's death compensation, but most of that money had been spent on the three members of the Sun family—like paying to get the stepbrother a temporary job.

From the memories, it was evident that Yang Dani favored Sun Yan simply because he was a male heir—someone she expected to take care of her in old age.

As for Wu Yu's younger half-sister, Sun Lanting, she had never respected Wu Yu growing up. Even when she made mistakes, she often pushed the blame onto Wu Yu.

Later, when she didn't want to go to the countryside, she even coerced Yang Dani into stealing Wu Yu's spot in the city.

And afterward, she had the gall to put on a pitiful act, pretending she had no choice—a textbook case of "pretending to be innocent while taking advantage."

All in all, this family was filled with premium-grade scum, each one contributing to the tragedy of the original host's life. As the actual beneficiaries of her misery, none of them were innocent.

So, Wu Yu had no guilt at all as she started plotting her revenge. All she was doing was giving the scum what they deserved.

Having cleared her thoughts, Wu Yu first pulled out a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread from her dimensional space and devoured them ravenously.

She had only had a bowl of near-transparent porridge that morning. Her stomach had been growling for hours.

After appeasing the temple of her stomach, she used a crystal core from her space to upgrade her psychic ability to Level 2, preparing for the next steps of her plan.

Then, she stored the original host's high school textbooks into her space. The college entrance exam (resumed in 1977) was still four years away, and she had to prepare well in advance.

In her last life, Wu Yu had worked herself to the bone in the countryside and had no time or energy to study. As a result, she never got into college.

This time, she was determined to get in. Only by attending university could she study traditional Chinese medicine, something she had longed to learn and which would be useful in future mission worlds.

Actually, she had wanted to learn TCM back in the second world, but she had been an illiterate old woman at the time—no one would teach her. That regret still lingered.

Having settled that, Wu Yu sat back down to rest, preparing herself for the upcoming battle. As for cooking?Sorry, those scumbags weren't worthy of eating her food.

Just before this world began, the system finally gave her some good news:Once her points exceeded 100,000, she would officially become a registered quick transmigration tasker. From then on, she only needed to complete the mission goals—whether she maintained the original persona or not would be up to her.

This news felt like a timely blessing from the heavens. She could finally stop worrying about strict restrictions while doing missions.

Of course, this also came with a caveat:Her body would now be affected by external forces, meaning she might not necessarily die of natural causes anymore.

Even so, Wu Yu welcomed the change. Being able to act freely while completing tasks was a tradeoff she was more than happy to accept. As for how long each mission body lived—she didn't care. Once the job was done, her business was over.

Later, Wu Yu idly sat for half an hour until her legs were numb. Finally, someone returned home—it was Yang Dani.

The moment Yang Dani saw Wu Yu sitting comfortably, she scolded sharply:"You lazy girl, why haven't you cooked yet? Didn't I tell you? You have to be diligent at home or we'll all get kicked out. How can you be so thoughtless?"

Same old manipulation. She always used this line to guilt-trip the young original host, who feared her mother would be implicated and thus gave in every time.

For over a decade, it was the same old script, and yet the original host kept falling for it.

But now, Wu Yu was different. She let those words go in one ear and out the other, not even bothering to respond.

Yang Dani saw her daughter's indifferent attitude and, already angry from work, flew into a rage. She grabbed a broom by the door, ready to beat her.

Wu Yu was ready.Perfect. Just what she wanted—a reason to hit back.

Before Yang Dani could get close, Wu Yu tripped her, sending her tumbling face-first to the floor, her vision spinning.

If not for the fact that assaulting her "mother" might get her arrested, Wu Yu would've given her an even harsher lesson.But no rush—tonight, there's a "feast" waiting for her.

Seeing Wu Yu like this, Yang Dani couldn't believe her eyes. Her usually timid eldest daughter had dared to fight back?

Shoving her disbelief aside, she continued to shout:"You ungrateful wretch! I've slaved away raising you, and this is how you repay me? You heartless beast—"

Wu Yu snapped:"My father left behind a death pension, and as a martyr's daughter, the state gives me annual relief money. Your so-called 'raising me' was making me do all the housework and feeding me watery gruel. I don't know who the real venomous one is here."

At that, Yang Dani fell silent. She had underestimated this "mute girl." Who would've thought she knew everything? It looked like this girl wouldn't be so easy to manipulate anymore.

The truth was, Yang Dani resented Wu Yu deeply, mostly because Wu Yu's father, Wu Zhiyuan, had been forced to marry her.

Back then, Yang Dani had schemed and manipulated her way into marrying him, and when he refused to touch her, she had drugged him, resulting in Wu Yu's conception.

Wu Yu had never been a wanted child. She was just a tool Yang Dani used to tie Wu Zhiyuan down.

Yang Dani never loved Wu Zhiyuan either—she was only attracted to his military status, thinking he could give her a better life.

But fate had other plans. After Wu Zhiyuan died in the line of duty, Wu Yu became her burden.

If it hadn't been for the state subsidies for martyrs' children, Yang Dani probably would've abandoned her long ago.

In her twisted mind, the reason she couldn't secure Wu Zhiyuan's love was because Wu Yu wasn't a boy. And she once consulted a fortune teller who claimed Wu Yu would bring ruin to her family.

At first, Yang Dani hadn't believed it. But after her first "meal ticket" (Wu Zhiyuan) died, she started to believe the fortune teller's words.

Back then, Wu Zhiyuan had no family and was an orphan, so the state had given Wu Yu extra aid money in consideration.

Unfortunately, all of that money went through Yang Dani, and the original host never saw a cent.

Of course, Wu Yu now knew all of this thanks to her psychic ability, which she used to read Yang Dani's memories.

Just as the standoff between them was reaching a boiling point, the other three members of the Sun family returned home one after another.

Author's Note:Thank you to dear "Goddess Squid's Pearl Fairy" for the flower donation, and to Chunxi Qinghe and Yu Duoduo of Ling Shi Bu Ling for your love and support!

Sincere gratitude to the three of you for your encouragement—I'll keep working hard!