Shui Miao returned home in the identity of the village fool, and immediately noticed that the fool’s family was actually quite well-off. Most families in the village lived in bamboo houses, but the fool’s family lived in a small villa, with a large foreign bulldog tied up in the yard. The dog was as big as a calf and looked very intimidating.
On her way here, Shui Miao had seen many households nestled in the mountains, but based on what she’d seen so far, the fool’s family was truly unique—definitely the kind of family considered wealthy and privileged.
However, the fool’s parents were already quite old, appearing to be in their seventies.
There were also many other family members living in the house, old and young alike—at least a dozen people altogether.
When word spread that the fool had returned, several enthusiastic neighbors crowded into the courtyard.
Everyone was chattering away in a language Shui Miao could barely understand. In any case, the majority seemed genuinely delighted, except for a middle-aged couple in their forties who pretended to be happy but secretly glared at Shui Miao with obvious disdain. Their hostile stares unsettled her, making her feel uneasy. She guessed they thought she was truly an idiot, hence their boldness. But this also revealed something important: the fool hadn’t died as they had perhaps hoped, and they were clearly very unhappy about it. Her instincts told her that this couple was definitely not good people. Listening carefully, she finally understood—they were actually the fool’s older sister and her husband.
There was also a young man in his early twenties who looked quite unhappy. He barely exchanged a few words before stepping aside and glaring coldly at Shui Miao.
Shui Miao was puzzled—how could such a pitiful person like the fool be so hated?
Could it be that they all wanted the family inheritance?
Thinking about the inheritance, Shui Miao found it strange that the fool’s parents were so old—so frail that they needed help even to rise from their chairs. How, then, had they managed to build such a prosperous household?
Looking around the house, she suddenly noticed an ancestral shrine in a corner. On it was a photograph of a man in his forties, with a spirit tablet labeled “Zhang Lei.” So the fool’s surname was Zhang. But why was someone else’s ancestral tablet placed here?
Shui Miao then noticed some photographs inside a room and walked in, reasoning that no one would care what a fool did.
On the walls were many photos, including a few group shots of three brothers. The youngest looked exactly like her current appearance—so he must be the fool. But she also noticed some photos of the fool wearing a red scarf, clearly attending school. In those pictures, he didn’t look foolish at all. Moreover, there were several certificates of merit on the wall, bearing the name Zhang Ling.
Could it be that the identity she was about to assume was actually named Zhang Ling?
Shui Miao found the name Zhang Ling somewhat familiar and felt an inexplicable sense of connection to it.
At that moment, the fool’s mother, supported by the young daughter-in-law, entered the room. The elderly woman trembled as she stretched out her thin, wrinkled hand to gently touch Shui Miao’s face, murmuring with concern, “Third son, you’ve gotten so thin… so thin…”
“Hehe…”
Looking at the old woman, Shui Miao could roughly guess she was expressing care. Not knowing how to respond, she instinctively let out a foolish chuckle to comfort the old woman. Seeing her idiot son smile, the mother felt reassured. She quickly instructed the young daughter-in-law to go prepare hot water for a bath for her son, and asked her daughter—also the fool’s older sister—to cook noodles for him.
Everyone hurried off to do their tasks, leaving Shui Miao alone in the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, Shui Miao exhaled in relief. So many people had been around, yet none had noticed the deception. She must look almost identical to the fool. She was grateful to Bai Niangniang for those two slaps that had transformed her.
But how long would Bai Niangniang’s magic last?
She couldn’t help but worry—what if she woke up the next morning and reverted to her original form? That would be a serious problem.
As she stood there lost in thought, the door suddenly opened quietly.
It was the young man in his twenties who had earlier looked so displeased. Entering the room, he smirked and circled around Shui Miao twice before frowning. Suddenly, he raised his hand as if to strike her. Shui Miao was taken aback, wondering what this sharp-faced, monkey-like fool was up to, and just stared blankly at him. But to her surprise, seeing no reaction, the young man suddenly slapped her hard across the face. Shui Miao’s head rang with a “buzz,” and she immediately flared up in anger. She grabbed the young man’s collar and slapped him back fiercely, one after another, until he was crying out in pain, blood streaming from his nose. Shui Miao guessed that this guy must have often bullied the fool in the past, so today she decided to take revenge on his behalf. After a few more hard slaps, she clenched her fists and began punching him repeatedly in the face. Within moments, the young man was staggering, dazed and confused.
At that moment, the fool’s older sister and her husband rushed in. Seeing the young man being beaten, the man immediately lunged at Shui Miao. Shui Miao assumed this must be their son, so she didn’t hold back and started fighting back. But the young man, now catching his breath, jumped up again and charged at Shui Miao. The fool’s sister didn’t try to stop the fight—instead, she blocked the door to let her husband and son continue beating Shui Miao.
Without being able to use her immortal powers, Shui Miao was just an ordinary person. Soon, she was pinned against the wall by the fool’s brother-in-law, who slapped her face repeatedly.
Shui Miao had never suffered such humiliation in her life. Enraged, she seized an opportunity and delivered a powerful kick to the middle-aged man’s groin, causing him to double over in pain. Freeing herself, she punched the young man in the eye, who cried out in pain and fell backward, clutching his face.
Seeing her son injured, the fool’s sister screamed and rushed forward with her fingers clawed, trying to scratch Shui Miao. Shui Miao spotted a bamboo stick under the bed, grabbed it, and swung it fiercely at the woman, hitting her head and body until she was bruised and bleeding.
The commotion in the room quickly drew the neighbors, who rushed in to break up the fight. The fool’s parents, leaning on walking sticks, also entered the room, shouting in confusion.
Shui Miao quickly stood protectively in front of the elderly couple, glaring at the fool’s sister, brother-in-law, and the young man still holding his eye.
At that moment, the young daughter-in-law also arrived. As soon as she entered, the fool’s sister grabbed her hair and wouldn’t let go. Seeing this, Shui Miao’s anger flared. She kicked the woman hard in the stomach and then struck her repeatedly with the bamboo stick, leaving her bloodied and bruised. The fool’s brother-in-law struggled to get up to attack Shui Miao again, but she quickly kicked him in the groin once more!
When the fool lost his temper, everyone else was scared off, unwilling to be beaten for no reason.
The fool’s parents hurriedly called out to the young daughter-in-law, who then quickly pushed Shui Miao into a small room—where meals were cooked. Entering the kitchen, Shui Miao feared the brother-in-law might return, so she grabbed a cleaver and stood protectively in front of the young daughter-in-law.
Standing behind her, the young daughter-in-law, for the first time in her life being protected by a man, tearfully hugged Shui Miao from behind.
She sobbed quietly…
Shui Miao was deeply moved, realizing how pitiful this young woman must be, constantly oppressed and mistreated by the family.
Fine! Since she was pretending to be a fool, she might as well play the role better!
Suddenly, Shui Miao broke free from the embrace, made a fierce facial expression, and holding the cleaver, charged out of the room…
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