Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 116: The 1980s Villain’s Biological Mother (9)

　　Watching the heartwarming display of filial piety unfold before him, the village chief took the opportunity to speak.

　　“Wang Zhuang, now that you're here, I need to head back to the village to take care of some matters. I covered your parents' medical expenses yesterday, but today's bill still hasn't been paid. The hospital just reminded us to settle it, so come with me and we'll sort out the account.”

　　The moment Wang Zhuang heard that, an awkward look crossed his face. He didn't have any money on him, and instinctively glanced at his wife.

　　Ma Ying’s expression immediately soured. Reluctantly, she muttered, “Junzi’s widow really should’ve prepared some money if Mom and Dad needed to see a doctor.”

　　The village chief nearly laughed in disbelief.

　　So this couple was just as stingy as the rest. They had put on such a convincing show of being devoted children moments ago, yet they had benefited from the old Wang couple more than anyone else and now couldn't even be bothered to pay a bit of medical fees.

　　Wang Zhuang forced an awkward smile and said, “Village Chief, why don't you ask Junzi's widow for the money when you get back? I didn't bring any cash with me.”

　　Hearing him try to pass the buck, the village chief's face turned stern.

　　“Wang Zhuang, the medical bill isn't even that much. Surely you aren't completely broke. Your parents have supported your household plenty over the years. You've always had a reputation for being a filial son. Don't go ruining that reputation now.”

　　Wang Zhuang choked on his words. He instinctively patted his pocket, then looked helplessly at his wife.

　　Ma Ying was a shrewd woman, much sharper than her husband. She had always been the one managing the family's money.

　　After all, she knew the old Wang couple had quite a bit of money stashed away. That was the whole reason her family had been putting on such a devoted act.

　　At worst, once they got back to the village, she'd make Mu Shuhui write an IOU. She wasn't the type to let herself take a loss.

　　In front of the village chief, she deliberately shot her husband a glare before pulling out a stack of loose bills from her pocket.

　　“Village Chief, please don't mind him. Wang Zhuang just doesn't know how to speak properly. He really didn't bring any money. I was the one carrying it.”

　　“Besides, who goes to the hospital without money? My in-laws have always treated me well. How could I let them go without paying for their medicine? I was even worried it wouldn't be enough, so I brought all the cash we had at home.”

　　The old Wang couple looked deeply touched, but the village chief couldn't care less about their performance. He calculated the amount he'd paid out of pocket, collected the reimbursement, and left without another word.

　　He had a feeling this couple was only willing to pay because they still hoped to profit from the old Wang couple.

　　If they found out Wang Xiaomei had run off with all their money, there would definitely be another huge scene, and he wanted no part in that family drama.

　　Once the village chief and the others left, Wang Zhuang and his wife became exceptionally attentive, fetching water and helping the old Wang couple wash up.

　　The gloomy mood hanging over the old Wang couple gradually lifted, and smiles finally returned to their faces.

　　That lasted until their daughter-in-law casually carried over a water jug and asked, “Mom, Dad, now that you're both in the hospital, won't Junzi's widow be alone at home? What if she steals the money you've kept there? Why don't I hold onto it for you instead?”

　　The moment he heard that, Wang Zhuang's eyes lit up.

　　“Mom, Dad, don't overthink it. ¹Yingzi and I are only looking out for you. We're family after all. Junzi's widow is still an outsider in the end.”

　　The old Wang couple fell silent, then sighed helplessly as tears welled up.

　　“That money was meant for Shuanzi and Zhuzi from the start. We were taking it to your house last night, but that wretched Xiaomei snatched it away! She even beat your father and me until we ended up like this.”

　　“What?!”

　　The expressions on Wang Zhuang and Ma Ying's faces changed instantly, replaced by shock and fury.

　　“Xiaomei ran off with the money?”

　　The moment Wang Zhuang realized what he considered his money had been stolen, he flew into a rage.

　　“That damned brat Wang Xiaomei has really lost her mind! She's got some nerve and no conscience at all. Just wait until I catch her. I'll beat her half to death!”

　　Ma Ying set the water jug down on the table with a loud thud and shot her husband a dark look.

　　“What’s the point of standing here talking nonsense? Hurry up and go find her!”

　　The compensation money alone was 3,000 yuan, and with everything else the old Wang couple had saved over the years, it added up to a huge fortune. The thought of it being snatched away made her chest ache with anger.

　　Wang Zhuang immediately realized she was right. Without another word, he grabbed his two sons and rushed out to ask around and search for Wang Xiaomei.

　　Now that the money was gone, Ma Ying had no interest in fussing over the old Wang couple anymore. She went through the motions for a while before quickly losing patience.

　　“Mom, Dad, look after yourselves for now. I’m going out to help search too. Xiaomei’s carrying that much cash. What if she gets kidnapped by traffickers?”

　　Without waiting for a response, she turned around and left.

　　The old Wang couple felt even guiltier toward their eldest son’s family and launched into another furious round of cursing their daughter.

　　……

　　Meanwhile, Wang Xiaomei had already boarded a train bound for the county seat.

　　The night before, terrified of being caught, she had hidden until dawn before sneaking back to search through the cornfield.

　　Unfortunately, the money was gone. She assumed her parents must have recovered it.

　　When she heard that her father had been hospitalized in critical condition, panic gripped her for a moment. Thankfully, she still had a little cash left in her pocket when she left home.

　　She tracked down a friend who had married into the town and asked her to help obtain a letter of introduction. Then she bought a train ticket and fled without looking back.

　　After all, her parents had never intended to leave her a single cent. And after the disaster she'd caused this time, they definitely wouldn't let her off the hook.

　　Wang Xiaomei often went into town hoping to find a suitable husband, and along the way she'd heard all sorts of gossip. People said the county was opening up these days and that there were plenty of ways to make money.

　　She refused to believe she'd starve there. Even if she had to beg on the streets, she would never come back to this place again.

　　……

　　The Wang family searched for Wang Xiaomei for three full days, but there was no sign of her at all. Rumor had it that someone had seen her at the train station, but once she got on a train, there was no way to track her down anymore.

　　With Wang Xiaomei gone and the money taken with her, Wang Zhuang and his wife left the hospital and went straight home, no longer caring whether the old Wang couple lived or died.

　　Without the money, those two had simply become a burden.

　　Unable to pay for their medical bills, the old Wang couple were kicked out of the hospital.

　　They were forced to walk all the way back from town. By the time they reached the village, they looked completely worn down and miserable, too ashamed to even lift their heads when they ran into villagers.

　　And when they finally got home, they almost fainted from rage after discovering that the three chickens they had been raising were gone.

　　But there was nothing they could do. Mu Shuhui was like a disaster in human form. The moment she caught them, she would demand compensation money, and they no longer had a single coin left to give.

　　With no money in hand, their days turned miserable. She would walk around every day holding a bamboo pole, and if they said even one extra word, she would beat them.

　　With nowhere to turn and no one to rely on, the old Wang couple had been completely beaten into submission. They did not dare disobey her at all. Not only were they forced to do all the washing, cooking, and chores, they also had to serve the mother and two children.

　　They tried going out to complain, but no one in the village believed them.

　　Days passed like that for a full week.

　　That morning, Mu Shuhui took the children into town to buy supplies.

　　Just so happened that people from the military arrived at their home.

　　It was two young soldiers. They had served alongside Wang Jun and were part of the military unit’s follow-up visit team.

　　They had originally planned to come a couple of days earlier, but a sudden assignment delayed them.

　　The old Wang couple looked like they had found their saviors. They grabbed the two soldiers and tearfully poured out all their grievances.

　　The two young men immediately frowned as they listened. How could there be such a vicious daughter-in-law?

　　Seeing how the old Wang couple were dressed in worn, dull clothes and how thin and haggard their faces looked, they believed every word.

　　Without hesitation, they brought the old Wang couple to the village chief.

　　When the village chief saw the old Wang couple again, now accompanied by military personnel, his head started to ache. Things had only just quieted down, and now here they were again causing trouble.

　　He greeted them politely and asked, “Comrade, I am the village chief. What brings you here?”

　　One of the soldiers said, “Wang Jun was our comrade and a hero. His parents are being subjected to such unfair abuse. As the village authorities, are you not handling this at all?”

　　The village chief was confused. “Abuse? Comrades, are you joking? Who is abusing them?”

________________

Glossary:

¹Ma Ying (马英) → Yingzi (英子) is a common affectionate/familiar way of addressing a woman named Ying. The “-zi / 子” ending can be added to a given name as a nickname or intimate form, especially between spouses or family members.

So:

“Yingzi and I are only looking out for you.” means essentially “Ma Ying and I…”, but Wang Zhuang is calling his wife by her familiar nickname.

…..

T/N: I made a mistake. FL’s husband this time is named Wang Jun, not Wang Junzi. I mistakenly thought the “zi” at the end was part of his real name. I’ll fix the previous chapters then. 😑

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