Chapter 5: Duck Meat

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Liu Liangcai’s frown deepened. “Child, you’re getting more and more outrageous. Don’t have soft ears and believe whatever gossip you hear from outside. Jinx? You’re actually talking nonsense.”

“I’m not talking nonsense. Everyone in the village knows that Zhou Xiaoli is a jinx. My good friends now know that our family has taken the jinx in, and are unwilling to play with me!” Liu Yuanyuan roared.

“Boohoo, I don’t care, I don’t care. I just don’t want a jinx to live in Second Uncle’s courtyard. I don’t want to live next door to a jinx. Mother, go and chase them out now!”

Although Liu Yuanyuan was a girl, she had been spoiled by Lin Xiujuan since young. She had a very big temper and when she threw a tantrum like this, Liu Liangcai turned red as well.

He found a wooden stick in the courtyard and pointed at Liu Yuanyuan. “I think I haven’t disciplined you recently. Look at what you’ve become. If you’re like this and blabber whatever you want, you would suffer when you get married in the future as no one will spoil you in your in-laws’ house. I’ll teach you a lesson today! Extend your hand!” he said angrily.

With that, he was about to punish Liu Yuanyuan.

Seeing this, Liu Yuanyuan became afraid. She hid behind her mother, Lin Xiujuan, in a panic, but she refused to admit her mistake. She raised her head and shouted. “I didn’t do anything wrong. What right do you have to hit me! Boohoo, am I still your biological daughter? You’re biased towards that jinx.”

Lin Xiujuan was naturally protective of her child. “What are you doing? If you want to hit Yuanyuan, hit me instead!” she roared as she quickly stopped Liu Liangcai.

Liu Liangcai stomped his feet in anger. “Aiyaya, you’re the one who’s overprotective. Look at what you have done, turning her from a good girl to a bad girl. Sooner or later, she’ll cause trouble.”

Lin Xiujuan stopped Liu Liangcai from hitting Liu Yuanyuan. “She’s my girl. Who should I care for if I don’t care about her! What about you? I don’t know what you’re thinking!

“Yuanyuan is right. That Zhou family is indeed unlucky. Which family doesn’t avoid them in this village? You’re the only one who didn’t listen to my advice and insisted on taking them in!”

Liu Liangcai pinched the space between his eyebrows and said angrily, “What jinx? The gossip mentioned that the Zhou family has declined, but why should Brother Zhou’s girl be blamed for it?”

“That second and third son of the Zhou family took all the money to splurge in the city. They were not cut out for business and yet, they insisted on opening a shop like others. In the end, they lost a lot of money. Which family wouldn’t decline in this case?”

“Also, how did Big Brother Zhou become a fool? It’s all because his adoptive mother smashed him on the head with a wooden basin. As for the third son of the Zhou family who fell down the mountain today, all the more she shouldn’t be blamed for the accident!”

“I was there. It was Zhou Fuchun who refused to listen to my advice and insisted on climbing the steep cliff to pick fruits. That’s why he lost his footing and fell.”

In fact, most of the villagers knew what Liu Liangcai said to be true, but they still blamed Zhou Xiaoli for all unfortunate events.

This was because when Zhou Xiaoli was born, there was a rainbow in the sky and the sky shone brightly. At that time, it was considered to be an auspicious omen.

However, Lai Jinniang didn’t want Zhou Xiaoli to have a good reputation, so she complained that Zhou Xiaoli was a jinx and a burden to the family.

Humans would admire people with higher status than themselves and even respect them for it. However, they could not bear to see people like themselves, leading a better life than them.

With Lai Jinniang’s disdain, Zhou Xiaoli’s reputation as a jinx began to spread bit by bit. Most people forgot that when Zhou Xiaoli was born, the sky had shone brightly.

Speaking of this, Zhou Xiaoli suddenly remembered that the birthday of this body was actually the same as the one she was supposed to reincarnate in!

However, Zhou Xiaoli did not think too much about it.

That was because Liu Yuanyuan, who was originally in the courtyard, ran out of the house with Lin Xiujuan’s protection and bumped into Zhou Xiaoli, who was at the door.

Seeing that it was Zhou Xiaoli, Liu Yuanyuan immediately pinched her nose and distanced herself. “As expected of a jinx. She had just moved in next door and caused me to be scolded by my father!” she thought to herself.

Then, her expression became even more unpleasant towards Zhou Xiaoli. She fiercely glared at Zhou Xiaoli and ran out of the house.

In the courtyard, Liu Liangcai and Lin Xiujuan were still arguing about Liu Yuanyuan being led astray when they saw Zhou Xiaoli standing at the door.

The two of them immediately shut their mouths. Liu Liangcai hurriedly walked to the door and said apologetically, “It’s Little Li. How is it? Has your room been tidied up? Your aunt sprained her waist just now, so I haven’t had the time to help you.”

Thinking of something, he immediately turned around and said, “Mommy, quickly go to the kitchen and take some millet for Little Li to bring home to cook porridge with.”

Lin Xiujuan had a nasty expression on her face and when she heard this, her expression darkened further. “Our family isn’t a wealthy family. Our family of four has to eat as well. Why would we have surplus food for any Tom, Dick, or Harry!” she said in a sour tone immediately.

Zhou Xiaoli’s expression remained unchanged, but she was feeling a little uncomfortable in her heart. However, they were indeed indebted to Uncle Liu. Moreover, her mother’s body could not go through any more challenges.

Thinking of this, she suppressed her discomfort and smiled. “Uncle, there’s no need to trouble you. We’ve already tidied up the room.”

As she spoke, she took out the other half of the processed duck meat and said, “Uncle, I’m very grateful that you took in our entire family.”

“I don’t know how else to repay you. This is a wild duck I just got. We kept half of it. This other half is a token of our family’s appreciation.”

Liu Liangcai immediately refused, but Zhou Xiaoli insisted again and again. Liu Liangcai was afraid that Zhou Xiaoli would feel bad, so he finally accepted.

He turned to Lin Xiujuan and said, “Look, look, you’re still unwilling to give it to her. Little Li has already given you duck meat. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take it.”

Lin Xiujuan’s eyes lit up when she saw the duck meat. Although her family did not lack food, meat and fish were rare to come by.

She did not take Liu Liangcai’s reproach to heart and immediately went forward to take the duck meat.

At this moment, Zhou Xiaoli’s gaze casually fell on Lin Xiujuan’s face. Suddenly, an illusion appeared again.

In the illusion, Lin Xiujuan was walking into the kitchen with the duck meat. Just as she reached the kitchen door, she was pooped upon by a group of birds flying over her head.

The illusion ended there and at this very moment, Lin Xiujuan had taken the duck meat from her and was walking to the kitchen.

Then, the images in the illusion played out one by one. Just as Lin Xiujuan reached the kitchen door, a group of birds suddenly flew over her head, and Lin Xiujuan’s cries were heard soon after.

“Ah, this damn bird!”

As expected, the birds pooped all over Lin Xiujuan’s head.

Zhou Xiaoli was in a daze. She removed her gaze from her and quickly rejected Liu Liangcai’s good intentions of giving her food. She hurriedly bade farewell and returned home.

After the two incidents of her having illusions, Zhou Xiaoli guessed that she had the Heavenly Eye.

In her previous life, she had heard her master talk about it as he was preaching the Way.

In the human race, there would be a kind of person with extraordinary talent and born with the Heavenly Eye. Once the Heavenly Eye was opened, they could see people’s future and foretell their luck.