Chapter 157: Chapter 147: The Winter Vacation Begins

As the end of the year approached, everyone was busy in their own way. Mo Xiaoman focused on her studies, attentively taught by Teacher Fan and Mr. Cheng. The other teacher tutoring her in English was one of their former students. Xiao Man revealed just enough of her existing knowledge to make the English teacher’s job a breeze, and in a single semester, she completed the entire year’s textbook.

Teacher Fan and Mr. Cheng were very pleased with her. They said that while they had seen naturally gifted students before, she was the first girl to reach this level. At this rate, they felt, skipping a grade to enter high school would be no problem at all.

Two days before winter break, Teacher Yu and her husband returned to her parents’ house with their son, Mao Mao, in their arms. They cooked a wonderful meal and invited a few of their students over for a gathering, a sort of farewell before the girls headed home for the holidays.

Because Xiao Man had been secretly feeding Mao Mao Space Fruits, the little boy clung to her and refused to let go the moment he saw her. Everyone watched in amusement as Xiao Man played catch with the two-year-old. She’d stand up to hand him the ball, only to have to squat down and pick it up again an instant later. Worn out by Mao Mao, she sighed dramatically, looking like she wanted to cry but had no tears, which made everyone roar with laughter.

Teacher Yu had recently been transferred to an administrative position at a newly reopened teacher’s college. Although located in their own county, the college was highly ranked. It had a long history but had been closed for many years. Now, it was not only enrolling new students but was also responsible for the continuing education of substitute teachers from the local school districts.

Teacher Yu shared some gossip with the girls: Lu Meiye was there for continuing education. And Huang Hongliang, the guy who had been relentlessly pursuing Lin Liuping, had visited Lu Meiye at the college several times. The two were acting all clingy and lovey-dovey. She also mentioned that Lu Meiye didn’t look well and had recently taken time off to go to the hospital.

Guan Ailan and Mo Linghui immediately cursed Huang Hongliang, calling him a scumbag and a two-timer. They were glad Sister Liu Ping had seen through his act early on and hadn’t fallen for it.

’Xiao Man was secretly surprised. ’Lin Liuping saw through that scumbag and his trashy woman, left the Lin Family to escape her stepmother’s threats, and cut all ties with Lu Meiye, successfully avoiding her tragic fate from my past life. But that vile pair, Huang Hongliang and Lu Meiye, still aren’t married? In my past life, they were already married by this time.’’

’Could it be that Huang Hongliang, who thought so highly of his looks and prospects, was still bitter about failing to win over Lin Liuping and just couldn’t let it go? Was he just toying with Lu Meiye with no actual intention of marrying her?’

’But Lu Meiye wasn’t one to be trifled with. She had managed to trap him into marriage in the last life, so was she really going to let him go in this one? This was a woman who had dared to announce her pregnancy in front of the entire village. It just showed how shameless and bold she was. She was definitely the type to cause a huge scene at his workplace. A scumbag like him deserved a vile woman like her clinging to him. It’d be perfect if they just destroyed each other.’

Once the break started, Xiao Man went home and cozied up for two days before heading out for a stroll around the village to greet and chat with her neighbors, friends, and relatives.

She rode the bicycle Zheng Shaolian had bought her, a bamboo basket tied to the rear rack. The basket was filled with various snacks she and her Grandma had made over the last two days, all wrapped in individual brown paper packets. Her Grandma had instructed her to give two packets to each family she visited.

After visiting Secretary Mo and the homes of a few senior grand-uncles, she went to the Liang Family’s house. Aunt Liang had fully recovered and was able to walk around and do light chores. The whole family was delighted to see Xiao Man. Liang Xiuming was also in high school in the county town, but they rarely saw each other. As the children gathered to chat, Xiao Man handed Liang Xiuzhu two packets of spicy strips. Xiuzhu tried one, and it was so hot that tears streamed down her face, but she kept shouting how delicious it was, eating nonstop while smacking her lips. This made Xiujing and Xiuzhen try to snatch some from her, filling the courtyard with shouts and laughter. Seeing how much they enjoyed them, Xiao Man left a few more packets.

Knowing Xiao Man had other homes to visit, they didn’t keep her for a meal. Instead, Uncle Man Cang stuffed her now half-empty basket to the brim with large, hand-picked dried fish and shrimp.

It would have been rude to refuse, so Xiao Man could only accept it with a smile.

After meandering through the village, her final stops were the Han Family’s house and Mo Shuixia’s house.

As she passed the Mo Family Courtyard, she unsurprisingly drew some hateful attention again.

First, it was Mo Xiaosu and Huang Baoshan. The two cousins were standing outside the courtyard gate, chatting and basking in the sun. They looked up to see a young girl in red on a sapphire-blue bicycle coming around the corner of the path. Under the brilliant sunlight, her glossy black hair shimmered like satin, her skin was fairer than snow, and her features were exquisite. And her aura... it was indescribable. In short, she was beautiful and elegant, possessing the kind of peerless grace one would only find in a city girl!

The cousins stared blankly for a long moment. It wasn’t until the bicycle was only a few steps away that Mo Xiaosu leaped to her feet. "Mo Xiaoman! You goddamn bitch!"

Huang Baoshan also saw clearly who it was and was stunned. ’Did this Mo Xiaoman eat an Immortal Fruit or something? How long has it been? She’s become such a stunning, radiant beauty!’

’How old is she, anyway? She’s not even fully grown. In a few more years, she’ll be an absolute knockout!’

Mo Xiaoman casually lifted her leg and kicked the lunging Mo Xiaosu aside. Mo Xiaosu stumbled and fell at her cousin’s feet. Glancing back, Mo Xiaoman warned, "If you dare mess with me again, I won’t be so nice!"

Mo Xiaosu scrambled up from the ground, crying and cursing, "Mo Xiaoman, you fucking XX!"

Then she shoved Huang Baoshan. "Cousin, go get her! That bicycle... my Grandpa and Grandma paid for it! What right does she have to ride it? It should be mine!"

Huang Baoshan glanced at the people on the road. He wasn’t bold enough to commit an assault in broad daylight.

He’d been questioned by the police over the Mo Xiaoqiang incident, but he had an alibi for that night. Then there was that business with Teacher Yu. The police couldn’t find any evidence, but they had warned him again and again that if he didn’t confess and they found proof later, he would be finished.

’Better safe than sorry,’ he thought. He couldn’t afford to be reckless. Huang Baoshan could only try to placate his cousin, but in her fury, Mo Xiaosu grabbed his hand and bit it. Huang Baoshan yelped in pain, but she was still not satisfied.

Hearing Mo Xiaosu’s shouts, Mo Guoqiang came running out, limping as he went. Xiao Man zipped past him on her bike. Mo Guoqiang lunged for her and missed, roaring, "Mo Xiaoman, you damned brat, get back here! You come back!"

Xiao Man ignored him completely. She stopped her bike at the Han Family’s gate and dismounted. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liu Fengying step out of the Mo Family Courtyard, glance in her direction, and then drag Mo Guoqiang back inside.

Huang Baoshan dragged Mo Xiaosu away as well.

’I knew it. They only bully the weak and fear the strong,’ she thought. ’They wouldn’t dare cause trouble at the Han Family’s home. But do I still look that weak? Why do they keep coming after me, as if they have a death wish?’

She gave the Han Family three packs of fried rice cakes. The ingredients had been mixed with a little of her spatial grain, so they would be good for the old matriarch and Granny Han.

Next, she went to Mo Shuixia’s house. She gave one pack of fried rice cakes to Granny Mo, and the remaining five or six packs of snacks all went to the younger children.

Mo Shuiyue told Xiao Man something interesting. "A while ago, I was passing the Mo family’s house and saw Xiaoqiang’s maternal grandmother and aunt visiting. They had a girl with them. She was thin and frail, and her face... she had a scar here, and another one here. One of her eyes is crooked. And her name... is also ’Xiao Man’!"

Mo Shuixia rolled her eyes at her sister. "That’s ridiculous! How can relatives have the same name? It’s not like they don’t know this family already has a Xiao Man!"

"It’s true!" Mo Shuiyue insisted. "I saw it with my own two eyes. They were yelling at the girl, ’Xiao Man, hurry up!’"

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