MGASC -Chapter 49 Turning the Rice into Cooked Rice

After settling the three kids, Zhang Qiao had originally planned to carry a basket. But feeling that it didn’t go with her outfit, she put it down and switched to a handmade cloth bag in a matching color.

She had just stepped out and hadn’t even reached the bus stop when she heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw that at some point Lin Ran had chased after her.

“Auntie Qiao!” Lin Ran called out, panting.

When he ran up to her, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm. “Auntie Qiao, do you want me to go with you?”

Zhang Qiao found his reaction a bit strange. “Why would you go with me? Didn’t I tell you to stay home and do your homework?”

Lin Ran looked at her, his little face stiff, saying nothing.

Something about his state was off. Zhang Qiao thought for a moment, then asked seriously, “Lin Ran, tell me the truth. Did someone come looking for you today?”

Like a child caught doing something wrong, Lin Ran hesitated, then nodded.

“Wang Yan?”

Lin Ran nodded again.

Zhang Qiao suddenly understood. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, fox-like, as if she had figured something out.

No wonder something felt off. Could it be that Auntie Liu’s phone call earlier had been fishy?

But Auntie Liu wouldn’t lie to her… would she?

Just then, Lin Ran spoke again. “Auntie Yan asked me whether you were going out today, and what you were going to do at Grandma Liu’s place. She also asked if Dad had called. Auntie Qiao, do you think… could she be up to something bad?”

Hearing this, Zhang Qiao became even more certain of her guess.

Lin Ran lowered his head, awkwardly picking at his fingers. “Auntie Qiao, I didn’t sell you out. I actually didn’t say anything. I just felt… felt like I should tell you.”

For the past few days, Lin Ran had been tormented by this matter over and over again.

He hadn’t even eaten the candy Wang Yan gave him; he hid it away instead.

Because he felt that Auntie Qiao was really good to them now—inside and out she worried about them, even helped find them schools. These days, he and his brothers were living like they were in heaven. If this didn’t count as good, he couldn’t imagine what would.

But in the past, Wang Yan had treated him well too—she gave them food and drinks, even patched his clothes. Though it couldn’t compare to what Auntie Qiao did, she was still one of the few people who had ever shown them warmth.

Before, Lin Ran had been the closest to Wang Yan, and she treated him best. He did have feelings for her, and more than once he had imagined that if Auntie Yan were his mom, that would be great.

As for the watermelon poisoning incident, Auntie Yan had already apologized to him. He didn’t want to dwell on it anymore, and he believed she had only accidentally let the watermelon go bad, not deliberately tried to harm them.

But compared to that, over these past days, Lin Ran’s feelings had gradually shifted toward Zhang Qiao.

The day Wang Yan came looking for him, he wanted to tell Zhang Qiao the truth right away. But when the words reached his lips, he felt like a traitor.

So he gave the milk candy to Zhang Qiao instead, using it as a way to remind her.

But just now, when Auntie Liu said that Dad was waiting for Auntie Qiao at the guesthouse, the more Lin Ran thought about it, the more something felt wrong.

His dad was so stingy—how could he bear to stay at a guesthouse? Could there be a trap?

On top of that, Wang Yan had asked him earlier about Zhang Qiao’s whereabouts. The more Lin Ran thought about it, the more worried he became, and before he knew it, he had chased after her.

Under the blazing sun, Lin Ran was sweating heavily, his face flushed red from the heat.

Facing Zhang Qiao, he felt guilty—afraid of being scolded by her, yet also afraid he might be wrongly suspecting Wang Yan. The inner conflict tormented him.

Seeing his face covered in sweat, Zhang Qiao took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.

She was still gentle and calm. “Lin Ran, I understand. Thank you for reminding me. It’s so hot—go back first. Don’t worry, Auntie is an adult. I know what to do. That milk candy from last time—she gave it to you, right?”

Lin Ran nodded.

Zhang Qiao couldn’t help smiling. “Then did you eat it?”

He shook his head again.

“Good boy. If someone gives you candy, eat it. Go back and share it with your brothers. Auntie will be back soon.”

“Really? Auntie, you really don’t need me to go with you?”

“No need. Besides, isn’t your dad coming back? With him around, no one can bully us. Don’t you think so?”

Lin Ran immediately brightened up and nodded vigorously.

Kids really were easy to coax. In her heart, Zhang Qiao cursed Wang Yan’s ancestors eight generations back all over again.

Using a child’s feelings like this—what a despicable woman.

…

Shengmin Guesthouse.

Inside a room that had already been booked, Wang Yan handed over the pill she had prepared in advance to Wang Mingqing.

“Director Wang, don’t worry. Once Zhang Qiao arrives, just put this into her water and let her drink it. She won’t know anything after that. Then you can do whatever you want—she’ll be yours. Once the rice is already cooked, are you still afraid she won’t listen to you afterward?”

Wang Mingqing pinched the pill between his fingers, a trace of greed flashing in his eyes. “Is this stuff really that effective? It won’t be dangerous, will it? Don’t cause a death.”

“Relax. It’s just an ordinary sleeping pill, only with faster effects. If Director Wang wants something for men, I’ve got that too…”

Wang Mingqing cleared his throat unhappily, reminding Wang Yan that she had crossed the line.

Wang Yan quickly restrained herself. “Hehe, I was just joking.”

Wang Mingqing didn’t say anything, but he dropped the pill into the cup in front of him.

The pill quickly dissolved in the water. Before long, it blended seamlessly with the plain boiled water. He sniffed it—no strange smell. It shouldn’t arouse that woman’s suspicion.

He had coveted Zhang Qiao for a long time. He had thought she was already in the palm of his hand, but unexpectedly, things slipped away midway and Lin Tianyue swooped in and stole her.

This suspension and investigation he was facing now had also been caused by that pair of jinxes.

Wang Mingqing felt deeply humiliated. He had long wanted to find a chance to teach them a lesson. Perfect timing—Wang Yan had come to him on her own, telling him she also hated that pair and had a way to help him get what he wanted…

After explaining everything, Wang Yan glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only 3:20 p.m. She had told Zhang Qiao to come at four.

Soon.

Once Zhang Qiao arrived and was knocked out, once the deed was done, she would report the adulterous pair.

Hooliganism was a serious crime now—people could be sentenced for it. Even if she couldn’t get a conviction, Zhang Qiao’s reputation would be ruined. How could Lin Tianyue possibly still want her then?

She hated that fox spirit to death.

The phone call had been made to Auntie Liu’s house by one of her admirers—someone whose voice sounded quite similar to Lin Tianyue’s.

Wasn’t Zhang Qiao capable, always cozying up to Auntie Liu? Once her scandal with Wang Mingqing came out, even Auntie Liu wouldn’t be able to smooth things over. She’d just wait for Lin Tianyue to come knocking.

Wang Yan had known long ago that Wang Mingqing and Zhang Qiao had been involved even before marriage.

She had originally thought that Lin Tianyue was so smart—how could he possibly agree to marry a woman like Zhang Qiao, a used shoe?

Just because she was pregnant? Hah… that child might not even be his!

This time, she would definitely make Lin Tianyue see clearly what kind of trash his wife really was.

In her mind, Wang Yan could already see the scene: Zhang Qiao’s reputation in tatters, paraded through the streets in shackles, people throwing trash at her and shouting “slut.”

The thought made her feel exhilarated beyond measure.