The Truth Lies Only Within My Range

Old Madam Zhou was so frightened that she covered her head. Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:

"Oh my! My aim! But I'm usually pretty accurate. If I shot you in the head, your head would go bang and explode like a watermelon.

Then blood would spray everywhere. When that happens, you'll really get to see what a calamity star looks like, won't you?"

Old Madam Zhou wailed, "Lunatic! You lunatic! Aren't you going to do something about her?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled. "Someone once said that the truth lies only within my range. I think those words are absolutely right. People are better off having something to fear."

Old Madam Zhou stared at her coldly. "Just say it! What exactly do you want?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said:

"Have the clan separate us from it right now. Give a perfectly normal reason for doing it.

"You might not be afraid, but think carefully. You still have sons and grandsons. This thing of mine could take their lives anytime, anywhere."

Old Madam Zhou stamped her foot and looked at her.

"How did things turn out like this? I keep feeling that something's wrong.

"Things clearly shouldn't be this way."

In her previous life, Zhou Wanwan had been meek and easy to bully, and she had been mute all her life. When she was bullied, all she could do was hide behind Liu Su'e.

But how was the Zhou Wanwan before her any different from a jackal, a wolf, a tiger, or a leopard?

Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked tentatively, "Were you reborn too?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at her calmly. "Yes! I'm just like you."

Old Madam Zhou looked at her. "So you remember, don't you? In our previous life, if your looks hadn't been so outstanding and drawn other people's covetous eyes, none of us would have died."

Zhou Wanwan sneered.

"Then why don't you say it was because you were useless? If you'd been capable, you wouldn't have been unable to protect even a child.

"Still less would you have pinned all the blame on a child.

"Actually, you know perfectly well that even without me, you wouldn't have survived in your last life, because you didn't know enough.

"But you had no one else to blame, so you vented all your anger on me. Do you think that was right?"

Old Madam Zhou looked at her. "You certainly have a sharp tongue in this life. No, if it hadn't been for you, that gang of thieves would never have set their sights on us..."

Zhou Wanwan looked at her with a half-smile.

"Really? You think the fools in your family could have gotten away?

"Think carefully. What happened back then?"

Zhou Wanwan's face was full of mockery, but she was actually trying to draw information out of her.

How could she possibly know what had happened in the previous life?

Old Madam Zhou's face darkened.

"Nothing like that will happen in this life. Zhou Wanwan, I imagine you've made some preparations too, but it's no use.

"You should remember that this drought came on fiercely. For three whole years, we saw no sign of it ending."

Zhou Wanwan's heart sank. It still hadn't ended after three years? She had thought it would last only a year or two, but if it still hadn't ended after three years, what would things become?

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said:

"I don't care what it is. Go to the ancestral hall now and write up the separation document. State clearly on it why we're leaving the clan.

"Since you've made thorough preparations, you must be planning to make a fortune off the drought. I won't spoil your plans.

"But don't expect my family to slave away like oxen and horses for you."

Old Madam Zhou looked at her coldly and gave a contemptuous snort.

"Fine! Zhou Wanwan, you're really chasing wild fantasies. You don't think your family can live safely on your own, do you? Dream on.

"I'd like to see what becomes of you after you're driven out of the ancestral hall."

Zhou Wanwan and her group went straight to the ancestral hall. Old Madam Zhou had someone write down that Zhou Fusheng's entire family was leaving the Zhou Clan's lineage and severing their clan ties with all members of the Zhou Clan.

From that point on, the family would be responsible for their own livelihood, weddings and funerals, blessings and misfortunes, and good and ill fortune, none of which would have anything to do with the Zhou ancestral hall or any clan members.

From then on, the Zhou ancestral hall would bear no clan responsibility toward Zhou Fusheng's family.

Nor could Zhou Fusheng's family act in the Zhou Clan's name or claim any clan-related rights from the ancestral hall or its members.

Zhou Fusheng's family would not have to fulfill clan obligations to the Zhou ancestral hall, such as contributing funds, performing service, or maintaining it.

The Zhou clan leader sneered. "You bunch of paupers had better not say you're members of the Zhou Clan once you leave. You're an utter disgrace."

"Isn't that right? That Zhou Wanwan is a calamity star. Don't let her stay in our village, or the whole village will suffer bad luck along with her."

"Pah! What rotten luck! Get out of our village now, or believe it or not, I'll beat you to death!"

Old Madam Zhou held a string of prayer beads in her hand and said:

"Zhou Fusheng, you're muddleheaded too. We were going to call you and your children back to enjoy the good life with us, but look at you now!

"You're just too easily swayed. You listen to your wife too much, and you've grown distant from us."

Zhou Fusheng stiffened his neck.

"No need. I like hardship. As long as I'm with my wife and children, I'm willing to endure any hardship.

"And my Wanwan isn't a calamity star. She's a lucky star."

Old Man Zhou sneered.

"Zhou Fusheng, we found you and raised you to adulthood, but I never expected you to repay our kindness with enmity. Just you wait!

"Someone like you won't come to a good end."

Zhou Fusheng lowered his head. Liu Su'e couldn't hold back.

"Who exactly won't come to a good end? His parents clearly gave you fifty taels of silver.

"They told you to take care of their child. Do you really think nobody knows?

"We just didn't want to make too much of a scene."

Old Madam Zhou let out a laugh.

"You actually believe that nonsense people outside are spouting? We found you on a ridge between the fields and carried you home. We cleaned up your shit and piss and raised you.

"But you're an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. Now that your wings are strong, you want to fly away.

"I'd like to see just where you can fly to. And you, Zhou Wanwan, don't think you're so capable. You're only five years old. You're still wet behind the ears!"

Old Madam Zhou would not allow Zhou Wanwan to live. After all, she didn't want anyone to find out that she had been reborn, and she truly hated Zhou Wanwan intensely.

Zhou Wanwan's family returned to Wild Field Village. Zhou Fusheng looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Wanwan, was it really all right for us to do that?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him. "What wasn't all right?"

"Well... we just left the clan. From now on, our family won't have anyone to help us. And your grandmother already backed down. I think..."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him. "Before we left the clan, did the clan ever help us?"

Zhou Fusheng thought for a moment and shook his head.

Zhou Wanwan continued, "Then tell me, if we went back to the Zhou family, would they treat us kindly?"

Zhou Fusheng thought for a moment and shook his head again.

Zhou Wanwan looked at Zhou Fusheng. "Dad, what they said just made you feel bad today. You keep thinking you're unfilial, but think about it. Is that really true?"

Zhou Fusheng thought it over carefully.

"No. I helped with the family's work from the time I was little. I ate the least and did the most.

"And all my older brothers got to study, but I was the only one who couldn't.

"If I didn't do something well, I got beaten. I still have lots of scars on my body."