Chapter 8 — The Weight of Silence
Outside, Madam Bai stood in the courtyard, her wrinkled face twisted with fury.
"Chu Sun! How dare you delay the dishes again? Do you want me to starve, you useless woman?"
Chu Sun's lips trembled. "Mother… please, Xia'er was injured today. Couldn't you—"
"Shut your mouth!" Madam Bai snapped, cutting her off sharply.
"If my son hadn't married you, do you think anyone else would want you? You were lucky to even enter my family!"
Chu Sun flinched, lowering her gaze. "Mother, I only—"
Madam Bai's voice grew louder, echoing through the compound.
"You lazy, good-for-nothing woman! Always making excuses! Do you think I don't know you're teaching your children to hate me?"
Beside her, Bai Xuan stood frozen, not daring to speak.
Her fists clenched at her sides, her heart pounding, but fear sealed her lips.
"Mother, please," Chu Sun begged softly. "We're still family—"
Slap!
The sound cracked like thunder.
Madam Bai's palm struck Chu Sun's cheek, leaving a red mark that burned with shame and humiliation.
"Go finish your chores," the old woman barked, her tone full of contempt.
"And if you ever talk back to me again, you and your brats can sleep outside!"
Chu Sun lowered her head and silently turned away, tears slipping down her face as she went to fetch water.
---
Inside the room, Bai Xia sat quietly, her hands trembling slightly.
She could hear every word, every insult. Her little brother and sister sat near her, frightened.
"Yang, Xin," she said softly, "go do your homework."
They hesitated, but obeyed, heading to their shared corner.
When the room finally fell silent, Bai Xia whispered, "Status."
[ Host: Bai Xia ]
Height: 5'5"
Stamina: 10
Strength: 2
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 10
Beauty: 13
Skills: Business Tycoon, Frost Eyes, Reaper Tears
Knowledge: Master of All Tongues (M.A.T)
EXP Points: 20
Mission Points: 30
Space Size: 2000 acres
Money Bag: 0
- Collect Daily Reward [Reward: EXP +10 | Mission Points +5]
- Mission Complete: Increase Stamina
Reward: EXP +10 | Mission Points +5
"System, what's the money bag for?"
"Host," the system replied, "the money bag stores your daily rewards. Since you have no bank account, it acts as temporary storage."
Bai Xia's lips curved into a smile. "Then… I'd like to claim my daily reward."
Ding!
[ 10,000 yuan added to Money Bag. ]
She blinked. Ten thousand yuan?
In this timeline, that made her practically rich.
Her heart warmed slightly — a small victory amidst chaos.
She stretched, exhaustion weighing on her body. The small wooden house was barely fifty square meters, holding a single creaky bed and a few tattered bags of clothes.
She and Bai Xin shared the bed, while Bai Xuan slept on the ground.
Bai Xia stepped outside to fetch water.
When she saw the "bathroom," her expression turned cold.
Four wooden poles and thin fabric — not a bathroom, but a mockery.
She filled her bucket, then discreetly added a few drops of Eden River water from her space. She couldn't use too much — people would notice her rapid healing.
The moment the water touched her skin, the pain dulled. The deeper wounds closed faintly, leaving only red marks.
Incredible… she thought, smiling faintly. Tomorrow, they'll heal completely.
After bathing, she returned to bed, fatigue washing over her. Her eyes closed slowly, drifting into peaceful sleep.
---
Meanwhile, outside, Chu Sun and Bai Xuan finished the chores, preparing dinner for everyone — but none was given to their family.
The excuse: "They're lazy."
Later, Chu Sun sat alone in her small bedroom, restless, waiting.
At exactly 9:00 p.m., Bai Sung entered.
She rushed to him, voice breaking. "I can't take it anymore! Look at our daughter's condition — don't you have a heart?"
Bai Sung stayed silent. He had heard of the incident, but fear of being labeled unfilial kept him frozen under his mother's control.
"Is it until she kills one of us?" Chu Sun cried. "Look at Bai Xia's wounds! And she even refused us food tonight!"
Bai Sung clenched his fists, brow furrowed. For the first time, anger stirred beneath his calm expression.
Without another word, he walked toward his daughters' room.
When he opened the door, he saw three children squeezed into one tiny space, the moonlight casting shadows across their sleeping faces.
His heart tightened.
That night, Bai Sung realized something had to change.