I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 8: Start My Performance

Lu Mingkai looked at the woman lying on the bed with a deathly pale face, not daring to step forward. He firmly grasped Shen Fugui's pant leg with both of his small hands, while Ming Fang moved closer with careful steps, gently embracing him.

Shen Meng watched the wailing child wanting to come closer but too afraid to move, her own heart sour with fear and concern.

Before she could speak, she saw the cramped room fill with two more children.

They were dressed in tattered clothes with patches on top of patches, their hair as messy as bird nests and their entire bodies covered in dust. The younger one was even barefoot.

But that wasn't the most important thing. What mattered most was that the two children were expressionless, their eyes looking at her were dark and indifferent, corners of their mouths slightly curling upward as if they were delighted by the prospect of her impending death.

Shen Meng was terrified. She couldn't believe she saw such dreadful thoughts in two children so young. She felt her breath stuck in her throat, unable to inhale or exhale.

As wind blew in through the window, she suddenly started coughing fiercely, only to realize when she came to her senses that she had broken out in a cold sweat.

Liu Sanjin had a belly full of words that went unsaid. From the initial shock of seeing Shen Meng, to the nervousness around Shen Fugui, and until the coughing fit, she didn't realize the gravity of the situation – today's events were not going to end well.

"Come on, Ming Kai, go check on your mother. Your mother is badly hurt. Look at your grandmother, your uncles, and aunts, they just stand by and watch your own mother die without even calling for a doctor. Do you know what they're planning? They want to take for themselves the brick house your father built for you and your mother. After your mother is gone, think about how they will bully you, my poor grandchild!"

Shen Fugui hadn't planned on crying. But seeing his gravely injured daughter, his young grandson, the cruel in-laws, and his own helpless self, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably!!!

"In-law, dear in-law, you can't say things like that. When Big Sister first came back, she was fine except for a small head injury. We wouldn't have not called a doctor otherwise. The Lu Family has a good reputation in these parts; you mustn't slander us!"

"Slander? Slander you say? Then how did my daughter end up like this, and why aren't my grandkids at home? But here you all are at home, eating and drinking well, while my grandchildren are outside catching sparrows to eat. If they weren't starving, why would such little kids go scrounge for food?"

Liu Sanjin was rendered speechless by Shen Fugui's rebuke. They had fried eggs for lunch and hadn't called over the children from the main room, fearing they would eat it all. But they did leave two bowls of gruel in the kitchen for them; it wasn't intentional to leave them hungry.

Liu Sanjin had never liked Ming Yang's children, and now, with being caught up in this situation because of them, her irritation boiled over. She glared fiercely at the children.

Wu Xiang Lan chanted Amitabha in her heart, terrified that if Shen Meng really passed away, she might come to haunt her in the dead of night. She didn't dare to speak a word. Zhou Jiaojiao was likewise silent, but she couldn't afford not to speak. At a time like this arguing was futile; only currying favor was the option; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to live in the three spacious tiled rooms, and the nasty reputation of seizing the main family's property would fall on her.

"Elder sister-in-law, you must hang on, Ming Kai is still young, if you were to go, how would the children get by! Woo hoo hoo..."

Shen Meng couldn't be bothered with her, she only wanted to use her pathetic state to garner sympathy from the children. It was clear that Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang were a lost cause, so Shen Meng set her sights on Lu Mingfang and Lu Ming Kai—girls had softer hearts and were easier to conquer, and an even younger child was easier still.

"Zhou Jiaojiao, move aside a bit, you're blocking my view of the children."

Shen Fugui heard this and, without caring whether the two children were willing or not, grabbed them and pushed them in front of Shen Meng's kang bed, squeezing Zhou Jiaojiao to one side in the process.

"Xiao Meng, look here, Ming Kai and Ming Fang are here, look at the children, say whatever you want to say, take your time, no rush, my girl!"

Zhou Jiaojiao staggered from being shoved, nearly twisting her ankle, and didn't dare say a word, for fear that Shen Meng would suddenly become lucid and remember the matter of the house.

Shen Meng looked at the two children before her and pinched her thigh hard under the blanket, bringing the tears flowing again.

The eye drops she had used definitely skimped on quality, they were so ineffective—not only did they stop working after such a short time, but they also caused her eyes to feel dry, irritated, and tired.

"Ming Kai, my son, mother has wronged you. I carried you for ten months and watched you grow bit by bit, how could I not love you? But your mother was only nineteen when she gave birth to you, I didn't understand anything, anxious in my heart, and your father wasn't around, no one was there to support me. You were so small, and night after night, I'd wake up in a panic, placing my hand under your little nose, terrified that something would go wrong with you, woo hoo hoo... You are mother's own son, how could I not love you!"

Shen Meng's hand gently rested on Lu Ming Kai's head, caressing and rubbing it.

The little guy had his grandfather's large hands pressing on him from behind, preventing him from running away even if he wanted to. He looked at the woman who often hit, scolded, pinched, and twisted him—the woman who was crying so miserably, claiming she loved him and was saying sorry. He didn't understand, he wanted to run, but... but in his memory, he had never been treated so tenderly by his mother, leaving him somewhat stunned.

Ming Fang's tears were also pouring uncontrollably, not moved by the malicious stepmother's words, but rather terrified that the hand lifting to touch Ming Kai's head might suddenly strike her little brother across the mouth.

"Ming Fang, my child, mother has wronged you and Mingyang, Ming Liang. When I first came into this family, you were so kind to me. Such a little girl, you didn't even care about eating yourself, always worried whether I was hungry in the bridal chamber, you brought me a bowl of rice, your little hands red from the heat. Mother regrets being bad to you afterward. They say daughters are their mother's little cotton-padded jackets, if I had another chance, I would definitely cherish you like my own heart. Father, bring out that black pouch from the kang cabinet, inside is the fabric I've been saving for Ming Fang, thinking of making her a new dress by the year's end, but now I'm afraid there won't be a chance."

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Shen Meng spoke in broken phrases, struggling greatly. The people of the Lu Family did not dare to interrupt, for fear that if Shen Meng suddenly ran out of breath, Shen Fugui would blame one of them. Besides, with Mingyang and the other children present, both Mingyang and Ming Liang were grown and had good memories. No matter how bad Shen Meng was, she was still Lu Zhenping's wife. When he returned and found out how his wife had died, wouldn't he be furious?

Lu Mingfang stared blankly, her small face watching as her grandfather took out a black pouch from the wicked woman's kang cabinet, and from it, he took out a piece of green peony cotton fabric and placed it in her hands. Her heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, softening instantly.

Leaning against the doorframe, Lu Mingyang scoffed coldly in his heart. This woman was truly wicked, still trying to deceive people even on her deathbed. She had clearly shown off a new piece of cloth she had gotten for herself, planning to make cotton pants for herself, but now she was saying it was for Ming Fang, obviously so her siblings would remember the "good" she had done, likely eyeing the offerings of incense and paper money that would come during the holidays.