Reborn in the 1980s: Recapture My Devoted Husband-Chapter 608 - 589: Ye Qing Being Bullied

From morning till night, Ye Qing didn’t dare to drink more than a sip of water, saving time on bathroom breaks. It was after eleven at night when she finally finished the work beside her.

Once she completed the work of one person’s share, the female boss would take it away, covering the amount for several people. By the time meals were served, those who finished earlier could rest. A group of them watched Ye Qing working one by one and left gradually, leaving Ye Qing alone to toil away. The guards knew what was going on in cases like this, and they weren’t surprised, not bothering her at all.

If you’re bullied, it shows you lack capability. As long as no one complains, they don’t interfere much, as long as it doesn’t lead to death.

Ye Qing, exhausted, returned to her dorm already starving. She hadn’t eaten since noon and evening, with the guards making no exceptions to save food for her.

Her body was in intense pain; she had sneaked a glance at the injuries after using the bathroom. Her chest was visibly bruised purple, with coagulated blood.

"Damn it, these women are really vicious," Ye Qing admitted she was no match for them. If she were as ruthless as they were, she wouldn’t be in this situation today.

Lin Wan, it’s all you, because of you, that I am suffering these woes. Wait till the day comes, you’ll kneel at my feet.

"Sis, I have half a steamed bun from the morning here. Have some to ease the hunger."

Luckily, Ye Qing’s dorm wasn’t in the same place as the female boss. Otherwise, it would be even more tragic.

Today, a female inmate sharing the room with her kindly sneaked her half a bun.

"Thank you, Sister," Ye Qing accepted without hesitation, stuffing large bites into her mouth, she was too hungry. On top of that, her hands were terribly sore from a full day of hammering nails.

"Don’t mention it. It’s not easy in here for any of us. I see you have a fierce nature, daring to challenge the female boss; are you asking for trouble," the female inmate whispered to Ye Qing, "Before you came, they took an inmate out. Do you know how she was taken?"

Ye Qing shook her head, eating hastily, choking a bit.

"She was carried out horizontally. She had no breath left. That woman refused to yield to the female boss’s oppression, resisted, and ended up beaten daily by her. When she found time to report to the captain, the captain turned a blind eye, totally ignoring it."

Ye Qing, surprised, quickly lowered her voice, "You mean the female boss has connections up top?"

"Indeed, do you know why she killed someone to end up here?"

Ye Qing shook her head.

"Rumor has it she killed her husband," the inmate paused, looked around to ensure everyone was asleep, then whispered, "with her female lover. Ha... what could you say, strange things happen in this world; aren’t women supposed to love men? But she’s peculiar, loving a woman. Isn’t it queer?"

Ye Qing was shocked, failing to comprehend how such things happen with women.

"Did she and her female... lover both end up in prison?"

The inmate shook her head, saying, "No, the female boss was quite protective of her lover and took the full blame herself. But..."

"What happened, Sister?" Ye Qing grew curious.

"Well, the female boss wasn’t dedicated to one woman. In our correction team, she had several. That woman who was carried out was said to have been killed by her, though no one knows the exact method. The rumor was discovered in the woods on the west side of our team, pitifully. Some said they saw the female boss beating her that way, others saw her wielding a big hammer. Many versions exist, but regardless, she did end up dead. So, be careful, girl, don’t mess with her; or you won’t fare well."

Ye Qing patted her chest, terrified, thinking she would only stay ten days or so then leave. Exhausting for a few days was nothing compared to being harmed before she could leave.

"Sister, may I know your name, thank you for warning me. Scared me to death."

Ye Qing thought this woman was a psycho. Better to stay clear from now on.

"My surname is Ding, called Ding Dongqin. What about you, girl?"

"I’m Ye Qing. Sister, why are you here?" Standard talk around here is what crime brought you in.

"Oh, just ordinary quarrels with my husband. One time it led us to the police station. It was all settled, then they said we disturbed public order, disregarded marriage. So they locked us for three months. Frankly, I’ve only been here a month, still have two months to go. Can you imagine!" Ding Dongqin sighed, saying, "Girl, why are you here?"

"...well, before my partner and I were legally married... we embraced once, and someone saw it. Bad luck for us."

"Girl you really are just unlucky. But what you did isn’t severe. You’d be out in a few months. Please don’t provoke Boss Ma. Being sentenced for life, we can’t compete with her."

"Boss Ma?" Ye Qing seemed to realize Ding Sister meant the female boss, "Thank you, Sister, for the warning. I understand, I’ll keep my distance."

"Sleep now, be cautious tomorrow. You don’t know Boss Ma, fooling around daily in her dorm. All ten or so people there have been messed with by her. Among them is an unmarried girl, you know. She was just in school, held hands with a male classmate, got seen by the boy’s girl. Said he was young, only sentenced for a year. Who knew she’d be so unlucky to end up in Boss Ma’s dorm."

Ye Qing parted her lips, feeling sympathetic for the young girl. Her situation was uncannily mirrored to her own. Even though what she encountered was a man, those women weren’t as scary as men.

The next day, Ye Qing was much more obedient. Sharing a room with Boss Ma, she continued to help her work, not daring even a hint of complaint.

Today, she met the young girl Sister Ding mentioned, so skinny and fragile, like a paper doll. Ye Qing could only see herself back then, stuck in a mud pit.

Back then, if someone had helped her, it would have been great, but no one ever did.

She pinned hopes on Lin Wan, who watched her and her brother leave. Hopeless terror was something Lin Wan brought her.

She watched in vain as Lin Wan left her. She wiped out her last bit of dawn. How could she not hate?

Sometimes she wondered if Lin Wan did it deliberately, purposely not looking her way, deliberately watching her brother torment her.

So she hates, she hates Lin Wan to the bone! Most of all, she hates how Lin Wan took her brightness away, a brightness she sought desperately. Once more snatched by Lin Wan.

Taking advantage of Boss Ma’s inattention, Ye Qing sneaked her half morning bun during a bathroom break to the little girl.

This was Sister Ding’s advice. Morning, eat sparingly, save half a bun for the afternoon.

Thus, she wouldn’t feel as hungry throughout the day.

Ye Qing originally saved it for her evening hunger. But seeing this little girl, Ye Qing felt rare pity building up.

The little girl found a bun stuffed into her pocket, initially stunned, then looked at Ye Qing, somewhat awkward, maybe in disbelief.

Dumbfounded for a while, she opened her mouth not knowing how to say thank you.

Ye Qing gave her a warm smile, didn’t utter a word, and walked away.

In a poorly timed place, a piece of life-saving food was given. Ye Qing lucked out, making this little girl remember her.

...

Once Mom left, the hotpot shop’s happenings were for Xiao Gu to handle entirely. Lin Wan suggested Mom find a suitable place there early and continue opening a hotpot shop.

Their shop had to keep expanding, aiming for chain-style in the future.

This life, a hotpot shop alone could make them wealthy.

Summer night market did well, Xiao Gu implied they could open a storefront. Lin Wan had envisioned it long ago but lacked the right candidate for a store manager.