Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 35: Stepmother

Yi Roujing handed two milk candies to Xia Xingchen, who calmed down a little after eating one. Ding Anmin was collecting burlap sacks by the side; they were valuable items.

"Xingchen, the relationship between you and your stepmother..." Ding Anmin hesitated. Previously, Xia Xingchen spoke highly of her stepmother, but the scarred man just mentioned that he was instructed by Xingchen’s stepmother to kidnap and sell her, leaving Ding Anmin confused.

"My stepmother?" Xia Xingchen was puzzled why Ding Anmin suddenly brought up her stepmother who was far away in Jing City.

"Your stepmother is a venomous woman," Yi Roujing interjected bluntly.

Xia Xingchen blinked and then laughed, "Sister-in-law, where did you hear that from? My stepmother is nothing but good."

"It was mentioned by the person who kidnapped you," Yi Roujing said earnestly. "They were instructed by your stepmother to kidnap you for sale, not only could they get money from her, but they could also profit from selling you."

"But those four... few people, though they looked like villains, seemed quite upright. Your stepmother went to great lengths to have you kidnapped, indicating significant conflict of interest," Yi Roujing analyzed calmly.

The book clearly states that Xia Xingchen’s stepmother, Gu Yiyi, was fixated on the inheritance left by Xia Xingchen’s biological mother, and to seize it, she slowly laid out a plan starting from establishing a good reputation from the beginning to make Xia Xingchen completely devoted to her. Her efforts eventually paid off, but to eliminate all concerns, she aimed to exterminate Xia Xingchen.

Xia Xingchen laughed, "Sister-in-law, you must be mistaken. My stepmother is incredibly kind and caring. I lost my birth mother at three, and it was my stepmother who raised me, treating me even better than her own daughter."

"Were you this frail before you turned three?" Yi Roujing suddenly frowned and asked.

"I was born this way..."

"Who told you that?" Yi Roujing interrupted Xia Xingchen, questioning her because most people don’t have clear memories before the age of three.

"My step..." Xia Xingchen paused and then replied, "My stepmother said so, but my father also mentioned that I was premature, which affected my mother’s health, leading to her early demise."

Yi Roujing slightly frowned as she pondered. Normally, the impacts of premature birth should have been adjusted by now unless it’s a major congenital defect, and Xia Xingchen just seemed frail without major illnesses.

Yi Roujing took Xia Xingchen’s hand to feel her pulse, noticing it was feebler than last time, and detected a subtle scent of medicine emanating from her.

"Are you taking medicine?" Yi Roujing asked.

"My stepmother mailed me some tonic. I’ve been drinking it since childhood, though the recent shipment was delayed for several days," Xia Xingchen explained with a smile.

"My stepmother would never harm me; she’s truly good to me," Xia Xingchen said with smiling eyes.

"But those people have no personal grudge against you; they’re unlikely to fabricate such claims without reason," Ding Anmin replied. The statements were made when Xia Xingchen was still unconscious, suggesting they might be true, however...

"Do you know a man with a scar here?" Ding Anmin gestured on her face as she recalled the distinct feature of the scarred man, asking Xia Xingchen.

Xia Xingchen froze momentarily, and Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin realized she knew him.

"He’s the one who orchestrated your kidnapping; Sister-in-law and I overheard it. They planned to warn you about your stepmother’s intentions before letting you go," Ding Anmin explained. "Though he looks like a villain, he might actually be a good person."

"Was it Gu Shizhao who did this?" Xia Xingchen asked in a low voice.

"Gu Shizhao?" Yi Roujing was shocked. The man just mentioned was Gu Shizhao, the nephew of Gu Yiyi?

In the book, Gu Shizhao is a marginal character, yet he eventually personally sends his aunt Gu Yiyi to prison and is one of the few uncorrupted members of the Gu Family. He later significantly helped in the family’s prosperity.

"Just by the name, he sounds like a righteous person, matching his appearance," Yi Roujing noted solemnly, seeing Xia Xingchen and Ding Anmin looking at her.

"Did he really say that?" Xia Xingchen pursued.

"Yes," Ding Anmin confirmed with a nod.

"Gu Shizhao is my stepmother’s nephew, but their relationship is strained; perhaps he misunderstands her," Xia Xingchen explained.

"Your stepmother’s nephew?" Ding Anmin was shocked. "Then there must be some issues with your stepmother; even if there’s family discord, wrongly accusing someone isn’t reasonable. Xingchen, keep an eye on your stepmother."

"Don’t drink the tonic your stepmother sent you," Yi Roujing suggested. "Get it checked at the hospital first."

Xia Xingchen hesitated slightly.

"Think a bit more for yourself," Yi Roujing advised, frustrated. "Even biological parents can sometimes be harmful; your stepmother may not have the best interests at heart. Ding Anmin is right; staying cautious is necessary."

With almost seventeen years of unwavering trust, it’s hard to break it with just a few words from others. At this moment, Xia Xingchen felt more perplexed, but it’s a good start.

Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin accompanied Xia Xingchen to find the basket, and the three headed towards the Ding Family’s home.

At that time, Ding Weihuo, Li Hongying, and Ding Anguo were having lunch. Upon seeing the trio return, Li Hongying immediately stood up to greet them, "You’re back, did you see Ancheng?"

"We did; these are bought by Brother, he said we should all enjoy them together," Ding Anmin waved a bag with a bright smile.

"That kid, wasting money," Li Hongying’s face showed reluctance, but her heart felt warm.

"Have you eaten?" Li Hongying asked.

"No, starving," Yi Roujing replied, "also thirsty."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongying hurried to the kitchen to serve rice and water, with Ding Anmin following to help. Xia Xingchen was somewhat absentminded, but Yi Roujing pulled her to sit down.

Though it was all vegetables, with stewed potatoes, stir-fried peas, charred bamboo salad, and wild vegetable soup, a hungry Yi Roujing had two bowls of rice.

After lunch, Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin headed to work, taking Xia Xingchen along, still cutting pig feed.

"Before going to the mountain, let’s stop by the commune first," Yi Roujing, carrying the basket and holding a sickle, proposed. "Let me take a look at the herbal medicine your stepmother sent."

Previously visiting the commune, Yi Roujing hadn’t gone inside. Now she went into Xia Xingchen’s room with her; it wasn’t only her room—it housed three beds, and Xia Xingchen stayed in the bed farthest from the window.

"Where’s the medicine?" Yi Roujing inquired.

"Here, the jar contains what I brewed this morning. I had planned to take it again after dinner," Xia Xingchen murmured.