Chapter 412

In the dilapidated woodshed of Chu Family Village.

Under the barrage of Tao Yan’s vicious curses, Chu Ling fell into complete despair, replaced by...

Rage!!! Hatred!!!

For the first time in her life, she lost control of her emotions, shouting out the grievances she had bottled up for years.

"Why treat me like this? Have you ever truly considered me your daughter?"

"Ever since I can remember, you’ve either beaten or scolded me. You pushed all the dirty, exhausting chores in the house onto me."

"You made me work without feeding me, claiming it was because... you were afraid I’d get too full and become lazy!"

"Heh... the reason I developed stomach cancer is precisely because of long-term starvation and malnutrition."

"Yet, as a mother, you felt no guilt upon learning the truth. Instead, you threatened me to give up treatment and conspired with Father to lock me away."

"I used to have nightmares every night, doubting if my birth had any meaning, and I even contemplated suicide..."

"I was so envious of the other children in the village. They all had parents who cherished them, living like little princesses."

"But I... I was like your punching bag. Whenever you were in a bad mood, you’d take it out on me, beating me like an enemy!"

"There were several times... I wondered if I could survive, if you would beat me to death right then and there?!"

".........."

Chu Ling’s eyes were red, her emotions growing increasingly agitated, as if she wanted to use this opportunity to vent all the grievances in her heart in one go.

It’s just that her overflowing grievances would likely take more than three days and three nights to finish telling...

And at this moment, the most bewildered person was Tao Yan herself.

For the past eighteen years, she had intentionally raised Chu Ling to be a timid, spineless wretch, never allowing her to defy a single command.

Under her careful "nurturing," Chu Ling had indeed been like a little lamb, enduring labor, beatings, and scoldings without complaint.

With just a word from her, the girl would timidly get up and obey.

But today...

Not only did this dead girl dare to ignore her, she even dared to rebuke her on the spot?!!

"You bitch, shut your mouth!"

Slap!!!

Regaining her senses, Tao Yan’s face turned instantly grim, and she raised her hand to deliver a slap.

It immediately sent Chu Ling, who was still crying out her story, reeling in a daze.

"You’ve gone mad, haven't you? You little bitch, are you trying to rebel? You dare talk back to me?"

"I am your mother!!! You just shut up and do as I say! Where do you get off with all this bullshit?"

"It seems I haven't beaten you enough lately! Your skin is itching, and you haven't learned your lesson at all?! Fine, today I’ll teach you a harsh lesson, you little bastard!"

".........."

As she spoke, Tao Yan sneered, completely disregarding Chu Ling’s sickly body, and raised her hand to deliver several more heavy slaps.

This was her favorite thing to do over the last dozen years.

Just think about it...

This is a young lady from a powerful, wealthy family...

In front of such a person, she herself would normally be nothing!

Yet now, she could slap her at will for amusement. Is there anything more satisfying in the world than this!!!!!

Tao Yan’s eyes were filled with excitement, and a sick smile curled onto her lips involuntarily.

Just as her sharp claws were about to strike Chu Ling...

The girl, who had long since lost all hope and harbored thoughts of resistance, suddenly reached out and grabbed Tao Yan’s wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"You... you little bitch! Your parents hit you for your own good, and you actually dare to block it with your hand?"

Tao Yan was stunned, her face full of disbelief.

She hadn't expected this little bastard, who usually didn't even dare to speak loudly to her,

to not only refuse to offer her face to be hit this time but also dare to reach out and stop her?!!

Facing Tao Yan’s exasperation, Chu Ling just kept a cold face, saying nothing.

Seeing Tao Yan raise her other hand to hit her, Chu Ling felt a sudden surge of anger, recalling the abuse and grievances she had suffered for over a decade.

Instinctively, she struck back, landing a solid slap right on Tao Yan’s face.

*Smack!!!*

Because of long-term malnutrition, Chu Ling was skin and bones, and on top of suffering from stomach cancer, she was incredibly weak.

The force of the slap on Tao Yan’s face wasn't actually that great.

But Tao Yan still widened her eyes, covering her cheek as she stumbled back, completely dumbfounded.

"You... you... you actually dared to hit me!!!"

Chu Ling had always been a punching bag at home, left to be beaten and scolded at will.

But today, she had accidentally slapped this little bitch.

What a humiliating disgrace!!!!!

Tao Yan, having recovered, turned cold and grim, screaming through gritted teeth:

"You animal, have you gone mad!!! I am your mother!!! You even dare to hit your own mother?!"

"You unfilial little beast, raising you is worse than raising a dog!!!"

"You're done for. Let's see if I don't beat the shit out of you today!!!"

"............."

Furious, Tao Yan grabbed a piece of firewood from the ground, viciously preparing to strike Chu Ling.

Although she didn't know how this little bastard had the guts to resist her today,

it didn't really matter; in the girl's sickly state, she posed no threat at all.

Since she had become disobedient, she would beat her until she was obedient. If she died, she deserved it!

She could just find a hill to bury her in later!!!

"No biological mother would treat her child like this!"

"You’re not actually my real mother, are you!"

Chu Ling clearly realized her physical strength was insufficient.

But she didn't panic, nor did she crouch on the ground with her hands over her head as usual to let Tao Yan beat her.

Instead, she used an extremely certain tone to shift the topic.

Sure enough, as soon as her deepest secret was touched upon, Tao Yan’s attention was instantly diverted.

Looking at Chu Ling’s determined gaze, she felt an inexplicable panic, and the firewood in her hand slipped, falling to the ground with a *thud*.

What was going on? What did she mean by that?

Could it be that she knew something...

Impossible, absolutely impossible!!!

Eighteen years had passed; only she and Chu Xiong knew. She was 95% certain it was impossible for an outsider... especially this little bitch... to know!!!

She must have guessed it by accident... it must be...

Seeing her "mother’s" panicked and guilty expression, Chu Ling’s heart skipped a beat, and she became even more convinced of the content in her "cousin’s" inner voice.

At this moment, Tao Yan, through psychological self-comfort, finally forced herself to calm down.

However, she was in no mood to lay hands on Chu Ling anymore. Instead, she walked quickly toward the door, pointing a finger at Chu Ling and cursing as she went.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you little beast?"

"You're crazy, you're crazy!!! It's one thing to hit me, but now you're doubting I'm your mother?!"

"Forget it, I can't manage a bitch like you! I'm going to tell your father right now and have him come personally to give you a lesson with a stick!"

"I was worried about you before because he hit you too hard! It seems I was too soft-hearted! An unfilial little beast like you deserves a harsh lesson!!!"

"............."

Soon, Tao Yan walked out of the woodshed, her voice gradually fading.

Watching her departing back, a strange look flashed in Chu Ling’s eyes; the mystery of her birth... might soon be revealed...