After her cousin fell into the water, she became a different person, possessing immense strength. She claimed an old immortal had bestowed her with power and that her name, Tang Da Ya, was too rustic, so she should be renamed Tang Wei Wei.
The entire family doted on her, agreeing to her every whim.
From then on, Tang Wei Wei always went up the mountain alone. She often brought back wild rabbits and pheasants to improve their meals. However, the Tang Tang family never got to taste any of these delicacies.
This did not stop Grandma Tang from constantly comparing Tang Tang to Tang Wei Wei, openly and subtly mocking and cursing Tang Tang. An eight or nine-year-old girl, not understanding much, only knew she was inferior to her cousin in every way. Except for her parents, no one in the family liked her. She started to wonder if she was simply not good enough.
Gradually, Tang Wei Wei's good fortune spread throughout the village. Villagers frequently compared the two sisters. As soon as Tang Tang went out, people would point fingers at her. Under such a stifling environment, her self-esteem dwindled.
One noon, Tang Wei Wei ventured deep into the mountains. Before she left, she mentioned it to a neighbor's child. That child then went around the fields spreading the word.
The Tang family became extremely worried upon hearing this. After all, Tang Wei Wei had always told them she only hunted pheasants in the outer areas and would not go deep into the mountains.
Seeing that she hadn't returned for so long, the entire family was working in the fields to earn work points. Leaving would result in a deduction of work points. Just then, Tang Wei Min returned from work.
Grandpa Tang and Grandma Tang urged him to go into the mountains to search for Tang Wei Wei first. Tang Wei Min was a kind person. Although he had some disagreements with his family, he felt that his niece was innocent. If anything were to happen to her, his conscience would not be at peace.
Therefore, he ventured into the mountains alone to search for his niece. Unexpectedly, he was immediately confronted by a wild boar. His leg was trampled and broken on the spot, with blood gushing out. He fainted and woke up in the hospital, unsure of how he had been rescued.
After his leg was broken, Grandpa Tang forced him to give up his job to his elder uncle's eldest son.
The medical treatment for his broken leg drained the entire fortune of the second branch of the family. Grandpa Tang and Grandma Tang showed no concern for the second branch. After snatching his job, they returned to Xiao Tang Village without even staying at the hospital to see their son for longer.
With his mobility impaired, Tang Wei Min could only do what he could at home. The entire second branch had to rely on Wu Yan Qing for support.
When Tang Tang was twelve years old, a group of police officers suddenly barged into their home. After searching the second branch's residence, they found some watches and a large number of small goldfish.
At this point, all the Tang family members jumped out to accuse the original owner's mother, saying that even if the pressure of raising the family was too great, she shouldn't have engaged in speculative trading.
Grandma Tang even came forward to testify, saying that the original owner's mother often ran to town, leaving early and returning late. She stated that since the items were found in her room, the Tang family was willing to uphold justice by disowning her. Wu Yan Qing, even with eighteen mouths, couldn't explain herself.
As a result, she was sentenced to eight years in prison. Tang Wei Min knew his wife was framed. But no matter how much he pleaded, the police would not believe him.
Thus, Tang Wei Min, unable to bear the blow, passed away within two years.
Tang Tang's life became even more arduous. She woke earlier than the chickens and slept later than the dogs, undertaking all the household chores. During holidays, she also had to earn work points. Even eating a piece of vegetable leaf at home required her to face the Tang family's displeased expressions.
If it weren't for her good academic performance, which exempted her from tuition fees and provided a subsidy, the Tang family would have stopped her from attending school long ago.
She finally managed to endure until she was eighteen and participated in the college entrance examination. She believed that once she entered university, she could escape the clutches of the Tang family.
She knew most of the questions on the college entrance examination and was confident of scoring well. Her confidence grew even stronger after the correct answers were released.
To her surprise, when the scores were announced, she hadn't even reached the threshold for vocational colleges.
She felt it was impossible and went to the school to check, and even caused a commotion at the education bureau. However, she was ruthlessly driven out. They said she was probably just going mad from a poor performance.
She cited her previous academic records, saying she couldn't have only scored that low and that there must have been manipulation behind the scenes.
Consequently, everyone in the city began to suspect her of cheating in the past, as how could such a rigorous event like the college entrance examination have errors? Rumors flooded in, nearly driving her insane. But she didn't give up, because the college entrance examination was her only way out.
The Tang family, ashamed of her, knocked her unconscious and carried her home. Soon after, they sold her to Zhang Mazi from the neighboring village for 200 yuan.
Zhang Mazi was notorious in the vicinity as a drunkard who loved to beat people after drinking. His previous wife had been beaten to death by him. Now, at thirty years old, he still couldn't find a wife, so he simply spent 200 yuan to buy Tang Tang.
Tang Tang could never forget the look of eagerness on Grandma Tang's face to get rid of her quickly, and her efforts to promote her.
"Don't be fooled by this girl's thinness; she's quite attractive. Plus, she's cultured and knowledgeable. She'll surely give you a healthy son who will be promising."
Thus, Tang Tang was taken home by Zhang Mazi like a piece of merchandise, without anyone caring about her feelings. In recent days, she was frequently given medicine, leaving her groggy and powerless to resist.
Due to Tang Tang's long-term malnutrition and constant beatings from Zhang Mazi, her health was already poor, and she couldn't conceive.
Zhang Mazi's abuse intensified, resorting to kicking and beating her, burning her with cigarette butts, pulling her hair, and stabbing her thighs with beer bottles.
A girl in her twenties looked like a thirty-something. She had thought about ending her life several times, but considering her mother, who was in prison and would be released in two years, she found the courage to live on.
A year later, Tang Tang became pregnant, and Zhang Mazi's beatings and scoldings became less frequent.
It was also in this year that she met Tang Wei Wei. Tang Wei Wei was fashionably dressed, with fair skin and a beautiful face. She seemed to radiate a golden aura, making Tang Tang, who had fallen into the dust, feel even more inferior.
Accompanying Tang Wei Wei was a tall man. The man glanced at Tang Tang and then turned his head away in disgust.
Tang Tang inquired about their purpose. It turned out the man was there to apologize on behalf of his sister, saying that his sister had taken his place in the college entrance examination. His sister was a sent-down youth and also Tang Wei Wei's good friend.
This was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky for Tang Tang. She frantically tried to lunge at the man to hit him. Unexpectedly, she was restrained by Tang Wei Wei.
Tang Wei Wei said, "Xiao Xiao already knows she was wrong, and Brother Lin has also humbled himself to apologize to you. What more do you want? I advise you not to push your luck."
Tang Wei Wei held her head high, her tone unmistakably contemptuous.
"What more do I want? She took my university spot. She ruined my life! And you, you're my own cousin! I don't believe you were unaware of this from the start; you must have leaked my identity information."
Tang Tang cried out hoarsely, her body trembling uncontrollably with every word she spoke. Was her life to be so easily controlled by their simple apology?
At that moment, Zhang Mazi rushed forward, covered her mouth, and dragged her away.
"This wench is ignorant and offended the two distinguished guests. I will discipline her properly when we get back." Zhang Mazi said, bowing and scraping to the two of them.
The man seemed pleased with his reaction. He threw a wad of cash at Zhang Mazi and then turned to Tang Tang, who was filled with resentment.
"This money is enough to buy several of you. I advise you not to be ungrateful. If it weren't for you being Wei Wei's cousin, I wouldn't bother coming to a place like this."
Tang Wei Wei then said to Zhang Mazi, "I heard your ex-wife stayed with you for three years without conceiving, but my cousin got pregnant in half a year. Congratulations." She drew out the end of her sentence, as if fearing the dim-witted Zhang Mazi wouldn't understand her implication.
The next day, Zhang Mazi went to the hospital for a check-up. He discovered he had asthenospermia, making it extremely difficult for women to conceive.
Zhang Mazi had drunk a lot along the way. Upon returning home, he began to beat Tang Tang with a hoe and a stick.
"Zhang Mazi, I beg you, stop hitting me. I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant? You dare mention pregnancy. Whose bastard are you carrying?" Zhang Mazi became increasingly enraged as he spoke and intensified his blows, hitting her forcefully.
Tang Tang was covered in sweat from the pain, and blood was already flowing from between her legs. She was in too much pain to speak.
Zhang Mazi continued to rant wildly, "Whose is it? Tell me, whose is it?"
When he finally stopped, he realized Tang Tang had already breathed her last. Unhurriedly, he dragged Tang Tang outside and buried her in a random spot. People like Tang Tang were easily dealt with, as she had no family to stand up for her.
When the villagers discovered Tang Tang's death, everyone knew Zhang Mazi had beaten her to death. But no one cared to intervene.
Gradually, the village began to spread rumors that Tang Tang, unable to bear the loneliness, had seduced someone and was carrying an illegitimate child, which led to Zhang Mazi accidentally beating her to death. The entire village declared Tang Tang deserved it and called her a slut.
Wu Yan Qing, who would have been released from prison in six months, never had the chance to see her daughter again.