CHAPTER 44: THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT FLAPPED BY A LITTLE BUTTERFLY

Jing Shu sized up Su Meimei, who sat dishevelled in a corner. Her hair was a mess, and although her facial wounds had healed, she clearly hadn’t bathed in a while. Her clothes were dirty and stained with grease, their original color indiscernible.

Su Meimei also looked up and met Jing Shu’s gaze. Her eyes barely hid her towering hatred. When she faced Mrs. Jing, her expression quickly turned misty with emotion, and she plaintively called out, "Sis, you’re here."

Zhang Zhongyong’s appearance was much better. He got up and awkwardly called out, "Sis, Brother-in-law."

Mrs. Jing merely gave a noncommittal ’hmm’ and said no more. She moved a chair over and sat beside Jing Shu to watch TV, while Mr. Jing cautiously sat on only a third of the sofa, not daring to speak with Su Meimei and her family.

In their previous life, their family had also gone to Aunt’s house for the Lantern Festival. At that time, Zhang Hanhan had excitedly hugged Jing Shu, sobbing, "I missed you so much," and ignored Wang Can. Her younger aunt and Mrs. Jing were also chatting warmly, but this lifetime, everything had changed.

The coffee table was laid with fried dough twists, sunflower seeds, and sugar. Su Long was diligently pouring tea. Aunt and Uncle were in the kitchen making a belated reunion dinner. Wang Gang and Mr. Jing were chatting sporadically, and Liu Shufang, like in the previous life, kept cracking sunflower seeds.

"Yes, she’s the one who framed my mom and made my parents’ relationship break down."

"Her family is just a shiny dung ball—all surface, no substance. Her parents sold their house and car for her livestreams and even borrowed money from everyone."

"I heard they spent over a million to hire an online army to promote her, but she still didn’t get popular."

"Now they live in the mountains 30 kilometers away, in that godforsaken place where birds don’t even bother to shit. I have no idea how her family gets by there."

"How am I anything like her? I’m starting in dramas next year, while she can’t even make it as an internet celebrity. Look at her hick outfit and those rain boots. It’s hilarious."

Jing Shu clearly heard Zhang Hanhan badmouthing her and felt an inexplicable irritation. She hated it most when people talked behind her back. Either don’t say anything, or say it where I can’t hear you. Zhang Hanhan was openly pointing and snickering at her while muttering under her breath.

Zhang Hanhan’s expression clearly said: Yeah, I’m badmouthing you. Come on, hit me if you dare! It made Jing Shu want to slap her a few times and retort, What, you think you can just ignore me like that?

After a while of bustling activity, dinner was finally ready. After 7 PM, the temperature quickly dropped to 6°C, so everyone turned off the air conditioning and put on thick jackets and pants. Uncle moved the dining table to the living room, planning for them to eat dinner while watching the Lantern Festival gala.

In Jing Shu’s house, the temperature was always a constant 26°C, so they hadn’t brought any extra clothes. Mrs. Jing felt a bit embarrassed, as Liu Shufang’s and Su Meimei’s families had brought thick clothes.

"I can get some clothes for you," Uncle offered first.

"No need, Big Brother. It’s not that cold, and we’ll warm up once we start eating," Mrs. Jing quickly declined. She’d noticed mysterious grease stains and various body odors on their clothes, which definitely hadn’t been washed in over a month.

In her previous life, Mom wasn’t so particular; she’s been spoiled by our current living conditions, Jing Shu thought, though she was happy to indulge her mother.

For the reunion dinner, besides the dishes made from dried goods Mrs. Jing brought—Black Fungus stir-fried with meat, tomatoes scrambled with eggs, garlic sprouts stir-fried with cured meat, plain stir-fried bean sprouts, and cabbage stewed with glass noodles—Uncle had also prepared braised ribs, braised fish (made without onions, ginger, or garlic), stir-fried mushrooms, chives scrambled with eggs, and a pot of frozen sweet dumplings.

Jing Shu poured a paper cup of Sprite for everyone. The 2-liter bottle of Sprite was quickly emptied, and Su Long snatched the last bit, hiding it away.

For people who hadn’t eaten well in a month, the reunion dinner was simply sumptuous. Uncle raised his paper cup. "My apologies for the humble fare today. After the Dark Day is over, we’ll have a proper celebration. Let’s put all grudges aside and eat well first!" he said, looking meaningfully towards Su Meimei and Mrs. Jing.

Everyone at the table tapped their paper cups together and formally began the meal.

The disparity at the dining table soon became apparent: the dishes Jing Shu’s family brought were the most popular and quickly disappeared, while hardly anyone touched the dishes Uncle’s family had prepared.

"Lao Jing, where did you get these dishes? I’ll trade you some mineral water for more," Wang Gang said, his eyes still lingering on the empty plates.

"We grew a little in the house, but it’s barely enough for ourselves," Mr. Jing refused with a good-natured smile.

Aunt Wang Fang patted Mr. Jing and said, gesturing vaguely upwards, "My older brother has inside information that the Dark Day will last at least another month. Water is so scarce, and mineral water is hard to get. Only my brother can procure it. Are you sure you don’t want to trade for some?"

My spendthrift daughter stored four pools of water, and I haven’t even bragged about it yet!

Mr. Jing thought. But seeing Mrs. Jing’s unhappy expression, he immediately shook his head. "It’s not that I don’t want to trade; we really don’t have any left."

Aunt Wang Fang then began praising Wang Can, who, at such a young age, had secured a clerical position. She remarked that in a few more years, he’d be quite accomplished, clearly set to follow in his father’s political footsteps.

Wang Fang rarely praised anyone unless she needed a favor, and sure enough, she began to ask Wang Gang to share some water.

This was a complete reversal from her previous life. Back then, Aunt Wang Fang had lavished praise on Jing Shu to persuade Mrs. Jing to share water. The younger aunt had also managed to get some, and Mr. Jing had ended up giving each of their two families 200 bottles, which led to their own family running short later on.

In this life, Wang Gang’s gift of 60 bottles of water made Wang Fang so tearfully grateful she would remember it for a lifetime. Finally, Uncle suggested giving Mrs. Jing and the younger aunt 10 bottles each, but a sharp look from Aunt Wang Fang made him change his offer to 5 bottles each.

"My Su Long gets diarrhea from drinking muddy water. I apologize, everyone, but I can only give each of your families 5 bottles for emergency use," Wang Fang said.

Relatives willing to share even a sixth of their water are considered decent by apocalypse standards. Such people are wise.

After dinner, without anyone even watching the Lantern Festival Gala, Uncle spoke up. "Alright, dinner’s over. Let’s talk business. Zhongyong, what’s this I hear about you finding another woman and having a ten-year-old illegitimate child with her?"

This statement made everyone’s jaw drop, including Mrs. Jing’s and Mr. Jing’s. Wang Gang even shot Zhang Zhongyong a look that seemed to say, Not bad, you rascal!

"We all know about Meimei and Sun Yinrui. That was her fault, yes, but she’s only been with Sun Yinrui for a short time. At most, it’s an improper relationship. But you? How long have you been with that woman on the side? At least a decade, right? And you even have a child with her!"

Uncle banged the table. "As a civil servant, do you realize how serious a mistake this is?! It’s bigamy! And that’s compounding your crime!"

A look of sudden realization crossed Jing Shu’s face. No wonder Su Meimei and Zhang Zhongyong were still eating dinner together today. It turned out Zhang Zhongyong had been caught. Su Meimei was the one with nothing to lose, while Zhang Zhongyong had everything to fear.

In her previous life, Zhang Zhongyong’s affair wouldn’t have come to light for another two years. By then, he was fearless and his affair was practically out in the open. This lifetime, however, it had been exposed so soon.

Was it because Mrs. Jing had sold Su Meimei the BMW, but Su Meimei never got to drive it, making her suspicious that Zhang Zhongyong had another woman? Did she then hire a private detective who found the evidence and exposed him?

It was indeed a small butterfly flapping its wings that could cause such a huge storm. Jing Shu hadn’t expected such a surprise.