Chapter 58: Beast

Xu Yingying was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at the yellow paper as if she were struggling to remember something. Then she gripped her head in both hands, swaying in agony. “I can’t remember, I just can’t remember.”

Seeing her reaction, I understood that after her death, someone must have forced her to drink the “Meng Po Soup.” The “Meng Po Soup” here is not the same as the one in mythology. What I refer to is a substance commonly used in the field of feng shui—after death, when this is administered, it causes the spirit to forget the events of its life.

Bai Xiaoli, witnessing Xu Yingying’s painful struggle, turned to Granny Wan with a look of pity and asked, “Granny, can you help her regain her memory?”

Granny Wan shook her head, indicating she could not.

I thought for a moment and said I would try. From my backpack, I took out some Siberian ginseng and arborvitae seeds. Arborvitae seeds have the effect of calming the heart and mind, while Siberian ginseng can stimulate the nerves and help recover memories.

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes calming the soul and nourishing the spirit—this theory applies to both the living and the dead. I wrapped the herbs in a piece of oil paper, rolled it into a ball, and lit it with a match.

A pungent, slightly bitter medicinal fragrance rose immediately, the curling white smoke drifting slowly toward Xu Yingying’s body.

Her frenzied state gradually subsided. I saw a trace of clarity return to her previously dull eyes. She slowly lowered her hands from her head and spoke, “It was... it was Chen Zhiqiang. The child is Chen Zhiqiang’s.”

Bai Xiaoli quickly pressed her, “Xu Yingying, don’t rush. Take your time—what exactly happened?”

Xu Yingying then told us that she had been a senior in college. Because of her family’s financial difficulties, she got a job as a front desk receptionist at the Yellow River Resort’s bar through a classmate’s introduction. Only after starting did she realize she’d been deceived—the bar was not a legitimate business, and the customers were all lecherous.

She said she had intended to quit, but if she left before completing a month, she would have to pay a penalty ten times her wages. With no other choice, she continued working there. It was then that she met Chen Zhiqiang.

Unlike the other patrons, Chen Zhiqiang treated her with respect. Gradually, they became a couple.

However, Chen Zhiqiang harbored a perverse interest—he enjoyed sadism.

Hearing this, I glanced at Bai Xiaoli, whose face betrayed a flicker of disgust.

Xu Yingying continued, saying that when she later discovered she was pregnant, she went to discuss it with Chen Zhiqiang. He showed no anxiety and told her his family was wealthy; he’d take full responsibility if she gave birth to the child.

At this point, I almost thought Chen Zhiqiang had a sense of responsibility. But what Xu Yingying said next quickly dispelled that notion.

When she was about to give birth after ten months of pregnancy, Chen Zhiqiang suddenly called her to the foot of Green Dragon Mountain and demanded she get rid of the child. Xu Yingying protested that it was impossible—the child was about to be born.

Chen Zhiqiang coldly replied that if she insisted on giving birth, she should strangle the baby herself; in any case, the child could not be kept. Xu Yingying refused no matter what he said, so Chen Zhiqiang pushed her into the Yellow River and left without looking back.

“That Chen Zhiqiang is truly scum!” Bai Xiaoli cursed angrily, saying, “I’m going to find Grandpa Chen Yetian and tell him what a beast his grandson is.”

Granny Wan snorted coldly. “Chen Yetian probably knew about this long ago. Otherwise, do you think his grandson could have devised such a cruel and vicious scheme to deal with Xiaoxi?”

“How could that be?” Bai Xiaoli was visibly shocked—it was clear she had held a good opinion of Chen Yetian.

Granny Wan didn’t bother to explain further. Instead, she turned to Xu Yingying and asked, “Girl, what do you plan to do next?”