Blessed Girl From a Farm Family: Surviving the Famine With Space - Chapter 2

Seeing Fu Manman remain silent, Fu Yunli grew impatient. Pointing at Fu Manman with a dark expression, she snapped, “You lowly wretch! It’s only because of me that you’ve had any steamed buns to eat on this journey. Where do you think you can go alone with a crying child in tow? If you keep serving as my packhorse, I might even spare you an extra half a bun in the future.”

Mentioning the half-bun made Fu Yunli’s heart ache—after all, whatever she gave Fu Manman came from her own rations.

Fu Manman glanced at the wooden cart not far away and thought, Could it be that the original owner of this body was being treated like livestock?

Anger surged within her. She was no beast of burden.

“Fu An, pack our things. We’re leaving,” Fu Manman said coldly, unwilling to waste words on these people.

She refused to believe she couldn’t take care of her brothers on her own. Staying here would only mean endless toil and humiliation—no dignity, no rights.

“You wretched thing, how dare you walk away! After all my generosity, is this how you repay me?” Fu Yunli shrieked, raising her whip to strike Fu Manman.

The frail girl was knocked to the ground by the lash. Her thin cotton clothes offered no protection against the rough earth, and she felt her elbow scrape raw.

But Fu Yunli didn’t stop there—she turned the whip on Fu An, striking him while cursing, “You worthless trash! How dare you defy your masters? Do you have a death wish?”

Fu An sobbed in pain but still clutched his infant brother tightly, shielding him.

This is too much! Fu Manman had never endured such abuse in her past life. Though she had been a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, misfortune had led her to drown at sea—but that didn’t mean she would tolerate being bullied now.

With a sudden move, she grabbed the whip mid-swing and yanked hard, pulling Fu Yunli right in front of her. Startled but acting on instinct, she shoved the girl away—sending Fu Yunli flying several meters before crashing to the ground.

Fu Manman stared at her hands in shock. Since when am I this strong?

“Oh no! The Fu family’s eldest girl has lost her mind again!” someone in the crowd shouted.

“Stay away from her! When she’s normal, she seems fine, but when she’s crazy, she can kill people!”

The surrounding villagers scattered in panic, even Fu Manman’s younger brother, Fu An, hid fearfully to the side.

Their reactions puzzled Fu Manman. Why are they so afraid of me?

Picking up on the passerby’s words, she wondered, Was the original owner mentally ill? Normal when stable, but a violent lunatic when triggered?

Fu Yunli, who had been thrown to the ground by Fu Manman, scrambled up furiously, her eyes burning with murderous intent. She grabbed a coil of rope and snarled, “You lowly wretch! How dare you push me? I’ll kill you!”

“Yunli, don’t go near her! That little bitch has lost her mind—she’ll beat you to death!” Fu Yunli’s mother grabbed her arm.

“Mother, I know how to handle her. All it takes is a single bun to make this stupid brute obey.”

Before this, she had convinced the girl that selling her younger sister would earn her a steamed bun—and Fu Manman had actually done it.

Fu Yunli, consumed by jealousy, had manipulated Fu Manman into selling her sister, Fu Shuangshuang, simply because the girl was prettier than her.

This Fu Manman is nothing but a brainless brute with freakish strength—useful only when controlled.

She had plenty of ways to make her submit.

Holding up a white flour bun like bait for a dog, Fu Yunli called out mockingly, “Fu Manman, want this bun? Come here, and it’s yours.”

The sight of the steamed bun made the starving refugees around them stare hungrily. After days of fleeing famine, many had survived only on tree bark—a fresh bun was an unbearable temptation.

If even grown adults couldn’t resist, how could a fool like Fu Manman?

Fu Yunli was certain Fu Manman would crawl to her, obedient as ever. And once she did, she’d tie a noose around her neck and whip her bloody.

Watching Fu Yunli’s condescending act, Fu Manman burned with rage—but inwardly, she smirked. If they think I’m a madwoman, fine. I’ll show them madness.

Calling me a “lowly wretch”? I’m a modern woman raised on equality and freedom—I won’t tolerate this humiliation!

With a cold smile, she strode toward Fu Yunli.

Fu Yunli smirked in triumph, mistaking Fu Manman’s icy expression for mindless eagerness. Idiot.

“Come! Obey me, and this bun is yours,” she taunted, waving the bun.

“Sis, don’t go!” Fu An cried desperately from the sidelines, too afraid to approach his “crazy” sister. But if he didn’t stop her, the young mistress would surely beat her to death.

Even if she’s mad, I can’t lose her!

“Uncle! Please save my sister!” He dropped to his knees before his uncle, Fu Changping, pleading through tears.

Fu Changping’s face darkened. What could he possibly do? He didn’t dare offend the clan leader. If they were expelled from the Fu family, they would become refugees—outcasts with no place left in Tiansheng.

“Xiao An, throw that baby away! You’re dragging us all down. If you want to die, go die on your own—don’t take us with you!” Fu Changping snarled, then tried to snatch Little Maodan from Fu An’s arms.

Fu An hadn’t expected his uncle not only to refuse help but also to demand his brother’s death. Furious, he shoved Fu Changping away, “You’re no uncle of mine!”

“You ungrateful brat! We’re trying to save you! Once your sister’s dead, see how long you can protect that baby!” His aunt spat venomously. The second branch of the family was nothing but a burden—better off dead than dragging them down.

“Fu An, your sister’s a monster who beats us—she deserves to die!” Fu Changping’s eldest son, a grown man in his late teens, sneered. Despite his age, he’d never been able to overpower Fu Manman, a girl barely twelve or thirteen.

“Yeah! She even stole my pancake once!” Fu Changping’s youngest daughter added spitefully.

Fu An looked around helplessly. No one would lift a finger to save his sister. Her reputation in the village was infamous—if not for her brute strength, making her useful for labour, she’d have been beaten to death long ago.

“Jiejie… come back!” he cried out in despair, watching Fu Manman’s retreating figure.

Fu Manman paused mid-step and glanced back at Fu An kneeling in the dirt. This little brother of mine… he’s actually loyal. Compared to her past life’s scheming half-brother, who’d done everything to ruin her, this boy’s concern warmed her.

If he treats me well, I’ll repay him tenfold.

(End of Chapter)