Looking at Mike's clothes in her hands, Hailee felt disgusted. She was about to tear them up and throw them away but stopped.
Mike was a terrible person, but the clothes were innocent. The original host had spent eight yuan to buy that white shirt, so tearing it up would be a waste.
She remembered that even though private trading wasn't allowed at the time, people still found ways. In the original host's memories, her mother had secretly bought expensive grain from others.
That place was called the black market?
She'd heard that not only food but all kinds of necessities could be found there, as long as you were looking.
Mike always cared about what he wore. Although this outfit had been worn, it still looked almost new. It could probably sell for a few yuan at the black market.
Her space was currently empty, so it was the perfect time to sell the clothes and exchange them for seeds.
With that thought, Hailee rolled up the clothes and tossed them into the thatched hut in her space.
Since she was planning to sell them, Hailee went back and also took off Mike's shoes. Even a mosquito's leg was still meat. She couldn't dislike the clothes and shoes just because the person was trash.
Looking at Mike, who was now only wearing underwear, Hailee clicked her tongue. She really didn't understand what the original host had been thinking. Mike was so scrawny, with no strength in his arms or shoulders. What was attractive about him?
If she really wanted a man, she should've picked someone like her second brother, someone strong and masculine.
Resting her finger on her chin, Hailee suddenly remembered that it wasn't just the original host. Many young women in the village liked someone like Mike.
At that thought, her eyes lit up. Hailee snapped her fingers and pulled one of Mike's legs, dragging him to a haystack nearby and tossing him into it.
That haystack belonged to a local resident, a widow around thirty years old. It was said that the widow didn't follow the rules and had a thing with a commune officer. She was also known as a female hooligan, often speaking inappropriately and making crude jokes.
The key point was that she was fat. Mike had even mocked her in private before.
If that happened...
Just imagining the outcome made Hailee almost burst out laughing.
After making sure everything was set and the widow would find him in the morning, Hailee finally left. Maybe because she had just taught a scumbag a lesson, she was in a great mood, skipping as she walked.
She had just arrived in this world and didn't have many friends in the village. The original host only had Tana, a fake best friend. There wasn't much to do in a rural village in the 60s, so Hailee went straight home.
As she got to the door and reached out to push it open, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside, startling her.
"Mom, it's so late. Where are you going?"
Mother Li saw her daughter and quickly pulled her over to inspect her carefully. After confirming she looked the same as when she left, she sighed in relief. She lightly patted Hailee and said, "You girl, where did you run off to just now?"
Hailee looked confused. "I didn't go anywhere, just went to Tana's house."
Tana poked her head out from behind the Su family and said softly, "Hailee, I didn't see you. Did you go to…" She didn't finish the sentence and looked like she had something to say but held back.
She didn't say anything, but the Su family could already guess what she meant. That's exactly why their expressions looked even worse. Even the Su brothers who had just beaten up Mike and come back were angry. Callan even thought he had gone too easy on him.
That fake sweet girl definitely did it on purpose. Bringing up old wounds? Anyone can do that.
She looked sadly at Tana. "I really did go looking for you. Your mom even yelled at you when I got there. I saw her give you a big tub of laundry and tell you not to eat until it was all washed. That was a lot of clothes. I thought it would take you a long time, and I didn't want to get you into trouble, so I left."
She raised her wrist to check her watch. "Tana, did you come to find me because you already finished washing the clothes? You're amazing. That was such a big load, and you finished in less than twenty minutes."
"Were you always slow at doing laundry before because of me?" She held Tana's hand tightly, and promised, "I'm sorry, Tana. But don't worry, I won't come to you again and stop you from finishing your work quickly."
Tana used to often come to the original Hailee, pulling her to the river to help with laundry. Tana was a year younger but had to wash clothes for the whole family. Seeing how hard she worked, the original Hailee would always help without question.
So what did Tana do in return?
She stabbed Hailee in the back, feeding her toxic ideas. Hailee lacked her own opinions, sure. But if Tana hadn't constantly whispered in her ear, Hailee would've never ended up this way.
So, Mike and Yara were the ones who caused Hailee's death, but Tana was guilty too. None of them could escape blame.
"Got Tana yelled at again?" Grandma Su looked at Tana, then turned to Hailee. "So, sweetie, are you saying that Tana got scolded because of you before?"
Hailee shook her head, then nodded. Under Tana's pleading look, she hesitated and said, "I don't really know. That's just what Tana told me."
Tana panicked and blurted out, "I didn't say that." Crap. How could Hailee be so dumb and say that out loud? She had already signaled her not to say anything. Grandma Su and the third aunt were not as easy to fool as Hailee. If they found out she had been lying to Hailee, she'd be in serious trouble.
Grandma Su wasn't sure whether to believe it or not. She said with meaning, "Is that so?" Then under Tana's frightened gaze, she returned to her kind grandmotherly face. "Tana, Hailee is right. Your family gives you a lot of work, so it's better not to come find Hailee. Don't let it delay your chores."
"By the way, you worked all day today, too. You must be tired. We won't keep you. Go home and rest early."
Tana's face turned pale. She hesitated and said, "It's fine, Grandma Su. I'm not tired. Hailee is my best friend. She jumped into the river and got hurt. Of course I came to see her."
Hailee said, "Well, you've seen me now." Meaning: time to leave.
Hailee hated two-faced sweet girls the most.
On purpose, right in front of Tana, she yawned and looked tired. "Grandma, Mom, I'm feeling tired. I want to go back to my room and sleep."
Mother Li didn't care about anything else at that point. She quickly stepped aside for her daughter. "You silly child, I told you your body's still not healed and you insisted on coming out. Look at you, now you're exhausted. You and Tana are close friends, but even if you don't go to her for a day, Tana's understanding. She won't blame you."
Then she smiled at Tana. "Tana, it's getting late. Hailee's tired, and as her aunt, I won't keep you. Go home now."
As she spoke, she pulled Tana by the arm and led her outside, then slammed the door shut in her face.
Tana: ...