Grandma 010

She suddenly remembered that Fang Zhiyi always had a small device pinned to his collar, resembling a microphone for recording. That was why she had assumed the child was about to appear on her show. Could it be...?

"Even if it's just your voice, everyone recognizes it," the supervisor said, glaring at Wang Tao. "You really dare to say anything, huh?"

Wang Tao stammered, "I—sir, I..."

"Go home and watch the rerun! Their show's viewership is skyrocketing, and the consequences of your nonsense are already affecting me!"

"Grandson!" Zhao Yumei called out as soon as she entered the backstage area. When Fang Zhiyi approached, she roughly ruffled his hair. "Well done!"

Fang Zhiyi had subtly made her aware of these family reunion shows, leaving Zhao Yumei restless. Rarely, she reached out to an "old friend."

The old friend explained how television networks operated and introduced her to a host specializing in gossip programs for the elderly. Zhao Yumei decided to strike first.

Older audiences often empathized with their peers. She exaggerated the situation, playing to her strengths, and coincidentally, the host had a grudge against Wang Tao. Thus, the risky plan was hatched—using Fang Zhiyi, a child, to bait Wang Tao into revealing her true colors on a live recording.

Wang Tao trembled as she watched the rerun. She knew she was finished. Even if her show continued, its reputation was already ruined—viewers had made up their minds, and the scandal had drawn in countless gossip-hungry spectators.

Meanwhile, at Lin Meilan's residence, her boyfriend was yanking her hair and beating her.

"You told me this plan would work, and now all the money's gone?!"

"I had no choice! Who knew that old hag would go to the TV station herself and even get her own show?!"

"I don’t care! Give me back my drinking money!" Ma Tiao snarled. If it weren’t for her ability to scrounge up cash, he would’ve dumped her long ago.

"I—I have another idea!" Lin Meilan cried, unable to endure the beating.

Ma Tiao jabbed a finger at her. "I don’t care if you have to steal or rob—if I don’t see money, I’ll beat you to death!"

Lin Meilan’s old wounds were now layered with fresh ones, but her hatred was directed at Zhao Yumei and Fang Zhiyi.

Following her suggestion, Ma Tiao decided: if legal methods failed, they’d resort to force. The targets were just an old woman and a child, after all.

Though Lin Meilan hadn’t been back in years, she remembered a low spot in the backyard wall—the same spot she used to sneak out to meet an ex-boyfriend.

The next night, she led Ma Tiao there, instructing him to climb in and search for valuables while she stood guard.

But shortly after Ma Tiao scaled the wall, shouts erupted from inside. Lin Meilan’s heart clenched. Then came more commotion, and soon, the yard sounded crowded. Someone struggled over the wall, landing with a thud. When Lin Meilan saw heads peering over the wall, she turned and fled, abandoning Ma Tiao.

Fang Minghui was frustrated. That old woman had appeared on TV and decided to stay in the city for a few days, even hiring him to watch her house in exchange for some cash.

Last time, he’d heard Fang Zhiyi’s father had died and tried to squeeze some money out of the situation, only to end up in a pointless fight. But with gambling debts piling up, he had no choice but to take the job.

Who knew he’d actually encounter thieves? During the scuffle, he was stabbed—luckily not fatally—and thankfully, he’d invited friends over for a card game.

Ma Tiao was hauled off to the police station, but Fang Minghui didn’t expect to be arrested too—for organizing illegal gambling.

Lin Meilan never saw Ma Tiao again. Terrified, she fled that same night. She didn’t know what had happened inside, but she knew their plan had failed.

Wang Tao was fired for her unethical behavior and the scandal she caused. Though only her voice was exposed, nearly every viewer recognized it. Overnight, her reputation crumbled, and the public turned against her.

Drowning her sorrows in alcohol, she was ambushed, a sack thrown over her head as someone beat her.

"You ruined me, you know that?! Think you’re so high and mighty? Spit!"

With no surveillance in the area and too many enemies to count, she couldn’t even identify her attacker.

Returning from the police station, Wang Tao found her front door vandalized with insults and slurs.

Fear took hold.

The city that once celebrated her now seemed to reject her existence.

Even vegetable vendors shooed her away. "Not selling to you!"

The bald host capitalized on the scandal, inviting one after another of Wang Tao’s victims onto his gossip show. Each revelation tore apart another layer of her carefully constructed image, dragging her name further into the mud.

Her family suffered too. Her younger brother, whose college tuition she had paid, called to disown her—because of her, he was mocked and ostracized at school.

Her parents, once proud, now refused her calls. As elderly folks, they were humiliated by their peers’ taunts.

Wang Tao retreated into her apartment, drinking heavily, flinching at every noise outside.

She knew how many people she’d wronged, and the threatening messages made her dread retaliation.

Under the stress, her hair fell out in clumps. Her face sagged, aging rapidly. When neighbors called the psychiatric hospital to have her taken away, no one recognized her.

"That host was never right in the head," a neighbor said in an interview, shuddering. "She’d spray-paint her own door at night, with this terrifying look on her face. Textbook guilt!"

Fang Zhiyi began attending school like any normal child. Even Zhao Yumei seemed more civilized, though she still scolded him now and then—for not feeding the chickens or leaving dirty clothes unwashed.

Fang Zhiyi knew better than to argue. Making her do chores was harder than dealing with Lin Meilan. He resigned himself to school and chores, grateful that Zhao Yumei’s newfound wealth had bought appliances—otherwise, he might’ve worked himself to death in this world.

A transmigrator dying from housework—now that would be a story.

Ma Tiao was released from prison. His first act? Hunting down Lin Meilan.