The well in their village was located in the center, not too far from their home. By the time they arrived, many villagers were already lined up to fetch water.
"Zhao Dong, here to fetch water?"
"Yeah. Have you eaten yet?"
"Just cooking now. Oh, little Tongtong is out helping her dad fetch water too!"
"Yes, Uncle! I'm really strong now, you know."
The neighbors continued to greet each other. Zhao Zhitong, with her little mouth as if smeared with honey, chirped sweet "Uncles," "Aunties," "Grandpas," and "Grandmas." Her adorable and well-behaved demeanor drew much playful teasing from them.
No matter what they said or how they teased her, Zhao Zhitong handled it all admirably, and the neighbors couldn't stop praising her intelligence.
Hearing the neighbors' words of praise, Zhao Dong could hardly conceal the proud expression on his face.
The sun was about to set, and the cool weather made it the peak time for fetching water. Since it would still be a while before their turn, Zhao Dong let Zhao Zhitong play nearby.
Many children from the village were running and chasing each other on the street. A few children about Zhao Zhitong's age were squatting in front of a doorway, playing house.
Seeing Zhao Zhitong arrive, they happily called out to her, "Tongtong, Tongtong, come play house with us! You can be the bride this time."
Just then, a girl's voice, laced with arrogance and disdain, rang out, "You actually dare to play with her? She's a little Evil Star! She jinxed her uncle to death and made her dad lame! Aren't you afraid?"
Zhao Zhitong looked towards the source of the voice and saw a little girl about her own age. She wore a pretty dress and a beautiful flower hairpin. Though her face was delicate and gentle, it was filled with an air of superiority.
She recognized this little girl; it was none other than her third uncle's daughter, Zhao Cai.
In contrast, Zhao Zhitong and the children around her were all dressed in drab, gray clothes, their hair simply tied into two small buns. Especially Zhao Zhitong; she was inherently wild, always climbing trees and being mischievous—looking every bit a wild young girl.
Many of the nearby children cast envious glances at Zhao Cai's beautiful clothes and pretty hairpin, and several had already run over to her.
"Wow, Zhao Cai, your dress is so beautiful!"
"And your hairpin is so pretty too!"
Hearing the surrounding children's words of praise and admiration, Zhao Cai held her head high, her face full of pride. "My third aunt bought these for me. They're the most fashionable style in the county town! Oh, and don't touch my skirt with your dirty hands! If it gets dirty, could you even afford to replace it?"
After speaking, she shot a smug glance at Zhao Zhitong. "If you keep playing with that little Evil Star and get tainted by her bad luck, I won't be friends with you anymore!"
"Cai Cai, we won't play with her anymore! Please still be friends with us."
"Yeah, yeah, we won't play with her from now on."
Of course, several children who were already good friends with Zhao Zhitong stepped forward at this moment to speak up for her.
"Don't say that! Tongtong is very nice."
"Yes, yes, Tongtong is very nice! My mom said there's no such thing as an Evil Star; that's just what those quacks say to trick people."
"You don't believe it? She really is an Evil Star! If you don't believe me, go on and play with her. Don't come crying when misfortune strikes!"
The children began to argue about it.
Zhao Zhitong simply watched them without saying a word. Zhao Cai thought she had scared her, but Zhao Zhitong was actually busy sorting through the memories in her mind.
Previously, Zhao Cai had often bullied the original owner of this body. She had spread rumors among the village children that she was a little Evil Star, causing all the children in the village to isolate her.
When Zhao Zhitong transmigrated, Zhao Cai had gone to live in town with her mother and wasn't around. Without her troublemaking, Zhao Zhitong's cheerful and generous personality had allowed her to mend relationships with many of the village children.
Now, Zhao Cai had just returned and was already trying to rally others to isolate her again.
However, the current Zhao Zhitong wasn't like the original owner, who would only cry and run away when bullied. She immediately walked up to Zhao Cai, her presence no less imposing. "What gives you the right to call me a little Evil Star?"
Seeing that Zhao Zhitong didn't cry and run away this time but instead confronted her, Zhao Cai was momentarily startled. She immediately tilted her head up defiantly. "You are a little Evil Star! You jinxed your uncle to death and made your dad lame!"
"PTUI!" Zhao Zhitong mimicked the imposing manner her maternal grandmother had when scolding Mrs. Wang, placing one little hand on her hip, her other finger pointing right at Zhao Cai's nose. "You're the little Evil Star! Your whole family are little Evil Stars! My uncle and my dad were jinxed by your whole family!"
This little wretch, who used to be so timid and let her bully her, was suddenly so articulate today. Zhao Cai was stunned, and her eyes reddened with anger. "You, you..."
"You what? You can't even speak clearly, yet you're out here slandering people! With such a big mouth, you're just plain ugly! No matter how nice your clothes are, you're still an Ugly Monster."
Now Zhao Cai was thoroughly enraged and burst into loud sobs. "WAAAH! You little wretch, how dare you call me ugly and scold me! You're the Ugly Monster! I'm going to tell Grandma and have her teach you a lesson..."
Hearing that Zhao Cai was going to tattle, Zhao Zhitong wasn't the least bit afraid. "You're the one who's unreasonable! You lose the argument, so you cry and tattle. Tattletale, blabbermouth, Ugly Monster! Shame on you!"
"WAAAH..."
Zhao Cai cried even louder this time, then covered her face and ran home.
The children who had just been fawning over Zhao Cai were stunned. They looked at Zhao Zhitong timidly, wanting to run but not daring to.
Zhao Zhitong looked at them and said righteously, "You all saw it. She called me a little Evil Star first. I just said a few words back, and she started crying."
The few children who had spoken up for Zhao Zhitong earlier immediately ran to her side. "Yes, yes, we all saw it! She was in the wrong. She started scolding first; she's the bad one."
Zhao Zhitong grinned and reached into her pocket, pulling out several wrapped pieces of candy. "Here, for you."
Then she looked at the children who had just been cozying up to Zhao Cai. "You just said you wouldn't play with me anymore, so I won't be friends with you either. Even though you joined Zhao Cai in scolding me, I'm a tolerant child, so I won't hit you. You can go now."
Seeing Zhao Zhitong and her friends sharing candy, these children practically drooled and were instantly filled with regret.
Just then, Zhao Dong, having heard the commotion, hurried over and asked what was happening.
Zhao Zhitong recounted the incident, finishing with, "Hmph! What a sore loser! I didn't even hit her. She just couldn't win the argument, so she started crying. How embarrassing!"
Zhao Dong sighed helplessly. That stepmother of his is definitely going to stir up trouble tonight. Finally, he gently poked Zhao Zhitong's nose and said indulgently, "You! Do you think everyone's as thick-skinned as you? It'll be Dad's turn to fetch water soon. Stop running around and wait for me here, alright?"
"Okay."
Zhao Zhitong agreed readily, but as soon as Zhao Dong turned away, she darted off on her short legs.
She expertly navigated her way to Butcher Zhao's house in the village. Peeking around the doorframe, her eyes sparkled as she looked inside.
In the courtyard, Zhao Yue was sitting on a small stool, shaking his head as he read the Thousand Character Classic. However, his eyes kept darting furtively towards the doorway. Just then, he spotted Zhao Zhitong also shaking her head, mimicking his reading. Hiding his face with his book, he secretly turned his head and grinned mischievously at her.