Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

The morning air was crisp and slightly chilly. Li Ting stood in the courtyard, watching the morning light cast a shadow over the flowers and plants lining the wall. After last night's confrontation, she had a clearer plan in mind. She knew her stepmother and Zhao Shufang wouldn't give in easily, but she wouldn't back down either.

At this time, Zhao Shufang walked out of the house with a faint smug smile, looked at Li Ting and said coldly: "You haven't gone to the countryside yet? I thought you had left a long time ago."

Li Ting turned around and smiled faintly: "Why? You want me to leave early? Are you worried that I'll stay home and bother you?"

Zhao Shufang snorted disdainfully: "You think too much. I just don't want to see you being so self-righteous here again."

Li Ting remained unmoved. She looked at her calmly and said slowly, "Shufang, let me advise you not to always rely on others. You don't need to worry about my affairs."

Zhao Shufang was stunned for a moment, her expression slightly changed, but then she sneered, "Li Ting, don't act like you're so great. In the end, don't you still have to listen to my mother?"

Li Ting smiled gently and said calmly, "Really? Are you sure I will let you get what you want?"

Zhao Shufang was slightly startled, clearly not expecting Li Ting to be so blunt. However, she immediately forced herself to remain indifferent and said, "In the end, my mom still has the final say in the family decisions. Do you really think you can defy her?"

Li Ting did not answer, her eyes swept towards the street in the distance, and she already had further plans in her mind.

The family sat around the dining table. The stepmother looked at Li Ting with a feigned warmth and said, "Li Ting, you said yesterday that you wanted to keep your mother's position, and we've considered it. Since you're so insistent, let's discuss it and try to find a compromise."

Li Ting put down her bowl and chopsticks, looked at her stepmother calmly, and waited for her to continue.

The stepmother paused and continued, "Shufang can also take over some of the affairs first, and then adjust them after you come back."

Zhao Shufang immediately responded with a hint of excitement and pride in her tone: "I think this is a good idea. After all, you're going to the countryside for a long time, sister. I'll take over first and return it to you when I come back. This way you don't have to worry."

Li Ting sneered and glanced calmly at her stepmother and Zhao Shufang. "Since you are so 'considerate', of course I should accept it."

"But there's a prerequisite." She changed the subject, "I don't want this job to be easily transferred. I need to personally arrange for someone to take over."

Zhao Shufang's expression changed, and she said unhappily, "You still want to choose your own people? Li Ting, aren't you too ungrateful?"

Li Ting stared back at her expressionlessly, her tone calm but with a hint of coldness: "I just hope things can be more transparent to avoid unnecessary trouble."

She deliberately left her words ambiguous, neither explicitly opposing nor completely agreeing, as if giving her stepmother a way out, but the firmness in her words made it impossible for her to avoid it. Her stepmother felt helpless for a moment, her eyes flickering as she asked, "Who do you think is suitable?"

Li Ting paused deliberately before saying calmly, "I need some time to investigate. After all, this is my mother's job, so I have to be careful."

The stepmother was a little unhappy, but it was not easy to refuse directly, so she nodded: "Okay, then do it as soon as possible."

Zhao Shufang was unwilling to give up. After dinner, she found an opportunity to find Li Ting alone. Her tone was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction: "Li Ting, what exactly do you mean? One moment you want to keep your job, and the next moment you want to arrange your own people. Are you looking for an excuse not to go to the countryside?"

Li Ting raised her eyebrows and smiled, "What do you think?"

Zhao Shufang was speechless for a moment. She glared at her and said through gritted teeth, "Do you think you're so smart? Unfortunately, my mother is still the boss of this family. How long can you hold on?"

Li Ting looked at her quietly, her tone gentle but firm: "Shufang, I know what you and your stepmother are thinking. But let me tell you, not everything can go according to your wishes."

Zhao Shufang was hurt by her words, and a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes, but she couldn't refute it. After all, Li Ting had been suppressing her in this family since she was a child. Even in front of her parents, she had always been forced to pretend to be good.

Seeing this, Li Ting smiled gently and said slowly, "You have your way, and I have mine. But don't forget, the final result may not be what you want."

Zhao Shufang's face turned livid with anger. She tried to fight back, but found that no matter what she said, she couldn't suppress Li Ting's aura. She took a deep breath, turned her head, and said coldly, "Do you think you can always be so tough? We'll see!"

Li Ting watched Zhao Shufang leave without a trace of fear in her eyes. She already had a more thorough plan in mind.

Li Ting was alone in her study, thinking about how to take advantage of the current situation to maximize her own interests. She knew that continuing to confront them head-on was not a long-term solution. What she needed was time and the right opportunity to gradually lead her stepmother and Zhao Shufang into her plan.

She sighed softly, recalling what her mother had taught her: one must be resilient, but also know how to maneuver. Today's battle was just the beginning; the real opportunity would only come when she had full control of the situation.

the next day, early in the morning

Li Ting rose early in the morning and sat on a bench in the courtyard garden, basking in the warm sunshine. She knew this game of strategizing had only just begun. Although Zhao Shufang appeared arrogant and confident, she clearly didn't fully grasp the overall situation, and even lacked the wisdom to discern her true motives. Li Ting had to be cautious with every move, as she wasn't just fighting for a job position; she was also vying for control of her own future.

She had just started, wanting Zhao Shufang and her stepmother to realize that her determination was not just words, but actions. Just like last night's conversation, she was waiting for their response, and this period was a good time for her to implement her plan.

Zhao Shufang didn't initiate a conflict with Li Ting today. Instead, she seemed to suppress her emotions and sat at the dining table in silence. Her stepmother seemed even more cautious, glancing at Li Ting frequently, as if waiting for her to speak.

Li Ting deliberately did not rush to break the silence, but ate breakfast slowly and leisurely, occasionally looking up at the two of them, and had already figured out how to proceed with the next plan.

Finally, the stepmother couldn't help it and broke the silence: "Li Ting, we have considered it. Since you don't want to go to the countryside, then okay, let's discuss it again today."

"Discuss?" Li Ting smiled softly and slowly put down her chopsticks. Her gaze passed through her stepmother and fell on Zhao Shufang. "If you really want to discuss, then I do have some questions."

The stepmother and Zhao Shufang's eyes subconsciously met, and her heart tightened, but she didn't say anything.

Li Ting looked at her stepmother, her voice steady but with a hint of provocation: "Since you've decided to let me keep my job, then you should consider that I should personally arrange for someone to take over the job, rather than just finding someone else to replace me."

The stepmother said uneasily, "Don't you trust us? We will carefully select the right person."

Li Ting smiled, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "I trust your choice? It's just to make it easier for Zhao Shufang to take over. Does she have the ability to do the job?"

Zhao Shufang suddenly looked up, her face somewhat displeased: "Li Ting, stop teasing me. I can do better than you!"

Li Ting smiled gently, her tone gentle but meaningful: "Are you trying to prove your ability, or are you trying to gain support for your stepmother?"

Zhao Shufang's face changed, clearly reeling from Li Ting's words. She suppressed her inner uneasiness and said coldly, "I told you I can do better. Just wait and see!"

Li Ting did not continue to argue, but lowered her head and continued eating, as if all this was not worth mentioning.

The stepmother noticed that the atmosphere was a little tense and hurried to smooth things over: "Okay, stop arguing, Li Ting, you are right. Let's discuss it again and make a decision after you come back."

Li Ting nodded, a sneer flashing in her eyes. She knew that this negotiation method had already put her stepmother and Zhao Shufang under her pressure, and she would continue to put pressure on them in the future.

After lunch, Li Ting decided to put her plan into action. She knew that her stepmother and Zhao Shufang were most afraid of time because they wouldn't have enough time to cover up their conspiracy. Li Ting had already grasped this key point; all she needed was time to disrupt their plans.

She arranged a small family gathering and invited several neighbors and friends who had business dealings with her stepmother. These people were not directly involved in family affairs, but their attitudes had a subtle influence on the decision-making of her stepmother and Zhao Shufang.

The atmosphere at the gathering was relaxed, with everyone chatting amongst themselves. Li Ting quietly steered the conversation towards the issue of job succession. "Actually, handing over my mother's job has always been a challenge. I think if someone can take over, it should be someone with experience, otherwise we'll have to start all over again."

A neighbor nodded, expressing understanding: "This is indeed a problem. After all, it's an important position to take over."

Another friend chimed in: "Yeah, this kind of thing needs to be handled with caution. It's best to let someone with experience do it, otherwise it won't be good for the company."

These words quietly entered her stepmother's ears, making her feel a sense of pressure. Zhao Shufang remained silent, but her face was full of displeasure, obviously dissatisfied with Li Ting's secret operation.

After the party, the expressions of her stepmother and Zhao Shufang changed noticeably. Li Ting knew that her plan had initially worked.

After dinner, under Li Ting's immense pressure, her stepmother finally spoke: "Li Ting, after careful consideration, we've decided. You will take over your mother's work for the time being, but Zhao Shufang will also be involved in some of the work and do some basic tasks."

Li Ting nodded, her eyes deep: "That's good."

The stepmother finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Li Ting's expression, she also felt her victory, but she felt a little uneasy in her heart. She knew that Li Ting seemed to have mastered some power that she could not easily deal with.

Zhao Shufang gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger: "Okay, since you have decided so, then I have nothing to say."

Li Ting smiled, her eyes gleaming with a hint of coldness. "Even if you don't say it, everyone knows it. Don't try any more tricks."