Chapter 207: Test Early, Lose Hope Early

The Qiao and Yuan elders pursed their lips and said, "He's only a yamen clerk, but the family opposite has the Prefect's father living there; I heard he once held office in the capital."

"Hmph, a current official isn't as good as a current manager; when trouble comes, won't my son have to step in to solve it?"

He spoke as if the yamen only had her son as an official courier.

"Fine, let's first deal with that servant girl first."

"Don't worry, we'll have a clue soon."

The Tian family wanted everyone to know, and the news of Tian Sanzhuang's return quickly reached Qiao Mai's ears.

She sprang up, danger flashing in her eyes, "Tian Sanzhuang returned?"

It's wonderful—if that turtle grandson doesn't cause trouble, fine; but if he dares, don't blame her for dealing with that old pair as well—they've been loitering far too long.

That day, what was due finally arrived.

Tian Sanzhuang stood at the gate of Jixiang Yuan, dressed in the uniform of a government clerk, a big knife slung across his waist.

Ling'er glanced at Tian Sanzhuang, then silently nodded, and Qiao Mai gently patted her head.

He asked in disbelief, "You are Qiao Shi?"

Yuexia had the staff of Qiao Ji Snack Puzi bring a table and placed three bowls on it.

These days he has come to see how profitable Qiao Ji Puzi is; despite being an unassuming little shop, it rivals several others.

When Tian Sanzhuang saw Ling'er, his eyes lit up; he was certain she was his child.

"Drop again; if it still isn't me, I'll give up and never come back over the child again."

"Yes, sorry, I came to verify something."

How could he not be jealous? He hoped all of this was his.

"Because this uncle insists you're his child, we need to do the Blood Dripping Test to see if it's true, so everyone can see."

The Tian side was almost shouting hoarsely, but the two drops of blood in the three bowls didn't merge at all.

He glanced at the Qiao old couple without greeting; since Qiao Shi doesn't recognize them, they hold no value to him.

Tian Sanzhuang felt a fire inside; now that he's a government clerk, shouldn't he be given some courtesy, ushered into the living room with a cup of tea to wait?

They wouldn't even let him in the door—damn it; if he gets a chance, he'll kill that scoundrel.

Three bowls of water; in one bowl a drop of Ling'er's blood, and Tian Sanzhuang didn't hesitate, dropping his own blood as well.

"Yes"

But thinking she was just a servant girl, he felt no remorse toward that child.

"Hehe, fine, as you wish!"

Qiao Mai wiped her hand and bowed to everyone.

Many people screamed, "No, no, Qiao Mai's and their two's blood don't mix; so Miss Ling'er was truly adopted by Qiao Niang."

"Wait."

"Be good, it won't hurt, just a light prick."

Ling'er, at the back, didn't catch what they said; she looked at Tian Sanzhuang, found the man oddly familiar, but said nothing.

After a long while the door finally opened, Qiao Mai walked out with her hands behind her back, and only then did Tian Sanzhuang see her clearly.

"Please help me bear witness, Tian family of Taohua Village; seeing my child look like yours, you thought they were your child. Now the Blood Dripping Test proves it, so the Tian family must not cause trouble again, or we'll meet at the yamen!"

Tian Sanzhuang nodded; he didn't go to the cold‑skin shop nor Qiao Ji Snack Puzi, knowing both families were of the Qiao Shi.

Some onlookers crowded over, eyes wide, watching the two drops of blood in the bowls, some shouting "merge!", others "don't merge!".

So they found a cloth shop, asked for a ladle of water, and poured it into the three bowls respectively.

"I am Tian Sanzhuang of Taohua Village, the former husband of your lady, and I have business to see her."

The Qiao old couple also didn't greet him, nor did the Yuan family; though he's a government clerk, his son is an imperial scholar and will soon become a top scholar.

He turned to the Tian couple, "Father, mother, what do you do here every day?"

"Mother, why are you stabbing Ling'er?" Ling'er stared with wide eyes and asked, confused.

"Anyway there's nothing to do; coming here to chat and bask in the sun is nice."

Qiao Mai also pricked her own finger, letting a drop of blood fall into the bowl; everyone watched as that drop, meeting the two drops, kept its distance.

"Yes, that's me,"

"You don't recognize me? I'm Sanzhuang!"

Qiao Mai, unhurried, pricked the child's finger again, dropping a drop of blood inside; Tian Sanzhuang also dropped a drop of blood inside.

"Mai Mai?"

"Who are you?"

"Is this testing whether I have a relation with the child?"

"Stop, I am already married, that's not something you should say."

"It's about the child, right?"

It was too similar, but then his gaze fixed on her.

She grew taller, paler, more beautiful than before, and exuded an aura of a superior.

Not long after, Yuehong held Ling'er, Yuexia carried the three bowls, and Qiao Mai led the way, walking out of Jixiang Yuan.

Seeing her like that, Tian Sanzhuang's heart fluttered.

"Then as you wish."

Qiao Mai, expressionless, pointed at the three bowls, "You government clerk, please go fetch some water yourself, otherwise you'll accuse us of cheating, and then there'll be endless trouble."

Tian Sanzhuang's face was grim; at this moment he hoped it would merge, so later he'd have leverage over Qiao Shi, and even if he lost custody, he could extract some silver from Qiao Shi.

He took an embroidered needle from his pouch, rinsed it with wine, dried it, then quickly pricked Ling'er's finger; she felt no pain, and blood spurted out.

Unfortunately, the three bowls of blood water didn't mix; he didn't believe it, poured out the blood water, washed the bowls clean with clear water, then refilled them with clear water.

You can think that way.

Tian Sanzhuang, fearing that Qiao Shi was being cunning, looked at her and said, "Your blood must also drip in, even a single drop."

The old woman shut and bolted the door, then went in to report.

He is dressed so nicely; this very outfit probably earns more than the monthly salary he's received in the army all these years.

Fine, we can verify it right now.

The result still didn't dissolve; after all, he had been a soldier for years, spent years in the army, and had become cunning.

Qiao Mai looked at him; the man from her memory was a little more mature than before, but nothing else had changed.

I forgot, but seeing you again made me recall it.

Qiao Mai gave her a cold glance, "Stop looking. Even if you look again, she's not your child. Hurry up, finish the test quickly; you should give up early."

She hadn't expected her parents to have cast aside their own child; if he were there, they could never have let them grind her while she was with child.

Qiao Mai turned and entered the courtyard, and Tian Sanzhuang stared at her back, spacing out; if the past her had been like now, he wouldn't have despised her, would he?

At that time he took a cheap shortcut, married her, fearing that after serving in the army he might not return, so he left a child.

"A gentleman's word!"

Qiao Mai glanced at the three pairs of old folks opposite, "You go find them; I'll bring my young lady out in a moment."

Fine!

The old woman opened the door, and upon seeing him in official attire, she showed no fear, but asked indifferently.

He stared at the courtyard gate with a complex expression, ground his teeth, and stepped forward to pull the latch.

Yuehong lifted Ling'er and, with a pained heart, took her hand.

"Officer, are your words trustworthy?"

Having said that, she turned and led Ling'er and the others back home.

The Tian family members remained with sour expressions, and naturally the onlooking Qiao family and Yuan family were also present.

The people of Tianshui Town aren't scared of a petty officer; their town chief is a notable figure who even interacts with the Prefect, and Qiao Niang has a great patron.

They gathered around the Tian family, pointing and jeering, "You Tian family are really something; back then, when someone was pregnant, you ground them, kicking Qiao Niang and causing the miscarriage, not saving the child."

(End of chapter)