Chapter 208: Aren't I Your Own Child?

"Exactly, seeing that Qiao Niang has some profit to be made, they want to use a child to wipe someone else's grease; one should be decent, you know."

"Families like yours don't care about any servant girl; you just want to use that servant girl to cause trouble for Qiao Niang."

"You!"

Tian Sanzhuang, angry, gripped the sword hilt at his waist, intending to draw the blade to intimidate the villagers, but they weren't afraid of death.

"Hey, you just became an official and already want to threaten us common folk; if you dare lay a finger on us, we'll all go to the Yamen and sue you."

"You!"

Tian Sanzhuang gritted his teeth and, dragging his parents, left in resentment.

He returned home and smashed things around the courtyard, then said:

"Let's split the family!"

"You've come back exhausted; go back and see your wife and children, they're all waiting for you."

It's already mid‑April, and Yuan Jiaqi and his group haven't returned; they must have been caught, otherwise they'd have come back long ago.

"Yes, so this household must be divided; otherwise you must give me the Betrothal Gifts—without the Two Hundred Taels of Silver I can't manage."

When Qin Yide returned, everyone gathered to question him; upon hearing that Yuan Jiaqi had been caught again and was even a top scholar, they all became restless.

"The master senior is very formidable."

"Indeed."

"You little greedy brat!"

No matter how hard you cultivate, you can't surpass them, especially now that the family is split; it's too hard for the First Branch alone to support a scholar, and before long Tian Yaohui also failed the exams—he's not even a child prodigy.

Even if he passed the imperial exam, he might be kept for the palace examination; if the emperor selects him, there will be further appointments, and he won't be able to return for a while.

In the past, regarding the misfortunes of the Qiao and Yuan families, they turned a blind eye, ignored them, and let the two suffer so many grievances.

"Yes, master!"

Next are Feng Yunchuan's three brothers; Ling'er's female teacher has asked Yahang to look for them on her behalf, and clues should appear soon.

"The county assistant's daughter is eighteen this year; although she's a bit older, it's not easy for me to marry her given my circumstances."

Qin Yide left, and Qiao Mai took a deep breath; after embarking on the Shizi, she no longer has to study so desperately.

The drought hasn't eased yet; not a single rain has fallen, and even a drop would evaporate quickly.

The main person hasn't returned, yet everyone is clamoring to network; she finds this annoying.

"Yes, but having studied alongside the old gentleman, I've learned a lot; in this examination I gained something, and next time I'll be confident."

"Ah, the county assistant's daughter?"

He's very clever; since he can't afford to offend the Qiao Shi, he simply looks after himself, avoiding a situation where he ends up with nothing.

"What's wrong with a scholar? Wherever a scholar goes, people look up to him; moreover, a scholar can run a school and teach, so our children can attend school without tuition."

Both the First Branch and the Second Branch are at home; upon hearing that the Second Branch is quitting, why should the Third Son go out to enjoy himself while they serve the elders at home? They also have to earn money for the First Branch to fund its children's education—why?

In the five years he was away, how exhausted and hard‑working the First and Second Branches were; now he returns and wants to split off and live alone—why?

The First Branch doesn't dare to protest, because the family's silver was previously spent on supporting their children's education.

However, Ling'er seems to have started to understand something.

"Great! That means I'll have two mothers and two fathers."

Everyone is a bundle of nerves, some hoping to visit Qiao Mai to curry favor, but Jixiang Yuan won't even open its courtyard gate.

"Later, mother will have a matchmaker arrange a marriage for you."

"Mother, aren't I your biological child?"

"That's why I said we should split the household; I'll marry my own wife myself. The Qiao Family's servant girl happens to not be my daughter; even with a child, that side might still be unwilling. I don't want my parents holding me back, so it's better to divide the family early."

It's just that the drought in Beifang is so severe; people still don't know whether they're willing to come.

"I can't wait any longer; this will take forever. If you wipe out the Qiao Shi for me, you owe me one."

"Master, this is a letter the master senior wrote for you."

"Did you miss out this time?"

If the family is split, who will support them later?

"Then just eat well, grow up properly, master a skill, and I'll let you look for them, okay?"

As long as the Tian Family doesn't provoke him, he treats the Tian Family as invisible.

When Qiao Mai saw the Tian Family no longer caused trouble, she put away her thoughts of killing them.

"That works!"

The old Tian couple were extremely worried, "How could we possibly have Two Hundred Taels of Silver?"

Yet the First Branch couldn't speak up; first, they can't offend the Third Son who is now an official, and second, the Third Son originally served as a soldier for the First Branch, so the First Branch already owes him.

"Hmm, keep it up; I have confidence in you. As long as the gentleman stays at my house, you can come by for advice. Next time you take the exam, you're still young and will surely pass."

There's no other way; under Tian Sanzhuang's insistence, the Tian Family quickly split.

"Is there something important? Look at your three older brothers; don't they also treat you like a real sister?"

Upon arriving at Tianshui Town, they went to Jixiang Yuan and delivered a letter to Qiao Mai.

"But what if Ling'er wants to see her biological mother and father?"

Indeed, he topped the exam again, was titled a Zhuangyuan by the emperor, and stayed in Jingcheng awaiting appointment.

The Tian people now understand what it means to be unattainably far behind; Yuan Jiaqi's rapid rise leaves them unable to catch up.

These days she hasn't seen the Tian Laohan couple, presumably they've given up and no longer plot against Ling'er.

"With his meager talent, even if he lives to his grave he'll just be a scholar—what can he do?"

Actually, Tian Sanzhuang returned this time intending to marry again, but he'll never divorce; he's worse than the old Tian couple, planning to kill the Qiao Shi and remarry, but returning to this situation saved him the trouble.

On the eighteenth of April, Qin Yide returned, escorted by two guards.

Hehe

But I want to be a baby that my mother gave birth to.

What, why split the family? Yaohui is still at the School, our family isn't wealthy, and we're still hoping to support a scholar.

If you want to split, you go out yourself!

People come to visit the house every day; Qiao Mai has an old woman keep watch at the door, and no one appears.

Everyone is watching this examination, especially Yuan Jiaqi of Jixiang Yuan; many people are staring at him.

Especially the people of Taohua Village; back then no one ever helped the Qiao Family even a little, they all watched with cold eyes, truly fearing that if she becomes an official's wife and Empress Dowager, she'll give them a hard time.

Qiao Mai pinches her nose, telling her that her lineage will be explained when she's older; now isn't the time, and she'll keep this secret forever.

Better not; I don't want to find another cheap woman to serve you, you don't even know how to cherish the worthless ones.

That's exactly it; look at any family's baby, like you— isn't it all because mother treats you as her own?

Qiao Mai opens the letter, reads its contents, and smiles with a curved lip.

Now that they're officials, will they take revenge on them?

Then who do you want to marry?

Until Ling'er can accept it, can accept it properly; otherwise she will never say it out in her whole life.

The Qiao family of Lihua Village and the Yuan family of Xinghua Village are utterly panicked; son‑in‑law, Dizi, finally became an official, which isn't comparable to an imperial scholar. Oh heavens, will they leave this place?

From now on, I'm afraid we'll never see them again, never bask in their light again.

It seems as if they're already basking in the light; not only are they panicked, the Clan Head of the Yuan Family is panicked, the Village Head of the Qiao side is even more panicked, and the village of Taohua Village is also at a loss.

After Tian Yaozu learns of it, he says nothing on the surface, but inside he's overjoyed.

His hand can move now, but it can't lift heavy objects and isn't agile enough; especially when holding a pen, this hand is completely useless.

The Tian Family can no longer produce scholars; Tian Laohan finally puts this worry to rest.

We can only watch and listen helplessly to the various good news of the Qiao Family in the Town, our hearts, lungs, and entire bodies aching with anger.

(End of chapter)