Chapter 1246

The Tian family was a well-known wealthy household in the town, with a large estate and broad, splendid courtyards.

Tian Yulan led Tian Tian into the front hall and bowed to the Tian family elders to offer birthday wishes.

Grandmother Tian accepted the greetings happily and rewarded them with many pastries and candies.

Tian Yulan took Tian Tian and left.

They went to visit the Tian family's Second Uncle and Second Aunt.

Second Uncle Tian Xing'an and Second Aunt Zhao Shi were no easy marks either; Tian Tian gained no benefit and could only slink away from the Tian residence.

Afterwards, Tian Tian went to Tian Xingde's maternal great-uncle's home.

The Tian family was a clan of military officials; Tian Xingde was the legitimate son, and the old Tian family patriarch doted on him and named him Tian Xingde.

Tian Xingde lost his mother at a young age, and his maternal great-uncle's family treated him as their own, caring for him extremely well.

When Tian Tian visited the Tian family, aside from a few elders like Grandmother Tian who greeted her warmly, the rest of the Tian menfolk all treated her coldly.

"Second Brother, Ah Jiao is here to wish you a happy New Year." Tian Tian said with a smile to Tian Xingwen, Tian Xingde's eldest son.

Tian Xingwen was around twenty years old, stocky, dark-skinned, with thick brows and big eyes, a hot-tempered nature, and no love for studying.

He glanced at Tian Tian, gave a faint snort, and said disdainfully, "A little child like you, what New Year are you here to wish?"

He placed great hopes on his meek and unlearned younger brother Tian Xingde, but Tian Xingde was a disappointment, only a tongsheng.

Tian Xingde's wife, Chen Shi, however, rather liked Tian Tian.

She said with a smile, "Ah Jiao, you child too, what made you suddenly think to wish your brother a happy New Year? Shouldn't you be here wishing me instead?"

Tian Xingde's wife, Chen Shi, was a widow.

Tian Tian had no real dealings with her, but she knew this sister-in-law was a sharp-tongued, mean-spirited shrew.

She said nothing, stood quietly, her gaze calm.

Chen Shi, seeing her act like such a pushover, felt even more pleased.

"Ah Jiao, sit down." Chen Shi invited Tian Tian with a grin, as casually as calling over a little pet.

Tian Tian obeyed and sat down obediently.

"Second Brother, I heard you took first place in this county examination—congratulations to you." She offered her felicitations.

Tian Xingwen gave a snort and bragged, "I foresaw it long ago; of course it was a sure win."

Neither distant nor overly warm.

Tian Tian echoed, "Yes, yes, yes."

Chen Shi, meanwhile, was grinning from ear to ear.

She took Tian Tian's hand and made solicitous inquiries about her well-being.

Tian Tian patiently humored her, her attitude mild—neither distant nor overly warm.

Chen Shi noticed, her expression shifted slightly, and she muttered to herself, no wonder the Tian family's Second Young Master looked down on this little aunt.

Tian Yulan served tea and water, kept smiling the whole time, and did not dare interject.

Tian Xingde was also taciturn, his expression calm.

Chen Shi, seeing Tian Xingde say nothing, grew anxious.

"Ah Jiao, I heard you got drunk last night—has your injury healed well?" Chen Shi asked with concern.

She was referring to Tian Jiao falling in the mountain woods and cracking open her head.

Tian Jiao nodded, showing two rows of pearly white teeth, and smiled sweetly, "Mostly better."

"Oh, you child, you got hurt and didn't even come back. I sent Chunliu to check on you." Chen Shi's tone carried a hint of reproach.

Tian Jiao lowered her eyes and hid the mockery in them.

She had indeed been injured, but she didn't need any treatment at all.

"Mother, I got drunk last night and forgot everything—please don't blame me." She spoke apologetically, then looked up at Tian Xingde and explained, "Elder Cousin, I didn't know you would come. I had planned to visit you after some days, but your arrival was so sudden I couldn't refuse…"

Tian Xingde, hearing this, flushed red at once and said awkwardly, "I didn't come to see you…"

He had indeed come specifically to see Tian Xingde.

And the result was that Tian Jiao had caught him in the act!

Tian Xingde was so embarrassed he wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it.

Chen Shi was also embarrassed.

She quickly smoothed things over: "Ah Jiao, I was just worried about you. Your eldest uncle's third and fourth daughters are both married, only you're still single. Your father and mother are hoping you'll marry soon and give us a grandchild."

"There's no rushing such things, Mother. I'm only fifteen—how could I marry right away…" Tian Tian said shyly.

Chen Shi glared unhappily at Tian Yulan and said, "You girl, knowing Ah Jiao is so young, you didn't try to restrain her either, letting her talk nonsense and lose all face!"

Tian Yulan kept her head low and did not dare make a sound.

Tian Tian also paid no heed to Chen Shi scolding Tian Yulan.

Because Tian Yulan was a concubine's daughter, Chen Shi did not like her.

She was unwilling to quibble with Chen Shi over such things.

Just as they were speaking, Tian Xingde suddenly said, "Grandmother, Ah Jiao came to sweep the tombs at our old family home. The child is filial—her mother is gone, and she always remembers her maternal grandfather and grandmother, so she brought a few things along for them to offer at their memorial."

Saying so, Tian Xingde pulled a few pieces of broken silver from his bosom.

"Take it." Tian Xingde handed it to Tian Tian.

Tian Tian hurriedly refused: "How could I? Your eldest uncle's household isn't well off either—how could I take your money?"

"When I tell you to take it, take it—what's all this dawdling?" Chen Shi urged her, and without further ado stuffed the bits of broken silver into Tian Tian's hands.

Tian Jiao had no choice but to accept.

"You child are too honest—does our family lack money to spend?"

She tucked the silver into her sleeve and said to Tian Xingde, "I'll head back first; I'll come another day to kowtow and wish you a happy New Year."

Tian Xingde waved his hand without speaking, seemingly in a foul mood.

Tian Tian curtsied and withdrew.

After she had walked some distance, Chen Shi cursed, "She really thinks she's some young lady from the city, prancing around all day like a fresh flower that everyone adores — pfft—"

The moment her words fell, Tian Xingde beside her gave a cold snort: "Aren't you afraid people will spread it around?"

Chen Shi was unbothered: "We're country folk, she's a little girl from the city — what does she know of propriety? If she dares to wag her tongue, I'll tear that stinking mouth of hers apart!"

Tian Xingde frowned, then finally sighed.

1063 The Idle, Useless Bastard

When Tian Tian returned to Tian Fu, Old Man Tian and Liu Xiumei had already finished their lunch.

Liu Xiumei, seeing her covered in sweat, couldn't help but complain: "Why are you only back now? Your uncle and the others are already here!"

Tian Tian said: "My elder cousin said there's urgent business and told me to come right away. Mother, didn't you say my father and grandmother had a quarrel this morning? What happened?"

"What quarrel did those two have?" Liu Xiumei said, puzzled. "I don't know. But that old biddy made a fuss this morning, saying your father plays favorites, saying your uncle is an ill omen, telling him to get back to Jingcheng. Your father refused, so she wailed and cursed at me. I couldn't be bothered with her, so I had the servants throw her out. Sigh, that wretched old biddy is truly annoying."

"Oh." Tian Tian gave a perfunctory reply.

"Why are you still here? Hurry up and wash up and eat. Once your uncle and the others leave, you'll have to stay and help me with the chores." Liu Xiumei urged Tian Tian.

"Mm, I'm coming." Tian Tian said.

The meals at the old Tian family house were far worse than those at the main branch; Tian Tian never got her fill at any meal.

Moreover, Chen Shi was stingy to the extreme, refusing to spend silver on meat for her, giving her only steamed buns with pickled vegetables at every meal.

Tian Tian didn't dare complain; she bore the hunger in silence.

The people of the Tian family grew increasingly contemptuous toward her.

Tian Yulan's husband Zhao Kang was an idle, useless bastard.

They had been married two years and still had no children.

Tian Yulan began to scheme, wanting Zhao Kang to take a concubine to bear a son — to raise a bastard child for him.

Zhao Kang couldn't have cared less either.

In any case, the Tian family had no legitimate eldest grandson. Once he took a concubine and had a son, what could the old Master and old Madam of the Tian family do to rein him in?

So he cheerfully agreed, but forbade Tian Yulan from meddling.

Tian Yulan had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

But Zhao Kang not only took a concubine — he was also having an affair with the neighbor next door to the Tian family.