Old Mrs. Tian walked out of the main hall and encountered Ding Aihua carrying a washbasin. Upon seeing the slap mark on her eldest daughter-in-law’s face, she felt as comfortable as eating ice on a hot summer day. She took the basin and went into the east room to scoop out half a basin of cornmeal. "I'll make cornmeal cakes, stir-fried pickles, and boil a pot of corn grit porridge."
"Got it." Ding Aihua took the washbasin and turned to leave the main hall.
Old Mr. Tian saw the smug look on his wife’s face and was furious. "Go check on Jing丫头 in the woodshed."
"What? Do you expect me to go and pay her respects?" The mention of Tian Jing ignited Old Mrs. Tian's temper again.
Old Mr. Tian raised his hand to slap her, thinking this darn woman had no filter on her mouth.
Old Mrs. Tian dodged her husband’s hand. "Can't you ask Pingping to go? If you ask me to go, is she worthy of it?"
Old Mr. Tian pointed a finger at her. "You, have you been so flattered by your three daughters-in-law these past few years that you’ve lost your bearings? Don't forget you still have those good things from her. She screamed like that yesterday, and someone will surely come to investigate today. If you lock her up in the woodshed, wouldn't that be admitting guilt? Can the eldest son’s accountant position be saved? Go and appease her, analyze the pros and cons with her. Her prosperity is your prosperity, and her ruin is your ruin."
These words made Old Mrs. Tian worried. "How about you go? I'm not good at talking about these grand principles. When I see her looking like a bullied little bird, I just want to scold her."
"Fine!" Old Mr. Tian took a puff of his cigarette. "Tell the second son's wife to untie Ping丫头 and send her back to her room. The woodshed is not suitable."
"Okay." Old Mrs. Tian was willing to do this task.
Tian Ping looked displeased. "Grandma~"
"What?" Old Mrs. Tian’s triangular eyes glared. "I still can't order you around? She's your own sister, who else would you serve if not her?"
Faced with Old Mrs. Tian’s anger, Tian Ping dared not refuse.
Hearing footsteps, Tian Jing opened her eyes. She had thought the commotion outside would lead to some drama, but it was all bark and no bite.
Not only was Old Mr. Tian formidable, but the eldest son was even more impressive. She had clearly heard his scolding of Ding Aihua. She, who had been apprehensive about this era, was no longer afraid. As long as she created some mystical events, these people would automatically fill in the blanks, and how they filled them depended on their own imaginations.
The woodshed door opened. Chen Yun, the second daughter-in-law of the Tian family, saw the ropes on Tian Jing’s hands broken on the floor. Looking at her sitting cross-legged in meditation, she was startled. This stepdaughter was not normal.
"You dare…" Tian Ping pointed at Tian Jing’s wrists and was about to shout. She wanted to call her grandmother to scold this slut, but Chen Yun covered her mouth. "Shut up. We haven't resolved the morning's mess, and you're adding to it. Be careful, or your grandmother will punish you."
Tian Ping then remembered the strange occurrences in the yard and the incident where her aunt was slapped by her uncle. She quickly nodded, indicating she understood. Chen Yun then released her.
Tian Jing felt indignant for the original owner. With just this subconscious action from Chen Yun, it was clear that Chen Yun still cared for her own daughter. No wonder she pretended not to see Tian Ping bullying the original owner.
In the entire Tian family, not only Chen Yun, but everyone pretended to be blind.
Looking at Tian Jing’s clear black and white eyes, Chen Yun softened her voice. "Jingjing, come out with Mom."
Letting her out? This was not in line with the original owner's past life. In her past life, she was locked up for two days and only relented when she couldn't bear the hunger.
Thinking again of the original owner's different shout yesterday and the strange events in the Tian family this morning, if she were to be let out, it would either be Old Mr. Tian or the eldest son.
"Whoever sent you to invite me out should come and invite me personally." It's easier to invite a god than to send one away. Tian Jing wanted to take this opportunity to negotiate.
"You?" Tian Ping pointed at Tian Jing’s head again.
Chen Yun grabbed her daughter. "Shut up. Go call your grandmother over."
Tian Ping stomped her feet with each step as she walked out.
Chen Yun squatted down to be at eye level with Tian Jing. "Jingjing, stand up first. The ground is cold."
"Is it?" Tian Jing looked up and gazed faintly at her mother-in-law.
Chen Yun’s eyes flickered, unable to meet Tian Jing’s clear black and white eyes, but she still replied, "Yes."
"Heh," Tian Jing sneered. This was the motherly love the original owner had longed for. "But I slept on this ground all night last night!"
…
In the east room of the main house, Tian Ping recounted Tian Jing's words with embellishments.
Old Mrs. Tian gritted her teeth in anger. "Fine, I'll go invite her now."
Old Mr. Tian grabbed his wife’s arm and looked at Tian Ping. He said calmly, "Pingping, repeat Jing丫头's exact words."
Facing her stern grandfather, Tian Ping dared not lie. She lowered her head and repeated Tian Jing's words.
"You little slut, you never speak the truth," Old Mrs. Tian pointed her finger at Tian Ping’s nose. She was being used as a pawn! "Go wash clothes. You're not allowed to eat today."
"Yes." Tian Ping complied and quickly turned to leave the east room.
Old Mrs. Tian clutched her chest. "All of them, their wings have hardened. They don't put me, this old woman, in their eyes anymore."
"Enough," Old Mr. Tian impatiently waved his hand. "Stop your nagging and come with me to see what Jing丫头 wants to say."
Old Mrs. Tian obediently followed her husband to the woodshed.
…
In the woodshed, Chen Yun was flustered and dared not look at Tian Jing.
It was in this atmosphere that Old Mr. Tian entered the woodshed. Seeing her father-in-law arrive, Chen Yun quickly withdrew from the woodshed.
Old Mr. Tian told his wife to wait outside. Jing丫头 was too calm, so calm as if everything was under control. "Jing丫头, what you did yesterday was too unruly. Locking you up in the woodshed for a night was just a small punishment. Now, come out with Grandpa."
Heh, the original owner was destroyed by you, and you're pretending to be a good person.
In the entire Tian family, this Old Mr. Tian was the most wicked!
He saw everything that happened in the Tian family every day but allowed Old Mrs. Tian to act with impunity towards her sons and grandsons.
"Grandpa? Just hearing the word 'Grandpa' carries kinship and feels very intimate. Unfortunately…" Tian Jing's voice was very soft, so soft it could drip water. "If you want me to come out, you can. But there are conditions. As long as you agree, I can even retract yesterday's words and agree to a marriage exchange."
These words made Old Mr. Tian's heart lurch. He stared sharply at Tian Jing.
Tian Jing's face was as calm as clouds. Look! I'm not afraid of you looking at me. In this era where people are afraid to even burn paper for the dead, no matter how suspicious you are, you wouldn't dare to speak out.
"Jing丫头, how have you changed…" Old Mr. Tian swallowed the words he wanted to ask. His question was completely redundant. If he really asked, he would be handing Tian Jing a handle. "Alright, tell me."
Tian Jing naturally knew what he had swallowed. She wasn't afraid, but she was afraid of others. "First, return the gold key pendant I've worn since I was a child."
Seeing the look of shock on Old Mr. Tian’s face, Tian Jing smiled with satisfaction.
Hearing this, Old Mrs. Tian rushed in and raised her hand to slap Tian Jing. "You little slut, what nonsense are you talking about?"