Chapter 53

Old Madam Tang gripped the kitchen knife tightly in her hand, her eyes uncharacteristically reddening. Her voice trembled between laughter and tears. “You’ve only been scheming against this old lady and scheming against Tang Jin. Did you never bother to find out that your second brother is dead? Second Brother died long ago…”

“Second Brother is dead!” Eldest Uncle Tang’s eyes widened abruptly. He couldn’t help but look at Old Madam Tang’s face, only to see her expression utterly indifferent, a chilling coldness in her eyes—just like that night over a dozen years ago.

Second Brother really had died long ago!

That blockhead of a brother who only ever worked silently without complaint, whom he fooled day after day, was dead…

How could he have died?

After a long daze, Eldest Uncle Tang’s voice came out hoarse and strained. “When… when did Second Brother pass away?”

Old Madam Tang closed her eyes for a moment before replying, “In the sixth year after you left home, Second Brother went. Tang Jin’s mother remarried not two years later. If you have even a shred of conscience left, put away whatever schemes you have. Otherwise, the two of us will go join Second Brother.”

Eldest Uncle Tang staggered, his body seeming to have all strength drained from it as he slumped to the floor.

Old Madam Tang didn’t spare him another glance. She tossed the kitchen knife to the ground and turned to leave.

Good folks don’t live long, but scourges linger for a thousand years. Her youngest son had been steady and hardworking, honest and filial. Their lives had been on the mend when he died too soon.

Her eldest son, on the other hand, was sneaky and immoral, yet he had lived freely all these years. Clearly, he’d been thriving out there for the past dozen.

Heaven was blind.

“Mother, wait!”

Old Madam Tang’s hand hadn’t yet touched the door when Eldest Uncle Tang called out to her.

She stopped in place and turned her head. “Oldest, this old lady doesn’t want to hear another word from you. Leave today, or don’t leave at all.”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the kitchen knife, a glint of deadly resolve in her eyes.

Eldest Uncle Tang followed her line of sight to the knife on the floor. His heart jolted, and he scrambled to his feet.

“Mother, I know you won’t believe a word I say, but I really came back this time for your own good. You and Jin’er have stirred up big trouble. Pack up quickly and leave Ping’an County—leave Pingman Prefecture altogether, go far away. Otherwise, even I won’t be able to save you.”

He had originally resented his mother for favoring his second brother and harbored a grudge over being driven from the home. He had never planned to return in this lifetime.

But someone had found him and asked him to trick Old Madam Tang and Tang Jin into going to the prefecture city.

As long as he brought the grandmother and granddaughter there, that person would grant him lifelong wealth and glory.

He had agreed.

But in this moment—upon learning of his second brother’s death—he regretted it.

Though his mother had favored his second brother, she had endured bitterness and hardship to raise them both. She had never had a single good day in her half-life of toil.

Suddenly, remorse flooded his heart.

Old Madam Tang frowned, her expression turning grave. “Explain yourself clearly. What big trouble have we caused?”

A quarter of an hour later, Eldest Uncle Tang departed from Tower Beyond Towers in haste with his son.

Old Madam Tang, leaning on her cane, made her way back to the little restaurant across the way.

“Grandmother Tang, you’re back. Have you had breakfast? Would you like some porridge?” Tang Mian spotted her return and called out in greeting.

Old Madam Tang managed a feeble smile and asked, “Where are Tang Jin and Lingyue?”

Tang Mian replied, “They went out looking for a house. Tang Jin said we’re moving out to live separately from you all from now on.”

“Oh.” Old Madam Tang responded offhandedly and fell silent.

Tang Mian glanced at her, then away, but finally couldn’t hold back. “Grandmother Tang, are… are you alright?”

Her eyes looked like she’d just been crying, and her expression seemed off.

Old Madam Tang said flatly, “I’m fine. Go wash the dishes. If there’s nothing else, help Lingyue out a bit.”

Tang Mian immediately quieted down and obediently gathered the bowls and chopsticks to take to the back courtyard.

Meanwhile, after Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue stepped out, they had no idea whom to ask about Old Madam Tang’s whereabouts, so they decided to look for a place to live first.

They searched for half the morning but found nothing cheap that was also close to the little restaurant.

To save silver, Tang Jin had no choice but to pick something farther away.

But was this house too far? It was practically at the edge of the city.

By sheer coincidence, after viewing the last place and paying the deposit, they stepped onto the street and came face-to-face with Eldest Uncle Tang and his son.

The moment Eldest Uncle Tang spotted Tang Jin, joy lit his face, and he rushed over. But up close, hesitation crept in.

Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue exchanged a glance before bowing to him. “Greetings, Eldest Uncle.”

Eldest Uncle Tang smiled, his eyes flicking quickly over Chu Lingyue. Then he reached out to pat Tang Jin’s head.

Tang Jin dodged aside silently.

His hand met empty air, and embarrassment flashed across his face. He chuckled. “Jin’er has grown so much. This is Nianen, your little brother. Your aunt and I have been married over a decade and only managed to have this rascal. He’s always saying he wants a big sister.” With that, he patted Tang Nianen’s head. “What are you standing there for? Call her sister.”

Tang Nianen called out obediently, “Cousin Sister.”

【Ding, reward: a plate of scallion oil bamboo shoots】

Before Tang Jin could respond, Eldest Uncle Tang patted his son’s head again. “Just call her sister from now on. We’re all family—no need to stand on ceremony with Jin’er.”

Hearing the System’s announcement, Tang Jin looked at Eldest Uncle Tang with complicated eyes. She masked her emotions and sized them up. “Are Eldest Uncle and Cousin Brother heading back?”

Both father and son carried bundles, as if they were leaving.

Eldest Uncle Tang paused, then pulled a money pouch from his bosom. “Jin’er, I have urgent matters at home, so I won’t stay long. Take this silver. Go back and discuss it properly with your grandmother. In any case, listen to her.”

He glanced uneasily around, his face showing he had more to say but held back.

Tang Jin didn’t reach for the silver pouch. She simply said, “Safe travels, Eldest Uncle. We should head back too.”

Eldest Uncle Tang clutched the money pouch tightly. Relief and regret mingled on his face, finally dissolving into a sigh. “You… take good care of yourself from now on. Your eldest uncle is leaving.”

This child’s temperament really took after the old lady. Who knew if that was good or bad.

“Mm.” Tang Jin nodded and watched them leave the city.

At the city gate, Eldest Uncle Tang suddenly stopped. He turned back to look, lifting a foot as if to return. But the next instant, he turned away resolutely, striding off swiftly as though he would never look back.

Tang Jin stood in place, her brows furrowing slightly.

Chu Lingyue noticed her expression and asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something off about them?”

Tang Jin shook her head. “Nothing.”

Far from just off—it was seriously wrong.

Right after she’d woken up in ancient times, the System’s information had been clear: rewards only came when others lied to her.

That meant everything Eldest Uncle Tang had just said was true.

He really had married and fathered a son like Tang Nianen.

But that “Cousin Sister” from Tang Nianen had triggered a reward. What did that mean?

It meant Tang Nianen was lying to her. It meant he knew she wasn’t his cousin.

Tang Nianen couldn’t possibly know she was a transmigrator, so there was only one possibility: he wasn’t Eldest Uncle Tang’s biological son—and he knew it.

Eldest Uncle had a green hat on his head…

But that had nothing to do with her. From Old Madam Tang’s attitude, it was clear Eldest Uncle had committed some grave sin in his youth and hadn’t returned home in over a decade. There was little family bond between them.

No evidence meant no need to meddle.

Back at the restaurant, Tang Jin announced she’d found a small house near the city gate.

“Grandmother, when do you think we should move?”

Old Madam Tang started, then gripped her cane tighter. “Don’t mention the move to anyone outside. Take Lai Di and go. I’ll stay to watch over the restaurant.”

Before Tang Jin could ask why, Tang Mian chimed in. “Grandmother Tang, I’m Tang Mian now—Mian like in cotton. It sounds just as nice as Tang Jin’s name.”

She had racked her brains for this name. If she couldn’t think of something imposing, matching Tang Jin’s would do. After all, they were the closest, best sisters.

But Old Madam Tang seemed not to hear, fixing her gaze on Tang Jin. She said gravely, “No room for discussion on this. I’ll stay. You three take Lai Di and live outside. The restaurant can’t be left empty.”

If some foolhardy person came in the dark to cause trouble, let them come for her.

At her age, every extra day was a bonus. But the children’s lives were just beginning.

Tang Mian’s mouth twitched. “Grandmother Tang, I changed my name…”

“Alright, Tang Mian will move out with us, and Grandmother, you can watch the restaurant.” Tang Jin caught the seriousness in Old Madam Tang’s eyes and agreed at once. “Grandmother, let me discuss one more thing with you.”

With that, she took Old Madam Tang’s arm and led her to the back courtyard.

Tang Mian opened her mouth, but had Grandmother Tang even heard her? She was Tang Mian now.

Chu Lingyue watched the grandmother and granddaughter’s retreating figures, lowering her eyes thoughtfully.

So there really was something off about Eldest Uncle Tang and his son. But for some reason, they’d just left.

In the back courtyard room, Tang Jin deliberately closed the door before saying to Old Madam Tang, “Grandmother, I ran into Eldest Uncle earlier. He told me some things.”

Old Madam Tang’s eyes sharpened. “What did he tell you?”

Tension she couldn’t hide showed on her face, her eyes locked tightly on Tang Jin.

Tang Jin lowered her head, her fingers clenching secretly. In a low voice, she said, “I know everything.”

She desperately wanted to know what had really happened back then and how it connected to her.

“That beast—I’ll slaughter him.” Old Madam Tang flew into a rage at once and made to charge out, cane in hand.

Tang Jin quickly blocked her, speaking softly. “Grandmother, what’s past is past. We have to look forward. Besides, Eldest Uncle has probably gone far by now.”

Old Madam Tang studied Tang Jin’s somewhat calm gaze, then quietly breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re right. What’s done is done. Blaming him won’t change it. Back then, I should have broken his legs. You were so young, and that scoundrel actually wanted to sell you off to some wealthy household as a servant girl. It makes my blood boil.”

Eldest Uncle must not have told her, or the child would have broken down by now instead of comforting her.

Well played, Unlucky Granddaughter. She’d even dared to probe her.

【Ding, reward: a plate of Emerald Cabbage Dumplings】

Tang Jin had been shocked the previous second that Eldest Uncle had wanted to sell off the original host—who had been only a few years old—even over a dozen years ago. The next second, she was speechless.

Utterly speechless. Old Madam Tang’s reaction was lightning-fast; in the blink of an eye, she’d turned the tables to test her.

Tang Jin could only play along. “Yeah, Eldest Uncle was too heartless.”

Fine, at least that ruled out one possibility. Eldest Uncle hadn’t been so deranged as to sell off the original host.

Old Madam Tang’s expression eased. What a false alarm. Otherwise, she would have marched straight to the prefecture city and fought that scoundrel son to the death.

“Exactly. Your eldest uncle has a black heart. Whatever he tells you in the future, don’t believe a word. Enough of that—it’s still early, so let’s move house first.”

“Alright.” Tang Jin nodded obediently, her heart filled with regret. What on earth could it be that concerned her? Had her acting just now not been convincing enough? How had Old Madam Tang seen through her?