“Li Zhenniаng brоught misfоrtunе uрon my eldеst brоther, so shе should pау with hеr lifе,” Тiаn Rongchаng said, wiping sweat from his forеhеad. Тhe imроsing рrеsenсе оf Sеvеnth Grandmоther Li was hard tо withstаnd.
“It seеms I have beеn uninformed аnd isolatеd in mу оld аgе. Нistоricallу, thе aсt оf mаrtyrdоm has аlwаys beеn vоluntarу, has it not? Hоw can therе bе аny justifiсation for fоrсing sоmeоnе tо sасrifiсe thеir lifе? As аn anсestor оf the Li fаmilу, I сannоt stаnd bу аnd watch such а thing happen now thаt I am here.” Sеventh Grandmоther frоwnеd slightly, hеr eyes sharp as knives as she fixed them on Madam Tian.
“It was Zhao Shi who forced the marriage in the first place. If she hadn’t pressured us, my son wouldn’t have been cursed to death. Since my son is dead, Li Zhenniang must pay with her life.” Madam Tian’s eyes were red as she cried out, heedless of everything.
“Madam, have you not caused enough trouble? Rongchang, your mother is overwhelmed with grief, yet instead of stopping her, you join in her foolishness. You are utterly thoughtless. Go back and confine yourself to the study for three days.” At that moment, several more people arrived, one of them angrily scolding Tian Rongchang.
Walking side by side at the front were Grandfather Li Jinshui of the Li family and Master Tian Huai’an of the Tian family, Madam Tian’s husband. Behind them, Li Dalang supported Grandmother Li, holding an old jewelry box in his hands.
These were the elderly couple from the Li family who had been long awaited. It turned out they had gone to find Tian Huai’an first. Li Jinshui naturally had no intention of wasting words with Madam Tian; going directly to Tian Huai’an was the way to resolve the matter.
The one who had reprimanded Madam Tian earlier was Tian Huai’an. In recent years, the Tian family had been engaged in the timber business and had earned some money. With wealth came the desire for official status, as only with an official position could they protect their wealth. This was a path every merchant aspired to and had to take; otherwise, everything would come to nothing.
Thus, when Old Shopkeeper Li suddenly came to his business to find him, Tian Huai’an learned that his wife and son had gone to the Li family to force Li Zhenniang to sacrifice her life. He was shocked. In the past, Old Shopkeeper Li had frequently visited the mansions of nobles and officials.
Back then, the old master had sought this marriage alliance precisely because of such connections. After all, a timber merchant without an official title was merely a merchant, no matter how wealthy. But a top-tier Ink Master could often become a retainer for noble families, offering a pathway to proximity with officials.
Moreover, there were even specialized Ink Affairs officials. To be honest, if the Li family had not suffered such a misfortune back then, Li Jinshui would undoubtedly have become a court-appointed Ink Affairs official.
Although Li Jinshui had withdrawn from the family and left the Ink Industry in recent years, the truth was, he still had connections. If he were to cause trouble, Tian Huai’an’s plans might very well fall apart.
It was also his fault for being too busy these days, leading people up Mount Huang to search for his son, and neglecting matters at home.
So, as soon as Old Shopkeeper Li mentioned the situation, Tian Huai’an hurried over. To his surprise, Seventh Grandmother Li was also present, making things even more complicated. He had been planning to venture into the Ink Industry in the next couple of years.
“Rongchang, Ronghua, quickly help your mother back home,” Tian Huai’an waved his hand.
“Fine. Since Li Zhenniang refuses to sacrifice herself for my son, she is unworthy of the title of his fiancée. Return our betrothal gifts,” Madam Tian shot a resentful glance at Master Tian, her voice filled with lingering bitterness.
“Madam, do we lack that little money?” Master Tian stomped his foot in frustration.
“This isn’t about money. She brought misfortune upon my son—do you think they should get off scot-free? Not a chance!” Madam Tian spat out hatefully, glaring at the Li family as if she wished she could tear a piece of flesh from them."The betrothal gifts have already been squandered by my unfilial son. Here is an equivalent amount of cash. Dalang, present it." Li Jinshui then turned to Li Dalang behind him.
Li Dalang immediately stepped forward and opened the jewelry box. Inside were large silver ingots, bean-sized pieces of broken silver, some worn-out jewelry, and even copper coins—the box was packed full.
Anyone who saw it could tell that gathering this amount of money in the jewelry box had not been easy.
Li Zhenniang looked at the jewelry box, her heart feeling heavy. This money seemed heavier than Mount Tai, and this heaviness seemed to carry something else—a stifling sensation tinged with sorrow.
This sorrow seemed to be for Tian Benchang’s death. She knew it wasn’t her own emotion but that of the original body.
Lost in thought, Zhen Niang suddenly turned to look at Zhao Shi.
Zhao Shi’s eyes were also red.
Suddenly, Zhen Niang understood. Perhaps everyone thought Zhao Shi had forced Madam Tian to fulfill the marriage agreement for the Tian family’s money, but in reality, it was likely because the original body had loved Tian Benchang.
That was why Zhao Shi had resorted to a small scheme, doing everything she could to make this marriage happen. However, given her temperament, few truly understood her.
And no one had expected things to end up like this.
The music ended, the crowd dispersed, and the farce was over. For Zhen Niang, this was just fine.
Seventh Grandmother Li led the timber transport team away, not even glancing back at the Li family by the city gate.
Who knew how deep the old grudges ran? Still, Zhen Niang would remember Seventh Grandmother’s help today.
In the blink of an eye, it was already dark. Inside the Li house, the lamp on the Eight Immortals table unusually burned with two wicks.
Inside, Grandfather Li Jinshui was talking with Li Dalang.
Meanwhile, Grandmother Wu Shi seemed quite triumphant, directing Zhao Shi, Du Shi, and Zhen Niang as they tidied up the two rooms next door belonging to the Sun family. The Sun family had made a small fortune over the years and had long since moved away from the city gate area. Their two original rooms had been left empty. Although Zhao Shi had offered to fix up her own house for the elderly couple to live in,
the old couple refused. Instead, they rented the Sun family’s two rooms and knocked through a window in the middle, connecting the two sides. This way, the Li family had a bit more space to live in.
"Jingfu’s wife, put that tea table over here." Wu Shi assigned tasks to Du Shi and Zhen Niang and then ignored them, but she kept directing Zhao Shi to do this and that.
"Didn’t you just say this was in the way over there and asked me to move it here? Why do you want it moved back now?" Zhao Shi huffed.
"I’ve decided it’s better over there now. Is that not allowed?" Wu Shi retorted, glaring.
"Fine, fine, whatever you say." Zhao Shi had no choice but to lift the tea table and move it back.
"I thought you said you could handle anything at home, Jingfu’s wife. What happened? Couldn’t handle it this time, could you? Had to rely on us, eagerly bringing us here." Like a child, Wu Shi’s expression was full of smug delight.
"That’s why they say having an elder at home is like having a treasure. This time, I’ve brought back two treasures." Zhao Shi coaxed.
Beside them, Zhen Niang and Du Shi couldn’t help but laugh.Du Shi lowered her voice and said to Zhen Niang, "Actually, your mother was personally chosen by your grandmother. They used to get along quite well, but they fell out because of your father. Your father gambled and squandered the family fortune, so your mother would scold and hit him, while your grandmother would shield him. Over time, things became rather irreconcilable."
"Now that Grandfather is back, let him properly discipline my father," Zhen Niang said, truly feeling that Li Jingfu, as a father, was utterly irresponsible.
"What are you coming back for? Get out, get out of here!" Just then, Li Jinshui's roar came from next door, his voice filled with frustration and disappointment.
Li Jingfu had returned home.
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