Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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When Zhuang Li returned to the courtyard with his younger brother, Grandma Zhuang was standing behind the stone wall that Zhuang Lao Er had just built, using a wooden stump as a stepping stone, and calling out: “Ergen, Ergen, Tian’er found a pheasant on the mountain today. Bring Da Bao and Er Bao over to eat chicken.”
Zhuang Jiuge stared at her in shock, as if he could no longer recognize his own grandmother overnight.
His parents worked so hard outside, but when had she ever cared? She always secretly hid the good things Zhuang Tian’er found, only eating them when the family of four wasn’t around. Why had her attitude completely changed now?
It seems money really is a wonderful thing; it can even buy family ties. Thinking of this, Zhuang Jiuge suppressed all expression, shook his head, and walked into the east room, feeling utterly listless.
When Grandma Zhuang saw the two brothers, she quickly called out, “Da Bao, Er Bao, come and eat! Grandma saved some chicken for you. From now on, we’re still family, so please don’t be distant…”
However, before she could finish speaking, someone on the other side yanked her off the wooden stump.
Immediately afterwards, Zhuang Laoda’s stern voice came from the other side of the wall: “Mom, stop shouting. From now on, the second son is the second son, and I am me. We can’t live together anymore. Go back inside!”
“You blockhead! Who are you doing this for? Is your hundred taels of silver enough for you to live on? You’ve already spent most of it on buying land, and Haisheng still needs to go to school. Where will the ten-plus taels of silver a year come from?” Old Mrs. Zhuang scolded her impatiently.
“Mother, to be frank, who knows what will happen to the second son without our Tian’er! Don’t be fooled by his current success; he might be in big trouble in a few days!” The eldest son of the Zhuang family forgot to hide his sinister tone.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Li raised an eyebrow. He had assumed that Zhuang Tian’er had sent the hypnotized villagers to spread the news, but he hadn’t expected that it was actually Zhuang Laoda (the eldest brother) who had done it himself.
It seems that Zhuang Tian’er did not grow up to be so vicious and greedy for no reason; she had inherited the true teachings of Zhuang Laoda.
Grandma Zhuang seemed to be convinced and said regretfully, “Why didn’t such great fortune fall on our Tian’er? Our Tian’er has a noble destiny and can bear it. Their family has a short life. What use is all that money to them? No, I have to tell Zhuang Lao Er to prepare a dowry for Tian’er as soon as possible! Otherwise, when he falls on hard times, our Tian’er will have nothing.”
As she said this, Old Mrs. Zhuang climbed up the wooden stump again, poked her head out and shouted, “Ergen, Ergen, you said before that you would prepare a dowry for Tian’er, do you still stand by that promise? Hurry up and come out and get this done!”
Now, Zhuang Laoda stopped pulling at his mother and instead showed an expectant expression.
Zhuang Lao Er, unable to bear it any longer, pushed open the door and strode out, cursing gruffly, “I’ll give her no dowry whatsoever! She’s an evil spirit, I don’t care if she dies!”
Zhuang Li, who had originally intended to go inside, stood still, leaning against the pear tree in the yard, lazily watching the commotion.
Zhuang Jiuge sat by the window, engrossed in reading a book, completely unaffected by the noise.
Liu Chunhua then came out of the house and said sarcastically, “Zhuang Tian’er is very lucky. She is God’s own daughter. If she wants to get married, you can ask God for a dowry!”
Old Mrs. Zhuang was so angry that her eyes bulged out. She then threatened, “I advise you to hurry up and prepare a dowry for Tian’er and treat her well. That way, she will share her good fortune with you and prevent you from suffering misfortune. You are all too weak to bear wealth and luxury! You haven’t forgotten how Lu Dan strangled himself, have you? You don’t want your family to be destroyed, do you?”
“Mother, are you still my mother? How can you curse your own children and grandchildren like that? Who are you saying has a bad fate? Who are you saying will be ruined and die?” Zhuang Lao Er clenched his fists tightly, but he couldn’t do anything to Old Madam Zhuang. After all, this was a society where filial piety was paramount.
Hearing the commotion, the villagers who came to watch the show advised Zhuang Lao Er through the courtyard gate: “You’d better hurry up and prepare a dowry for Tian’er. You’ve received such a great benefit, you should treat Tian’er better. Tian’er’s good fortune can protect your family, otherwise, good things will turn into bad things.”
“Yes! Who else but Tian’er could be so blessed? Maybe your family’s great fortune is thanks to Tian’er! It’s only right that you share some with her.”
“The blessings God gives you are limited. If you receive blessings that are not rightfully yours, you should naturally give back a portion of them.”
“Zhuang Lao Er, don’t be stubborn! Without Tian’er, your family will definitely be in trouble!”
Completely brainwashed, the villagers took turns trying to persuade Zhuang Lao Er.
Grandma Zhuang pressed her advantage, saying, “We don’t want the rest, I only want that luminous pearl! Give the pearl to Tian’er!”
Zhuang Tian’er rushed out of the house and said firmly, “Grandma, come down quickly! I don’t want Second Uncle’s things! We’ve separated the family property, so we should each live our own lives. Grandma, please listen to me.” As she spoke, she pulled Grandma Zhuang down and kept apologizing to her Second Uncle Zhuang over the courtyard wall.
Her obedient and sensible nature made the villagers outside the courtyard feel even more indignant on her behalf, and they kept cursing Zhuang Lao Er for being short-sighted and selfish.
Zhuang Tian’er escorted Old Madam Zhuang back to her house. As she turned around, her embarrassed expression instantly turned into a sinister one.
She chuckled contemptuously to herself: Let them make a scene. In a few days, when Zhuang Lao Er’s family is murdered by thieves, you’ll believe in me even more and obey me. My status as a blessed sage will surely crush this village. Do they really think I care about Zhuang Lao Er’s family’s meager possessions?
Outside, a woman with an unusually loud voice warned Zhuang Lao Er: “If your family doesn’t treat Tian’er well, you’ll definitely have bad luck in the future! Tian’er’s good fortune can protect you. If you actively push away her protection, something extremely bad might happen! Be careful!”
No sooner had the woman finished speaking than a series of sounds erupted outside: the clatter of hooves, wheels, the whistling of falcons, and the barking of hunting dogs. Then, amidst all this noise, a deep, authoritative voice rang out: “What bad thing is going to happen to the young master’s family?”
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