Chapter Bonanza (3/10)

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Later, Mr. Tang made some inquiries about the Song family—mainly for the sake of the “so-called business war”; knowing your enemy and yourself ensures victory in every battle. It turned out that the Song family’s maidservant hadn’t bought anything; she’d handed over two taels of silver, acting haughty yet reasonable.

Mr. Tang wasn’t sure what to make of it, but he figured it couldn’t hurt to ask around.

He asked Mr. Huang and Liu Baojian, “Are there any wealthy Song families in our Fengyuan City?” Both shook their heads. Mr. Huang mentioned a few families with the surname Song who ran teahouses, restaurants, and jewelry shops.

“That certainly isn’t it.” Tang Xianling described the maid’s attire that day: “I didn’t mistakenly see it—her clothes were all brocade, and her collar was trimmed with fox fur.”

Mr. Huang was astonished upon hearing this; it certainly couldn’t be any of the Song families he’d mentioned.

Those families were all small merchants; even the wealthiest among them couldn’t afford to dress their own daughters in such finery.

It wasn’t a matter of cash—they could afford to wear such clothes at home, but if they were seen wearing them in public, it would be an act of presumption.

Liu Baojian listened thoughtfully. “If Mr. Tang’s eyes don’t deceive him, and the maids in that household are wearing such garments, then this is no ordinary family.”

Mr. Huang instantly understood—that meant a family of high standing.

“Exactly—that’s what I meant by a prominent family.” Tang Xianling nodded; he did have some common sense after all.

Liu Baojian thought it over carefully: “But in Fengyuan City, there aren’t really any families with the surname Song.”

He was referring to a prominent Song family. The two simply couldn’t recall one, so Tang Xianling didn’t press the matter further. He brought them a plate of food and said, “It’s no big deal. That family’s maidservant may have seemed haughty, but she was very reasonable—she didn’t give me, a small restaurant owner, any trouble.”

“Good to hear it’s no big deal.”

A few days later, Liu Baojian came by and called out to the young owner on his own initiative, saying, “About the Song family you mentioned last time, Mr. Tang, I went back and asked around. I found a few leads, but they’re just guesses—they might not amount to much.”

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Tieniu asked Old Master Liu to wait a moment while he went to fetch Mr. Tang.

“You two as a couple are really—” Liu Baojian had intended to make a joke, but then couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say, so he just smiled.

The couple respected each other without being overly formal; on the contrary, they were quite affectionate.

Hearing Tieniu’s words, Tang Xianling had actually forgotten all about this “little bit of gossip,” but since Old Man Liu had already found out about it—well, since he was here anyway, he might as well listen. So he went to the front of the shop.

“We don’t have a Song family of that caliber here in Fengyuan City,” Liu Baojian said. “But if you head toward Tingjiang Prefecture, there’s a county princess whose ancestors were princes of a different royal house—and they bear the surname Song.”

Tang Xianling:

“I really hadn’t thought of that.”

Liu Baojian hadn’t expected it either. He nodded and smiled, saying, “Those treasure balls really are delicious. You’ve got a real knack for cooking, Mr. Tang.” He didn’t pursue the topic further. Boasting about a county princess—especially when she wasn’t present—was pointless. Even if she had been there, Liu Baojian didn’t rely on her for his livelihood.

The county princess held no real power or influence; she was simply a wealthy, idle aristocrat.

“Thank you for the compliment,” Tang Xianling replied cheerfully.

That matter was settled for the time being, with no further developments—the Song family’s maidservant had said they would return next fall. Later, as the couple chatted under the covers, Tang Xianling could only remark once more: “That County Princess is quite strict with her subordinates.”

The maid might have been a bit haughty, but she was reasonable; she didn’t use her authority to force you into making the treasure ball, and she even tossed you two taels of silver—that was really quite generous.

As Huangfu Tieniu listened, he leaned in and kissed him.

Tang Xianling: Mmm, mmm, mmm. His mouth was covered.

After the kiss—which had left him even more flustered—Tang Xianling’s cheeks were crimson as he mumbled, “Huangfu Tieniu, are you jealous? I was just complimenting her.”

“Just a tiny bit,” Huangfu Tieniu nodded.

Tang Xianling: ?! Wait, are you serious? I was just talking out of the blue.

“Are you really jealous?” He cupped Tieniu’s cheeks, examining him from every angle.

Huangfu Tieniu let his husband examine him, then said, “I’ve noticed—you’re much nicer to that girl.”

“……” Tang Xianling cupped Tieniu’s cheek, planted a big kiss on it, and declared with absolute certainty, “I, Tang Xianling, love Tieniu more than anything in the world!”

Huangfu Tieniu deepened the kiss.

Tang Xianling was completely swept off his feet by the kiss, still thinking to himself: Tieniu really is younger than him! Unlike him—a few years older, mature and steady—Tieniu gets jealous just like a kid, hehehe.

As the older partner, he naturally had to provide his partner with a firm sense of security.

This Lunar New Year, Sanniang’s family didn’t come—probably because of the long journey or some other delay. With Sanniang absent, Tang Xianling and his mother just exchanged a word or two about it, but they weren’t overly worried—they trusted Sanniang.

His second sister’s husband brought his second sister and the kids—and they arrived quite early. His eldest sister came by just as she does every year.

Cui Bo’an brought some New Year’s gifts. As soon as he got out of the car, he said, “The kids at home miss this place. I was worried it might snow this year and make the trip difficult, so I came early.”

Last year, when the three sisters first arrived, they were still a bit shy and reserved, hesitant to mingle, but this year was different. As soon as the car came to a stop, the youngest, Sanniang, lifted the curtain to look out, calling out “Uncle” and “Grandma.”

Jiang Yun was overjoyed; she walked over to the cart and reached out to help the little girls down.

Tang Zhen said, “They’re pretty heavy.”

“Not at all—I can handle it,” Jiang Yun said, her face beaming. “Let Grandma hold you—it’s been over half a year since we last saw each other. Come on in and warm up.”

Tang Xianling ruffled each child’s hair in turn. They looked like a string of little candied hawthorn on a stick. As he touched them, the children all called him “Fifth Uncle.” Tang Xianling smiled and told them they were good. When it came to the last one, Si-ger, he stayed quietly in his second older sister’s arms.

“Let me hold him,” Tang Xianling said.

Before Tang Zhen could say a word, Si-ger in her arms stretched out his arms and leaned toward him. Cui Bo’an, standing nearby, chuckled and said, “Si-ger still remembers Uncle Wu—he’s been missing him.”

With the heavy child in his arms, Tang Xianling smiled cheerfully at the remark.

How old could Si-ger be? He was only one year old when he left the courtyard—there’s no way he could really remember him. But it didn’t matter; if he came every year and stayed a few extra days each time, everything would be fine.

Tang Xianling soothed Si-ger and said to the three sisters, “Let’s have some pastries. Back to the room!”

He noticed that the three sisters were acting a bit more well-behaved and shy again.

No matter—they’ll be lively again in a little while.

He was a master at raising children.

The entire New Year’s celebration went much like last year’s—visiting relatives and exchanging New Year’s greetings from house to house. However, since Sanniang’s family didn’t come this year, the Tang family compound felt a bit less lively—Zhao Xiangxiang and her brother Zhao Lei were quite lively and not at all shy around strangers.

His second sister’s family arrived before the New Year, and Cui Bo’an stayed until the fourth day of the New Year before leaving.

The whole family saw Cui Bo’an off at the courtyard gate. Jiang Yun spoke a few words befitting her status as an elder, offering some words of care and concern, then pulled the children and Wu-gers back a few steps. Tang Xianling looked over.

“Let your second older sister and her husband say a few words,” Jiang Yun said.

Tang Xianling: …Alright, then. A couple saying goodbye—got it!

Before long, Tang Zhen had seen her husband off. Aside from a few reminders—like “Be careful on the road” and “Stay safe”—she concluded by saying, “…The kids and I are doing just fine here. After the New Year, when the weather clears up, and things calm down, you’re welcome to come visit again.”

Cui Bo’an nodded and said, “I know. Let’s head back.” Raising his voice slightly, he called out to his mother-in-law and her five Wu-gers, who were trailing behind a bit: “Let’s head back. Mother-in-law, little brother, I’m leaving first.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yun replied.

Tang Xianling, holding the child, smiled and nodded, saying, “Have a safe trip, Second Brother-in-Law.”

And that was it.

They hadn’t even left the alley yet—their backs were still visible—when Tang Zhen turned and walked back. Tang Xianling glanced at his second sister; he couldn’t help but feel that she no longer treated her second brother-in-law with the same tenderness and affection as before.

He didn’t feel comfortable asking about it directly; he’d have to get his mother to bring it up indirectly.

But Jiang Yun didn’t manage to find out much either. Whenever she asked, Erniang would only reply with “Everything’s fine,” “Nothing’s wrong,” and “Bo’an is very devoted to the children and me,” without mentioning anything else.

Later, after Jiang Yun finished talking with her Wu-ger, she said, “Your second sister is just like me—a tight-lipped person with a belly full of secrets but not a single word to say.”

“But Mother, you’re not a ‘mute gourd’ now,” Tang Xianling praised. “You’re brave, resourceful, and eloquent!”

This made Jiang Yun unable to hold back her laughter.

Wu-ger was referring to her dealings with the Lu family.

Ever since Jiang Yun had taken on the role of the “bad guy,” Chen Qiaolian hadn’t had as much to say to her—or about the Tang family—as she used to.

In the past, Chen Qiaolian and Father Lu would either call him “Wu-ger” or “Xiao Tang” or “Old Tang’s son.”

Now it’s always “Mr. Tang.”

Tang Xianling chatted and joked with his mother, but deep down he was still concerned about his second sister. However, since his second sister never mentioned anything about her relationship with her husband, others had no way of knowing whether things were going well or badly. They could only offer a little concern; seeing that his second sister didn’t seem particularly sad, distressed, or overwhelmed by her emotions, the matter was eventually left at that.

Tang Zhen, too, merely harbored suspicions in her heart; she suspected that Bo’an had another woman on the side…

This incident happened last summer. While she was washing Bo’an’s clothes, an embroidered pouch fell out of one of his garments. Tang Zhen picked it up and asked Bo’an about it, but to her surprise, Cui Bo’an suddenly flew into a rage, accusing her of being paranoid and making unfounded assumptions.

Tang Zhen was taken aback and said, “I was just asking—I thought it might be something the three sisters had sewn for their father as practice.”

Once Cui Bo’an came to his senses, he felt a bit embarrassed and eventually brushed it off with a flimsy excuse—claiming that a young merchant from out of town had slipped it into his clothes.

It was a far-fetched excuse, and in the past, Tang Zhen would have been fobbed off without a second thought. But this time, while she nodded along, the more she thought about it, the more distressed she felt.

What kind of “good friend” would slip her husband a pouch meant for a woman? Moreover, the pouch was made of fine fabric, and the embroidery was quite nice—it must have taken a lot of effort to stitch it.

How could an ordinary family in town possibly know anything about needlework and embroidery?

A few days after that incident, Cui Bo’an was especially affectionate toward Tang Zhen, sweet-talking her and even buying pastries to share with her. In the past, seeing this would have filled Tang Zhen’s heart with sweetness, but this time, for some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was just stringing her along.

He claimed to have bought those pastries especially for her, yet as soon as he brought them home, he shared them with his parents-in-law first—and they weren’t even her favorite kind…

How could Tang Zhen possibly explain this to her mother and younger brother? As a married woman, she was bound to follow her husband’s lead—no matter what. Even if Cui Bo’an really did have someone else on the side, what could she possibly do about it?

With the Lunar New Year approaching, Cui Bo’an took the initiative to say he would return early.

When Tang Zhen returned to her parents’ home and saw how concerned her mother and Wu-ger were about her, she felt a sense of peace wash over her for no apparent reason…

She still had her mother and younger brother.

Next door at the Lu household, Lu Erlang had also returned half a month earlier. He was tanned and had grown a bit taller, and his build had become much more robust. Chen Qiaolian brought up again the matter of the matchmaker arranging a marriage for Erlang—

“Just like Mr. Tang said, we’ll rent a courtyard to live in for now. Since you’re working as a doctor in town and the villages, you can make enough to get by.”

“And if all else fails, there’s still Sanniang. She gets five hundred wen a month now, and she even received one taels and a half during the New Year—plenty of chicken, duck, and meat.”

Lu Erlang didn’t respond, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Chen Qiaolian then went to the Tang household to discuss these matters with her sister-in-law. Jiang Yun didn’t like hearing Chen Qiaolian complain about these things and simply said, “Erlang knows what’s best. Since you can’t push him, it’s better not to. Let the boy have a good New Year. He’s come back for a visit after so long—don’t drive him away.”

“I’m just worried—all parents feel the same way. I don’t care; Old Lu is as good as mute—he doesn’t worry about a thing…” Chen Qiaolian grumbled on and on.

Jiang Yun simply ignored her, got up, and went about her own business.

Perhaps Jiang Yun’s words really came true—the New Year wasn’t even over yet; it was around the eighth day of the first lunar month, and Lu Erlang had already left.

Chen Qiaolian, filled with regret and sorrow, went to the Tang family home to talk to her sister-in-law. Jiang Yun didn’t know what to do about it, so she could only offer a few words of comfort: “When it comes to our children’s marriages, even if we’re concerned, we have to respect their wishes. Don’t worry too much—Erlang isn’t that old yet. Even if he’s nineteen or twenty, there’s still plenty of time.”

As Jiang Yun spoke, she saw her second daughter come in to refill the kettle on the stove, and added, “Just think about Wu-ger’s previous marriage—it’s a good thing that the man surnamed Hu died. But if he hadn’t, given what a rotten person he was, and with Wu-ger’s temperament now, they would’ve had to get a divorce anyway.”

“Divorce?” Chen Qiaolian was startled by this and dared not bring it up again, afraid that if she said anything, Jiang Yun would claim her son was getting a divorce.

The marriage hadn’t even taken place yet—what kind of divorce was she talking about?

For the New Year, Tang Xianling and Tieniu took Erniang’s children and their mother—since there weren’t enough vehicles, they had specially rented a covered wagon a few days in advance. Their mother and Erniang’s children rode in that wagon, while he and Tieniu pulled their own flatbed cart loaded with New Year’s gifts to visit their eldest sister.

Lin Hu had built a house; the new house had been airing out for over half a year. The heated earthen bed was usually piled high with grain, but as soon as he saw his younger brother, Tieniu, their mother, and Erniang’s family arrive, he hurriedly tidied everything up.

“There’s plenty of room, plenty of room,” Tang Qiao said, overjoyed, repeating it again and again.

Tang Zhen said, “Eldest Sister, Mother said she wanted to visit you. Since there are so many of us, I took the liberty of coming along to pay New Year’s respects to you and your husband.”

“What are you saying?” Tang Qiao’s tone was playful as she teased her second younger sister, but her eyes were full of joy. “Where’s your husband? Didn’t he come?”

Tang Zhen: “He went back on the fourth day of the New Year.”

“Never mind him then. Let’s just have a good chat and have some fun together, us sisters and the kids.”

There were so many of them—two cars full. Although the Lin family had split into separate households, the original plot of land where the house stood was spacious, and the three brothers were still neighbors. Lin Hu lived on the edge of the compound, with his eldest brother’s house in the middle. The courtyard on this side was bustling with chatter and the laughter of children, which soon drew Lin Hu’s parents from the middle house out to see what was going on.

Huangfu Tieniu and Tang Xianling, smiling broadly, called out to them first.

They addressed them as “Uncle” and “Aunt.”

“Oh, all right, all right. Whose kids are these?” Father Lin asked, his eyesight not what it used to be.

Tang Xianling replied, “Uncle, my eldest sister is Tang Qiao. I’m her younger brother. I’m already married, so I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Oh my, you look so young,” Mr. Lin said, genuinely surprised.

Jiang Yun came out to exchange pleasantries with Mr. and Mrs. Lin for a while, then asked her Wu-ger, Tieniu, to take the gifts over to pay a courtesy call on the elders—this was to save face for her eldest sister. Tang Xianling had already set aside the New Year’s gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Lin while sorting them at home.

He hadn’t set aside any for the second branch of the family.

The gifts were meant for Lin Hu’s parents, not for Lin Hu’s older brother.

Tang Xianling and Tieniu went through the usual routine of saying, “Uncle and Auntie, please accept these—I made them myself,” “They’re just some pastries,” and “Nothing too expensive,” but his eldest sister’s in-laws kept refusing, saying things like, “How could we possibly accept your gift?” and “We haven’t visited our in-laws in previous years,” and so on.

If this back-and-forth had happened with neighbors in the neighborhood, Tang Xianling would have given up long ago—it really was strange, all that pushing and shoving. But now, facing his eldest sister’s in-laws, he couldn’t just “go with the flow” and refuse to give a gift altogether. So Tang Xianling tossed the items down, and Tieniu dragged his husband away, reaching back to say, “No need to give us anything—Happy New Year to you, sir.”

The two husbands had finally completed their “New Year’s greetings and gift-giving” ritual.

Tang Qiao had heard the commotion from the kitchen. Seeing her younger brother and Tieniu return empty-handed, she teased with a smile, “Did you manage to give the gifts? All right, you two go out and have some fun. Today, I’ll let you taste my cooking.”

“Dalang, take your uncle and Uncle Tieniu for a walk around the village,” Tang Qiao called out to her eldest son, asking him to keep them company.

That day, Tang Xianling didn’t retreat to the kitchen—he was truly there as a guest. He and Tieniu strolled around the village. Snow covered the village paths, crunching under their feet; blue smoke rose from every household’s chimney, and the scent of cooking occasionally wafted through the biting cold.

The two strolled hand in hand for a while. There wasn’t much to do in the village in winter, so after a quick walk, they headed back home. Soon after, her older sister’s husband, her older sister, and her sister-in-law arrived, bringing some meat and vegetables. The courtyard and the kitchen were packed with people, and the atmosphere was lively and bustling.

“…Dad said your younger brother looks young. I haven’t seen him myself, but I figured since he’s in the city doing business—unlike us farmhands who’re out in the sun and wind all day—my son’s only thirteen, and he’s already so tough as nails,” said Lin Dasao.

Tang Xianling heard this. It was meant as a compliment, but he didn’t know how to respond.

From the kitchen came his eldest sister’s voice: “He works hard, too—standing by the stove all day. In summer, he’s baked by smoke and heat; in winter, the water’s freezing. Every line of work has its own hardships.”

“That’s true,” Lin Dasao agreed upon hearing this. “I was just saying, your ger is a great cook. I hear the kids praise him every time they come back from the city. Why hasn’t he shown off his skills today?”

Jiang Yun replied, “My son cooks all year round. It’s a rare occasion—the New Year—and his older sister wanted to give him a break.”

Lin Dasao responded with a few “Uh-huhs” and then changed the subject.

Once the meal was cleared away, Lin Dasao wasn’t planning to stay for dinner. Tang Qiao urged her to stay and have a bite, suggesting that if she didn’t, she could take some food home for her in-laws to try. Lin Dasao waved her off, saying that if she actually took any home, her parents would surely scold her for it.

With no other option, they saw Lin Dasao off, and only then did the whole family sit down to eat.

With so many children and the cold weather, Tang Qiao made up the kang, set the table, and had the children eat on the kang while the adults squeezed in to sit on the floor below.

Next door.

Lin Dasao was just chatting with her mother-in-law—they’d only just met and started talking—when her younger brother’s wife arrived to speak with her, asking, “Has Tang Qiao’s family come yet?”

So she’d come to find out.

Lin Dasao told her the truth and mentioned what his family had brought—pastries and liquor—then couldn’t help but remark, “My third brother’s wife’s family is quite well-off. Her second sister’s three daughters, even the youngest one, all wear silver longevity locks around their necks.”

“And her younger brother—I heard he’s twenty-four or twenty-five, but at first glance he looks like he’s seventeen or eighteen, with such a pale, delicate complexion. Even so, his husband says he’s always hanging around the stove. To me, he looks like he’s been pampered.”

“And the one by his side—he’s quite handsome. The two of them look so well-matched standing together.”

“If you’re curious, go take a look for yourself.”

Lin Ersao pursed her lips. No way was she going—she wasn’t about to let Tang Qiao make fun of her.

Tang Qiao’s family back home had never made such a big deal out of visiting before. It was only in the past couple of years that they’d started coming to see their married-off daughter—and bringing all these gifts, too. Why hadn’t they brought anything for her family?

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After the New Year, the restaurant reopened.

Tang Zhen stayed behind to work as usual. Last year, Cui Bo’an had come to pick her up in April, but this year—good heavens—it was already May, and the heat had set in, yet he still hadn’t shown up. Tang Zhen was a bit distracted, glancing toward the courtyard gate every now and then.

“Erniang.” Seeing his second sister return from the gate, Tang Xianling, understanding the situation without needing to say a word, simply asked, “It’s getting hot. I’ll have Xiao Mi make some cold noodles for us today. Would you like some?”

Tang Zhen: “Sure, go ahead. Do as you see fit.”

What else is there to eat? Erniang really wasn’t paying attention. It was only May. Yesterday, he’d said it was getting hot enough to switch to summer clothes and make some cold noodles, but Erniang had laughed and told him to wait a bit longer—it wasn’t time for cold noodles yet, and eating them now might give him an upset stomach.

And now, just one day later, she’s already eating it? Tang Xianling went back to the kitchen to prepare the noodles.

Erniang still had feelings for her husband; after all, they’d been married for so many years and had four children together.

“Erniang, eat first. Maybe Bo’an was held up by something,” Jiang Yun urged her daughter.

Tang Zhen forced a smile and said, “Last year, he came in April, so I figured it would be about the same time this year.” After offering that dry explanation, she added, “The three sisters are homesick, too.”

Tang Xianling looked at the three sisters, as if to say, “You miss home? How come I didn’t know that?”

Xiao Sanniang, the liveliest of the three, shook her head quickly when her uncle looked at her, as if to say, “It’s not me—I’m not the one.”

The eldest sister, out of consideration for her mother, didn’t say she didn’t miss home—but she truly didn’t, nor did she miss her father. Back home, they had to work every day and endure their grandmother’s scolding, who’d tell them they were clumsy and couldn’t do their chores properly, and that when they grew up and got married, their in-laws would beat them and make their lives miserable.

So she didn’t want to get married. But she couldn’t say that out loud. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts when Uncle Wu called her over to eat cold noodles. She buried her head in her bowl and took a bite—and suddenly, all the things Grandma had said vanished from her mind.

It tasted so good.

She loved the food Uncle Wu cooked.

By the end of May, Cui Bo’an still hadn’t shown up, but there was another piece of good news—at the Lu family next door, Zou Ling gave birth at the end of the month to a baby boy.

Thanks to this child, the Lu household had become much happier. It wasn’t just because of the child, Tang Xianling thought; it was also because Lu Sanniang could earn wages, which helped support her older brother and sister-in-law quite a bit.

Then came summer—the two-month period in June and July when the restaurant’s outdoor food stalls were in full swing. This year, with plenty of help at home and Erniang around, business at the restaurant was busy but manageable; it wasn’t exhausting. Tang Xianling could still take a break to listen to Lu Sanniang chatter away about her eldest nephew—how his skin had cleared up, how he’d gotten chubby, and how he’d started blinking.

Tang Xianling: …Let’s eat watermelon, let’s eat watermelon.

At the end of June, his second older sister’s husband, Cui Bo’an, finally came to pick them up. When Tang Zhen saw her husband, she was overjoyed at first, looking as though a brief separation had made their reunion feel like a new marriage. Cui Bo’an stayed with the Tang family for three days before taking his wife and child home.

Just a few days after her second sister’s family left, Uncle Zhang arrived.

It happened to be a weekday, and the restaurant was busy. Tang Xianling was stir-frying in the kitchen when he heard his mother call him. He answered and asked what was wrong.

But his mother said nothing.

From the courtyard, Zhang Huai said, “It’s nothing, nothing. Let Xianling finish what he’s doing first.”

Jiang Yun nodded and went to bring some iced tea, but before she could pour it,

Zhang Huai said again, “No, there is something after all. This is something both Xianling and Tieniu need to hear.”

Jiang Yun was taken aback upon hearing this; her father-in-law’s tone suggested something serious, so she put the tea aside and ran to the kitchen to speak with her Wu-ger. Tang Xianling served the dishes and had A-Liang take them to the front hall, then called Tieniu to the backyard.

“Uncle, what’s the matter? Have you eaten yet?” Tang Xianling asked.

Zhang Huai waved his hand, indicating that whether he’d eaten or not didn’t matter, and said, “The day before yesterday, officials from the Tingjiang Prefectural Office came to the village looking for my third brother. I told them he’d passed away long ago, and they asked about Tieniu’s whereabouts…”

Huangfu Tieniu had just arrived in the backyard when he overheard this; at first, he furrowed his brow.

“Could it be that the Huangfu family has tracked us down? It’s been years now,” Tang Xianling said, furrowing his brow as well.

He’d heard Tieniu say that back when his foster father had taken him in—since Tieniu was well-dressed—he’d even gone to the prefectural office to report the find and register him. That should have left a record; if the Huangfu family had been determined to find their child, they could have tracked him down back then.

Dragging things out this long—they’ve got nothing good to say!

Zhang Huai didn’t know the specifics, so he pulled a letter from his bosom and handed it over. “Take a look first. You and Xianling can decide for yourselves what to do—but after turning this over in my mind, I felt I had to tell you about this.”

Huangfu Tieniu’s face remained expressionless as he opened the letter. After reading a few lines, his expression grew somber. Tang Xianling noticed something was off in Tieniu’s demeanor—if the Huangfu family had come looking for the child, Tieniu certainly wouldn’t have reacted this way.

“What’s the matter?”

“My maternal grandfather has passed away…”

“People from your maternal grandfather’s side? The border?” Tang Xianling said, already formulating a plan in his mind to travel to the border for the funeral.

Tieniu shook his head. “The letter was left by the Huangfu family in Lujing. My maternal grandfather’s belongings are all in Lujing.”