The Zhao couple hurried back to spread the news. Onlookers gathered on the street clapped their hands in congratulations with smiles, while also asking for the juicy details: “Which family’s daughter or ger is being betrothed? Such good fortune!”

Yuan Heqing returned their bows. Though he carried an air of official authority when unsmiling, his smile was warm and endearing—the very stuff of a born matchmaker. He addressed the crowd with approachable cheer: “Yuan here, entrusted by Huangfu Tieniu, has come today to propose marriage to Tang Xianling of the Tang family in Baxing District, hastening their union.”

The onlookers gathered around, buzzing with excitement: !!!

“Did I hear wrong? Which family did the matchmaker mention?”

“The Tang family? Besides Boss Tang, who else in Baxing District has the surname Tang?”

“Boss Tang? You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Have you lost your mind? We grew up in the Baxing District. What other Tang family is there?”

“But Mr. Tang is quite a bit older. This young man looks much younger—I never thought of that possibility.”

“Actually, there’s another thing. Hasn’t Mr. Tang’s late husband, the Juren, been dead for a year? I don’t think so. How could someone propose marriage so soon?”

For a moment, no one knew what to say.

The Rong Dynasty didn’t enforce widowhood. After the founding emperor ascended the throne, he even encouraged widows to remarry, listing various measures. It wasn’t a big deal that Master Tang didn’t ask his late wife to mourn him, but honestly, especially with all the men on the street, the thought that if they died and their wife found someone else just over half a year later… well, it wouldn’t feel good.

Huangfu Tieniu overheard their idle chatter, a smile playing on his face. Today was his engagement celebration—no reason to frown. He spoke earnestly: “Tang Xianling is older than me, but I cherish him deeply. He is the one for me this lifetime.”

He bowed his hands again. “Your humble servant is here. Thank you all for your blessings.”

“Congratulations!” “It really is, Mr. Tang!” “Best wishes!”

No one hits a smiling face, especially on the groom’s engagement day. Some young men might have felt a twinge of envy, but it was none of their business—after all, they weren’t the ones proposing to Mr. Tang.

So they cheerfully bowed their congratulations and left, some even joining the crowd to shout, “Let’s watch the spectacle!”

“Let’s go together.”

Some quick-footed individuals dashed to the Tang residence, their voices loud and cheerful as they congratulated Jiang Yun and Master Tang at the door. “Auntie Tang, congratulations! What a joyous occasion for your family!”

“Mr. Tang, what a joyous day!”

Lu Sanniang had risen early and waited outside the shop for nearly an hour before finally hearing the good news. Now, slightly lifting her skirt hem, she glanced toward the main street entrance. Without turning back, she called to her family, “Mother, I’m off to see the commotion! I’ll be back soon!”

She wanted to see who had such good taste as to marry her Wu-ger.

“Oh! It’s him!” From afar, Lu Sanniang spotted the man in the wedding procession dressed similarly to her Wu-ger—tall, handsome, and clearly none other than the Tang family’s hired hand.

She had even told her eldest brother before how handsome the Tang family’s hired help was.

Lu Sanniang saw clearly and couldn’t help but smile. She clapped her hands and exclaimed, “This one is perfectly matched with Wu-ger! They’re both so good-looking!”

The man that married Wu-ger before was uglier than her own father!

Lu Sanniang thought of this and stuck out her tongue. Comparing Hu Kang to her own father was truly disrespectful to Dad. Though not tall, her father was sturdy and loved her dearly. He had a decent, honest face—nothing like that Hu Kang, who was scrawny, short, and had the eyes of a thief.

She watched clearly but didn’t approach. After the betrothal ceremony concluded, she dashed back, running while calling out to her mother and elder brother: “Mother, Father, Eldest Brother! Wu-ger’s new husband came for the betrothal today!”

Father Lu and Lu Dalang were grinding grain in their backyard when they heard their daughter/sister mention some joyous occasion. As they climbed onto the bed to ask, they first noticed people streaming past their door toward the neighbors. Lu Dalang thought to himself: The neighbors aren’t having breakfast today.

Then he heard congratulations and talk of a grand celebration at the entrance.

Chen Qiaolian beamed as she told her husband and son, “Today is a blessed day! The neighbors have also arranged a marriage. I heard the groom’s family invited an official matchmaker to present the betrothal gifts.”

Just as they spoke, Lu Sanniang’s voice reached them.

“Who is it?” Lu Dalang inquired curiously.

Father Lu stopped working too. Tang Wu-ger, next door, had faced many setbacks in his marriage, and now that he had found a match, they naturally wished him well. It just seemed too sudden—how long had it been since the Juren passed away?

“That helper at Wu-ger’s place,” she said, “I just heard him called Huangfu Tieniu. So his surname is Huangfu? I’ve never seen that surname before. It’s quite unusual.” Lu Sanniang told her family.

Father Lu remarked, ”That young lad looks fresh-faced to me. He must be younger than Brother Tang Wu, right?“ He still felt a younger match wasn’t ideal; someone slightly older would be better.

”He’s a few months younger than our eldest son,” Chen Qiaolian recalled.

Father Lu frowned disapprovingly. “Someone older would care for him better. A younger man just wouldn’t be a proper match.”

“Father, I think Wu-ger and Brother Tieniu are perfectly suited in appearance. That older man could almost be my grandfather!” Lu Sanniang pouted in protest. She didn’t care for someone much older, either.

Father Lu suddenly burst out laughing. “I meant three or five years older, or someone close in age. Who said the one up front is old? You, that’s who.”

If his third daughter were to marry someone Hu Kang’s age, he wouldn’t agree either. Who could bear to see their child suffer?

The Lu family shop was amused by Lu Sanniang’s attitude. No one was buying steamed buns now—they were all probably next door watching the commotion.

Father Lu brushed dust from his hands, signaling everyone to go see. As neighbors, though he didn’t approve of Tang Wu-ger’s new marriage, he still had to go offer congratulations.

Besides, his own eldest son was settled now, and Tang Wu-ger was settled too. All was well. Father Lu felt pleased inside. It didn’t matter which young master married Tang Wu-ger, as long as it wasn’t his own eldest son.

As they spoke, the clanging of gongs grew louder and closer.

Lu Sanniang stopped talking with her parents and hurried outside the shop to join the commotion. She saw her Wu-ger emerge with a beaming smile, his new attire matching the groom’s in both color and style. Though they weren’t standing together, separated by the crowd, they still looked perfectly suited.

How lovely, how lovely.

How well-matched, how well-matched.

Jiang Yun, surprisingly calm today, smiled as she welcomed everyone into the shop to sit.

“My home is too small,” she said. “Please come into the shop for a moment. Have some tea.”

The Tang family opened the large shop door that was usually kept closed. The side near the smoke duct and oven remained shut, while extra tables and miscellaneous items were neatly stacked against the wall—clearly tidied up. Only two tables were left on this side, leaving the space open.

Yuan Heqing said, “No rush. Let me first sing the betrothal document and announce the betrothal gifts before asking the lady of the house for a cup of celebratory tea.”

The crowd gathered outside the Tang family shop grew larger by the minute.

Yuan Heqing took the documents from the clerk, untied the red cord, and stood by the doorway. Slowly unfolding the betrothal contract in her hands, she proceeded to recite its contents.

The contract was written with meticulous precision, its language elegant and vibrant, radiating joy and auspiciousness…

The Zhao family trio had closed their shop to join the crowd. As they walked, the Zhao matriarch muttered to her daughter-in-law, “Serves them right. Once a man marries, his wife sides with her family. Who’d care about the Tang family’s affairs? Now if Brother Tang Wu says another word to him, his wife might just come knocking…”

The more they walked, the more uneasy they felt.

“Is that the Tang family shop? Why is there such a crowd gathered at the door?” Sun Honghong’s heart skipped a beat.

Zhao Dalang stopped in his tracks.

They had arrived too late and didn’t want to linger near the Tang family’s doorstep—the two families had just quarreled and were no longer on speaking terms. Everyone felt that passing by the Tang residence brought bad luck.

Even from several yards away, they could still hear the crowd’s murmurs.

“Did you hear? That handsome young laborer from the Tang family came to propose to Master Tang today.” A passerby deliberately spoke loudly, clearly aiming at the Zhao family trio.

The Zhao matriarch’s face stiffened as she turned to look. “What did you say?”

“That Huangfu Tieniu fellow brought betrothal gifts to Tang Xianling today. He’s only seventeen or eighteen, but I’ve never seen a dowry richer than ours in the neighborhood.”

Sun Honghong blurted out, “Who are you trying to fool?”

If that servant were wealthy, he wouldn’t be working for the Tang family.

“Who’s fooling you? Four palanquins for the dowry, they invited Master Yuan to officiate as matchmaker. One top-grade tiger skin, two top-grade fox skins, a ginseng root, three hundred taels of silver, a pair of fat ducks, sugar, wine, and more—plus fabric for garments.”

And that’s not much?

For common folk, spending fifty taels on a bride price was considered generous. Back when Cui Dabao married Sun Douzi, the Cui family was quite well-off. Between the bride price and the wedding banquet, they reportedly spent over fifty taels of silver—a sum people talked about for ages.

People said the Cui family married a country ger and spent so much, calling them foolish for valuing a peasant ger so highly.

“How much!” The Zhao family matriarch sucked in a sharp breath.

Passersby grew even more amused. “Three hundred taels of silver, wrapped in red cloth—we all heard it!”

“Don’t say the Tang family paid silver just to show off. What kind of background do the Tangs have? Old Tang spends money on medicine—where would he get the money?” Someone shut down the Zhao family’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Mr. Tang’s business was doing well, but it hadn’t been open long enough to earn three hundred taels.

Sun Honghong’s eyes burned with fury. Three hundred taels! That was three hundred taels! Zhao Dalang wasn’t about to be outdone. He remembered the Tang family’s laborer—young, tall, effortlessly lifting two buckets of water. If that laborer married Tang Xianling, how could he ever compete?

Seek support from the second son? The second son had grown timid living in the village.

“Who would’ve thought that young master actually has some wealth behind him?”

“Being able to offer three hundred taels as a betrothal gift to Master Tang shows genuine sincerity.”

Inside the Tang family shop.

The betrothal contract was read aloud, and the dowry list presented. The onlookers gathered on the street gasped at the sum.

A young man offering three hundred taels as a betrothal gift—his intentions couldn’t be anything but sincere.

Chen Qiaolian, Zhou Xiangping, and others who had connections with Jiang Yun came to offer congratulations. Jiang Yun’s smile froze on her face. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Master Yuan waited nearby, smiling patiently without haste, until finally taking a seat in the shop.

Yuan Heqing discussed the wedding date with Jiang Yun. He had calculated several auspicious dates recently and let her choose.

Jiang Yun looked through them slowly. “Too soon wouldn’t be good. Yesterday, Wu-ger bought some red cloth. I still want to make his wedding attire myself.”

“How is Father Tang feeling?” Yuan Heqing reminded her.

Jiang Yun paused, also worried Old Tang might not hold out. She wasn’t entirely sure. “Old Tang can eat a little bit every day now.”

Before, he’d wake up several times a day, could eat meat, and scold people with full vigor. Now it’s different—he can only manage thin soups and broths. If he tries anything too hard, like cakes or rice, it just doesn’t work.

But Wu-ger had worked so hard to find a good husband. This time, Jiang Yun didn’t want to let the child down.

The shop door stood open, and some close neighbors lingered nearby, chatting idly. Hearing that Father Tang could still eat daily, they instinctively felt his health was slowly improving. They all said, “There’s truly no rush. Marriage is a major event. We’ll wait until Father Tang’s health is restored to see Wu-ger on his joyous wedding day.”

“Exactly. That would be a double celebration.”

“Who knows? Hearing about Wu-ger’s wonderful match might even cure Father Tang of half his ailments.”

Jiang Yun hesitated in her words, hoping to buy time to prepare the wedding attire. Instead, the neighbors misunderstood, thinking she wanted to wait until Father Tang recovered to witness his child marry.

Tang Xianling, who had been untangling the duck’s legs nearby, overheard the conversation and was instantly…

Talking at cross-purposes indeed.

He handed the duck to Huangfu Tieniu. “Lock up the stove room.”

With the heat, it wouldn’t do to have a dead duck lying around.

A pair of ducks would take ten days to a fortnight to prepare.

Yuan Heqing had intended to arrange the wedding early to avoid complications, but seeing Mrs. Tang hesitate, he guessed she wanted to keep the month of June open. That was fine—it wasn’t rushed, and they needed time to notify relatives and friends.

As he pondered, he decided: Why not set the date for the sixth day of the sixth month?

Suddenly, someone outside pushed through the crowd, shouting: “Tang Wu-ger! You’re betrothed to my Hu family! Who else do you intend to marry now?!”

Tang Xianling was momentarily dazed by the voice, but upon grasping the meaning and seeing a gaunt, sharp-featured old woman rushing through the doorway, he instantly: !!!

His eyes blazed with fury.

Here she comes—this is Hu Kang’s mother.

Chen Qiaolian and Zhou Xiangping both froze. What business did the Hu matriarch have crashing their wedding? Zhou Xiangping snapped, “Your son is dead. Our Fengyuan City has no custom of forcing a widow to mourn him.”

“What business is it of yours, you outsider? Pah!” The old woman spat, then immediately sat down on the ground, pounding her chest and wailing. She was right in front of the Tang family’s door. “Everyone, come see! My son hasn’t even been dead for half a year, and this shameless little bastard has already taken a mistress…”

Huangfu Tieniu had just released his ducks when the commotion drew him out. Seeing the woman on the ground cursing Tang Xianling, his expression darkened, his face hardening with grim resolve.

The old lady of the Hu family wailed desperately, insisting her son had passed the provincial exams as a Juren scholar. Even in death, he retained dignity. Yet his son-in-law had sought another woman after only a few days, dishonoring her deceased son. Tang Xianling was unfilial, never having served her properly, and so on. Her wailing drew sympathy from passersby who knew nothing of the details.

Tang Xianling blocked Tieniu, standing with hands on hips at the doorway, and spat back.

“You venomous hag! What the hell are you spouting at my doorstep now?” Since cursing the Zhao family once, Tang Xianling found his tongue loosened for insults. He glanced up and saw the loudest voices in the crowd—those stirring trouble and gloating—were indeed from the Zhao family and his tenant, the Li family.

The old woman from the Hu family on the ground tried to scramble up and tear into Tang Xianling. Huangfu Tieniu stepped forward to shield Tang Xianling. Tang Xianling bellowed, “My mother is kind-hearted. Last time, seeing your pitiful state, I gave you silver. Your son signed a contract pledging himself to my Tang family as a son-in-law. But after he passed the imperial exams, he turned his back on his word and even sent me a letter of divorce. My Tang family has long had no connection to your Hu family. Now you dare to try and stir trouble in my affairs? Where did I go wrong in calling you heartless?“

“Do you think your advanced age gives you license to act like a tyrant and commit all manner of wrongdoing?”

The neighbors, who had just been sympathizing with the old Mrs. Hu, were stunned. “Divorce letter? What divorce letter?”

“So there was actually a marriage where Mr. Hu joined the Tang family?”

“If Mr. Hu gave Tang Xianling a divorce letter, then Tang Xianling’s remarriage truly has nothing to do with the Hu family.”

This turn of events was a complete reversal.

The old Mrs. Hu hadn’t expected the Tang family to suddenly lose their fear. Earlier, when she’d come to extort money, Jiang Yun had been terrified she’d expose the fact that her son had divorced Tang Wu-ger, fearing it would tarnish his reputation. Why weren’t they afraid now?

As everyone watched the spectacle unfold, the old Mrs. Hu’s eyes darted about, and she wailed loudly, “What divorce letter? Tang Wu-ger, you’re taking advantage of my son’s death to make baseless accusations! You just want to remarry and smear my son’s name! You have such a wicked heart!”

“Exactly! You’re bullying us because Juren is dead,” chimed in the Zhao family matriarch.

Sun Honghong retorted, “What divorce letter? Tang Xianling can’t just conjure one up out of thin air!”

“My son was a Juren! You claim he married into your Tang family as a son-in-law? Your merchant family was unworthy of him! My son, you died so tragically, so unjustly! A husband like that deserves a mother’s punishment…” Hearing support, Old Madam Hu wailed even louder.

Amidst the clamor, three resounding gongs of the copper drum instantly silenced the crowd.

Yuan Heqing stepped forward. Facing the commotion before the shop, his expression turned cold, his official authority radiating.

He declared in a clear voice, “As the matchmaker for Huangfu Tieniu, I naturally conducted thorough verification. I have seen the divorce letter Hu Kang gave to Tang Xianling, and it has already been registered at the household registry. Tang Xianling is now a free man, able to marry of his own accord.”

“Even without a divorce letter, upon a husband’s death, our dynasty imposes no mandatory widowhood. As long as the person and their husband are willing, she may remarry freely.”

“Hu Kang’s mother, cease this entanglement. The Tang and Hu families bear no relation.”

Jiang Yun rushed over, clutching a box, her expression frantic, eyes brimming with tears. “The divorce letter is here! Right here!”

“Hu Kang pledged to marry into the Tang family, yet feared the Tang family’s merchant status would hinder his imperial examinations. So he wrote a formal pledge. On the surface, it was Tang Wu-ger marrying Hu Kang, but in reality, Hu Kang was marrying into the Tang family. Any children born would bear the Tang surname. That’s why my father spent money supporting Hu Kang’s imperial examinations. The ledgers show it: Hu Kang spent four hundred and seventy taels of silver from our Tang family.”

“But after Hu Kang passed the exams, he reneged on his word like a thankless dog. First, he tricked my father into tearing up the contract, then he wrote a divorce letter. My father was so enraged that he fell ill and now lies paralyzed in bed. My mother weeps constantly, our family ruined to the point of starvation. Yet out of fear for my reputation, they never tell anyone I was divorced. Hu Kang’s mother, with skin thicker than a city wall, actually dares to come demanding money…“

Tang Xianling’s voice choked with emotion as he spoke, filled with righteous indignation on behalf of his deceased Wu-ger. His gaze now burned fiercely upon the old woman on the ground. ”All I can say is, your son’s death was divine retribution. He got what he deserved.”

The entire street, filled with onlookers, fell into a deathly silence.

The grievance hidden within Master Tang’s words was immense, overwhelming, and unbearable.

So this was the hidden truth behind it all.

The Tang family, especially Brother Tang Wu, had suffered a tremendous injustice. The Hu family was truly vicious to the core. Such despicable behavior—and they call themselves the Juren Hu family? Pah! Heaven itself couldn’t bear to watch, deserving nothing less than death.

“Tang Wu-ger! You slander my son’s reputation with your nonsense! What ‘marrying into the family’ or ‘divorce papers’? It’s all your filthy lies! I’ll fight you to the death today, you whoremonger! You think you can marry someone else? Not while the Hu family stands! You can forget it!” The Hu family matriarch scrambled to her feet, lunging at Tang Xianling.

Tieniu seized the raging woman’s arm.

“Today was supposed to be the day Tang Xianling and Huangfu Tieniu exchanged betrothal gifts. It was meant to be a day when the Tang family cleansed the Hu family’s misfortune, a day of turning fortune around. Now that my Wu-ger has finally vented his grievances, and with the old patrons who raised me and ate the Tang family’s food present…“ Tang Xianling took a deep breath and looked at Master Yuan. ”I ask Master Yuan to bear witness here. We shall perform the wedding ceremony today.“

”I demand the Hu family witness my marriage,” Tang Xianling declared with unwavering resolve.

Amid the crowd, Cui Dabao had brought Douzi along for the spectacle—he’d heard the Tang family laborer was presenting a betrothal gift to Master Tang today. So he’d dragged Douzi out to the street, planning to soak up the festive atmosphere and then eat out to spare Douzi the trouble of cooking.

They arrived a bit late, and after enjoying the festivities for a short while, they encountered Hu Kang’s mother looking for trouble. After hearing the whole story, Sun Douzi wiped his tears with his sleeve, while Tang Wu-ger and Mrs. Tang looked deeply aggrieved.

How could the Hu family be so vicious?

Cui Dabao saw his husband crying and wiped his tears with his sleeve. Before he could comfort him much, he heard Mr. Tang announce that the wedding ceremony would proceed today. He immediately cheered enthusiastically.

“Excellent! That wretched Hu family, those vile little devils—right here in broad daylight, with all our neighbors witnessing it! Everyone will bear witness to Boss Tang’s marriage. Let’s see how she dares to make false accusations!”

“Brilliant! That’s exactly how it should be—truly satisfying!”

“How dare she twist the truth like this?”

“With Master Yuan here and the official matchmaker as guarantor, how could it be false?”

“Aunt Jiang even produced the divorce letter. How can the Hu family still deny it? Trying to turn the tables on us?”

Yuan Heqing then stated: “Tang Xianling’s divorce letter is registered. As for Hu Kang’s written pledge to become a son-in-law, though the document itself was destroyed, fragments remain. The handwriting on these scraps matches the divorce letter exactly. This official has also retrieved and examined Hu Kang’s past writings—the calligraphy is identical. The divorce letter is not forged; it is indeed Hu Kang’s own handiwork.”

“As for Hu Kang’s breach of the marriage contract, that falls outside this official’s jurisdiction.”

Zhou Xiangping glared angrily. “Master Yuan has made it perfectly clear! Yet you still insist on making trouble. You truly are a venomous old hag!”

“You people of Baxing District all favor Tang Wu-ger! My son died so horribly; his death was for nothing! Now these people have bribed officials to bully us…” Hu Kang’s mother wailed pitifully. 

But at this moment, no one believed or sympathized with the Hu family anymore. Had this been merely the matter of Hu Kang’s death over half a year ago, followed by his husband remarrying, the residents of Baxing District—diverse in their views—might have felt pity. Some conservative, some easily swayed, some soft-hearted souls, seeing the elderly matriarch of the Hu family weeping at her age, might have thought the Hu family and Hu Kang’s mother were truly pitiful. After all, Tang Wu-ger was indeed hard-hearted, cruel, and unfilial.

But now that the truth was out, even the most clueless and soft-hearted among them, upon hearing this, could hardly utter a single word in defense of the Hu family—just imagine if your own daughter or son had in-laws like the Hus, and a husband as beastly as Hu Kang. That would be suffering in silence with nowhere to seek redress.

He squandered every last penny of the Tang family’s savings, and Father Tang was so enraged that he collapsed. 

This wasn’t a marriage alliance—it was a vendetta. No wonder Tang Wu-ger’s tone was so ruthless.

Serves them right!

What kind of deeds did the Hu family commit?

Yuan Heqing looked at Tang Xianling with admiration in his eyes and said, “This official will witness your marriage ceremony today.”

No red wedding gown matters—the betrothal gift bears the ready-made character for “joy.”

Hu Kang’s mother wailed for a long while, but no one paid her any mind. As she fought tooth and nail to ruin the marriage, a strong woman stepped forward: “I’ll keep an eye on her. She won’t be allowed to cause trouble.”

Zhou Xiangping urged Tieniu, “Hurry and prepare for the ceremony.”

“Don’t think we, Baxing District, are bullying you. If you wish to leave, you may go now. But if you intend to cause trouble, don’t blame me for being harsh,” Zhou Xiangping declared, rolling up her sleeves.

Lu Sanniang stood in the crowd, her eyes red with grief for her Wu-ger. Now, looking at that gaunt old widow, her eyes burned with hatred. This woman was truly despicable. Only now did Lu Sanniang realize that old age and a few tears didn’t make someone pitiable—it depended on what they had done.

Yuan Heqing quickly organized the shop into a wedding hall with clerks and laborers.

Jiang Yun brought out the red cloth—fabric originally meant for Wu-ger’s wedding gown, now hung at the door merely for a festive show. Yuan Heqing approached Jiang Yun and whispered, “For the wedding ceremony, Tang Xianling’s father must be present.”

“He’s here, just unconscious. Should we carry him out?” Jiang Yun replied anxiously. With Hu Kang’s Mother causing trouble, she now felt it best to get married as soon as possible.

Yuan Heqing clarified, “I mean, if Father Tang were to wake up…”

“He won’t. He never wakes at this hour.” Jiang Yun had thought something serious had happened. Old Tang had only recently begun waking, usually at night or dawn. Even when he stirred, only muffled groans escaped his throat. Only when he coughed would the sound grow louder.

But if she didn’t pat him soon, it would be better.

Let Old Tang endure it for now. Jiang Yun thought to herself. What if outsiders overheard Old Tang cursing Wu-ger during his wedding celebration and misunderstood?

Seeing Master Yuan frown with concern, she repeated, “It’s nothing.”

Yuan Heqing could only sigh inwardly and say, “Then please bring him out.” It was unsuitable to proceed without the elders present.

“I’ll go fetch him,” Huangfu Tieniu said, heading toward the back.

Before long, the simple wedding hall was set up in the center of the shop.

Father Tang lay unconscious, skin stretched taut over his bones. After Huangfu Tieniu carried him in, Tang Xianling carefully positioned the chair beneath his head, stuffing soft cushions and cloth to prevent him from slipping.

Neighbors watching from the shopfront were first shocked by how emaciated Old Tang had become—nothing but skin and bones—and then by how the Hu family had driven the Tang family to such a state.

They saw Master Tang bustling about, attentive and meticulous.

“Now that’s a filial child. Mr. Tang bears the Tang surname—if he’s being filial, it should be to his own father. The Hu family has already divorced him. How dare they have the nerve to claim Mr. Tang should be filial to her?”

“If you ask me, the Hu family drove Old Tang to this state. Mr. Tang cutting ties with them completely—that’s true filial piety. Otherwise, he’d be unworthy of being called a son.”

“Exactly.”

When Father Tang was convalescing at home, no one knew the full extent of the situation. Now that he’s out, everyone truly feels how the Hu family had committed such atrocities, pushing the Tang family to the brink. Reflecting now, Tang Xianling’s earlier tirade against Hu Kang’s mother—those harsh words—didn’t seem harsh at all.

Well done.