Chapter Bonanza (1/5)

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Cuilin Town lies north of Fengyuan City, under the jurisdiction of Tai’an Prefecture. Northern merchants traveling to Fengyuan City often stop in Cuilin Town for a day or two to rest along the way. Therefore, though Cuilin Town is small, it is quite bustling and prosperous.

There were also many inns.

Tang Xianling told Master Ma, “Choose the largest and best inn.”

Master Ma nodded in agreement, making no move to challenge the young master’s authority. Having observed them throughout the journey, he had come to understand that among the three in the carriage, it was this young master who held the reins.

At the largest and finest inn in town, Tang Xianling reserved two adjoining premium rooms for himself, a standard room for Master Ma, and requested hot water for a bath. Money was flowing like water at this point; he tipped the waiter generously, who was delighted and served them with warm, attentive hospitality, answering every question.

“In an hour, please bring some plain congee, light side dishes, and steamed buns—the buns should be warm and without fillings.” Tang Xianling had no appetite for heavy or meat-based dishes, fearing they might upset his stomach, so he planned to start with some plain congee before going to check on Tieniu.

Huangfu Tieniu said, “Then I’ll have a bowl of vegetarian noodle soup.”

“Do you have any braised pork? A little leaner, please. Bring me a plate,” Tang Xianling asked the waiter. Tieniu had a hearty appetite; a bowl of vegetarian noodle soup alone wouldn’t be enough—he needed some meat. The waiter replied, “We don’t have any braised pork, sir. Our specialty here in Cuilin Town is roast chicken.”

“Then bring me a roast chicken,” Tang Xianling changed his order. “By the way, do you have laundry detergent?”

“Yes, yes, yes. Sir, after you’ve finished your bath, just put your dirty clothes in the basin, and I’ll come to collect them in a moment.”

After Tang Xianling gave his instructions, the waiter excused himself.

A moment later, a knock on the door signaled that the hot water was ready, and the guests were invited to the bathhouse. Jiang Yun told Wu-ger and Tieniu to go first, while she stayed behind to watch over their belongings. Tang Xianling said, “Mother and I will go wash up first.” In a strange place, if he and Tieniu left, his mother would surely be at a loss and frightened.

“You two go ahead.” Huangfu Tieniu nodded.

Tang Xianling supported his mother’s arm as they went downstairs to the bathing area in the back yard. The facilities were separate, with bathtubs available, but Tang Xianling found the tubs unclean—everyone used them for soaking. Though one might not be so particular while traveling, he still chose to wash himself by pouring water over his body with a ladle.

After washing, he felt refreshed and invigorated; his complexion had even brightened a shade.

Tang Xianling also washed his hair, rubbing it with a dry cloth, and chatted with his mother from time to time. He knew she was anxious and worried, but there was no need to rush things right now.

Once they had both finished washing and changed into clean clothes, Tang Xianling took the dirty clothes back to the guest room.

“You go wash up,” Tang Xianling said to Tieniu.

Huangfu Tieniu grunted in response. “If the food arrives, you and Mother should eat first. There’s some at Master Ma’s place too.” 

“Alright.”

After his bath, Tang Xianling looked a bit more refreshed, and Huangfu Tieniu felt somewhat reassured.

The noodle soup hadn’t been served yet; first came the congee and side dishes. Tang Xianling and his mother had eaten most of it—the plain congee and simple dishes had whetted their appetites—and they sat chatting for a while. Just as Huangfu Tieniu returned from his bath, Tang Xianling called the waiter over to bring the noodle soup and roast chicken.

“I’ll have another bowl of noodles.” Having finished the congee, Tang Xianling’s appetite had really opened up. He turned to ask his mother if she wanted some. Jiang Yun shook her head; she couldn’t eat any more.

“Then let’s both try some of the braised chicken later.”

Two bowls of vegetarian noodle soup plus a plate of braised chicken—it was quite a substantial meal. The noodle soup was a clear broth with a hint of brown sauce, topped with chopped scallions. Tang Xianling noticed there was no cilantro and chuckled. Huangfu Tieniu knew exactly what her husband was thinking from that smile; it warmed her heart, and she smiled back.

There were plenty of noodles, but Jiang Yun really couldn’t eat any more.

Tang Xianling then picked up a pair of chopsticks and served some of his own bowl to Tieniu. He took a slow sip of the broth himself, raised an eyebrow, and said, “This broth is quite good.”

It was actually chicken broth, and though it was light—likely diluted with plenty of water—to Tang Xianling, who had endured three days of bumpy travel, this delicate chicken broth, accented with a touch of soy sauce and scallions, was truly fragrant.

Not greasy at all—delicious.

The noodles were hand-rolled; the cook was skilled, and the noodles were as thin as silk, coiled at the bottom of the bowl. Picking up a forkful and putting it in his mouth, they were chewy and had a satisfying bite.

The roast chicken looked as if it had been grilled, with a layer of golden honey-like glaze. It was cut into pieces. Tang Xianling offered a chicken leg to his mother, but Jiang Yun shook her head and refused to eat, her face clouded with worry.

Tang Xianling brought the chicken leg to his own mouth and took a bite. “Not bad. The meat is quite tender and juicy. The outside must have been brushed with sugar or honey—not too much, just a subtle sweetness.”

He ate half a bowl of noodles; one chicken leg was enough for him.

Huangfu Tieniu ate the rest. Tang Xianling was worried Tieniu might overeat, but Tieniu shook his head and said it was just right.

It wasn’t dark yet after they finished eating, so the three of them went out for a walk. Jiang Yun didn’t want to go, insisting she’d stay at the inn to watch their luggage, but Tang Xianling insisted on taking his mother out for a stroll.

The inn was located on the town’s busiest and liveliest street. Just a few steps outside the inn were clothing shops and pastry shops. Jiang Yun took one look and said, “It would be perfect to buy some pastries for your second sister here tomorrow.”

“Hmm, I saw them too when I arrived,” Tang Xianling replied.

There were also porters and peddlers in town, selling things like peanuts and wild nuts. Tang Xianling bought a bag of pine nuts—a real treat—and as he munched on them, he chatted casually with the peddler. It was obvious to everyone that they were outsiders.

“That’s right, we’re from Fengyuan City, visiting relatives.”

“How are grain prices around here? Back home, when the harvest came in, the grain merchants drove the prices down so low—they’d pay no more than two hundred wen per bushel.”

The villager peddler gasped upon hearing this. “That low? I thought it would be more expensive in the city.” 

“From your accent, how much do the grain merchants pay around here?” Tang Xianling asked in return. The peddler explained, “The grain merchants in town include the Cui family—the elder Cui and the younger Cui—and there’s also the Shi family.”

“Cuilin Town, Cuilin Town—it looks like the Cui family is the big shot there,” Tang Xianling joked.

Jiang Yun hadn’t been in the mood to shop, but when she heard Wu-ger and the peddler mention grain, and then the name of the grain merchant, the Cui family, her expression changed instantly. She listened intently, having forgotten which branch of the Cui family Erniang had married into.

“Which branch of the Cui family is Cui Bo’an from?” Jiang Yun asked anxiously. The peddler grew a bit suspicious but replied, “The Younger Cui family.”

Tang Xianling chimed in, munching on pine nuts as he said, “These pine nuts are really good—they’re roasted to just the right level of saltiness.”

“Thank you for the compliment. I just thought, with summer coming, a lighter, fresher flavor would be best.” In truth, he couldn’t bear to use much salt. The peddler chuckled and steered the conversation back to grain, saying, “Not at all. Don’t let the name ‘Cuilin Town’ fool you—the Shi family is actually the wealthiest clan here.”

Tang Xianling was surprised. “I really hadn’t expected that.”

The peddler then began to talk about the Shi family, recounting how they had made their fortune, the old patriarch’s charitable deeds—building bridges, repairing roads, and aiding disaster victims. He mentioned that during a famine in a certain year, the Shi family had not taken the opportunity to raise grain prices; instead, they had distributed some of their old stock to relieve the suffering and even provided medicinal broth.

The praise was endless.

“…If it weren’t for the Shi family keeping a lid on things and keeping grain prices steady, the other two families wouldn’t dare charge more. Otherwise, we common folk would lose money selling our grain,” the peddler said.

Tang Xianling: “I thought the Cui family in Cuilin Town was a prominent clan. Are the ‘Big Cui’ family and the ‘Little Cui’ family related? Did the two brothers split their households?”

“No, no, no. The two families aren’t related at all—not even by ancestry. The Cui family is wealthy and well-established, while the ‘Little Cui’ family only entered this trade over a decade ago. That’s the Cui Bo’an the aunt just mentioned—he’s the only son of that household…”

Tang Xianling chatted idly with the peddler for a while, eating half a bag of pine nuts. This peddler was the sort who’d say “yes” to anything—never offending anyone—but from the extent of his praise and his expression, it was clear that the Shi family were the true, conscientious local gentry in the area, while the Big Cui family only followed suit because the Shis led the way; sometimes, when the Shis set an example by being charitable, the Cui family couldn’t afford to fall behind.

As for the Younger Cui family, they were “poor”—but only in comparison to those two families. They ran a grain shop with a very good reputation; their grain-buying prices were slightly lower but fair. Sometimes, when delivering grain to them on hot days, they’d even offer you some cooling tea to drink.

Tang Xianling chatted idly with others for a while afterward, and when the Little Cui family came up, the general sentiment was quite favorable—people described them as honest, fair in business, and warm-hearted.

This was where Tang Xianling lacked experience. He thought his approach to gathering information was sound, but the common folk on the street either lived in Cuilin Town or frequently came there to sell goods; they had no reason to speak ill of the Cui family out of the blue. Moreover, the Cui family was indeed decent and had no major faults, so there was no need to give outsiders cause for gossip.

As for what Feng Gu had previously heard, that came from a group of small merchants indulging in wine and women. After drinking too much, they asked the courtesans attending them, and those girls would say such things.

But in broad daylight, who would say such things?

As evening fell, the peddlers began packing up their stalls to go home, and the family of three also headed back to the inn.

“From what I’ve heard, the Cui family cares quite a bit about their reputation,” said Tang Xianling.

Huangfu Tieniu: “It seems the Shi family is the one making the moves. With three grain merchants in a single town—how many people are there in the town to consume that much? The Shi and Cui families must have other sources of income.”

Tang Xianling hadn’t even considered that angle. Upon hearing it, he nodded. “We won’t meddle in these two families’ business. My second sister’s husband comes from a modest family that values face; they’ll likely play it safe. If we go tomorrow, we’ll have to play it by ear—it all depends on my second sister’s attitude.”

It was truly a case of being unable to act decisively. Tang Xianling had originally planned to storm over and berate them, but now he found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Not only did his second sister still have to live with the Cui family, but given the Cui family’s current reputation, if they rashly resorted to violence or verbal abuse, it would make them look like the ones in the wrong—as if they were causing trouble and acting like madmen.

How should one put it? The Cui family has only one son, and their desire to find him a wife who will bear a son is something the townspeople find quite understandable. If his maternal relatives were to make a scene or storm over to scold them, they’d be in the wrong.

…It’s truly infuriating. Tang Xianling couldn’t think of any other way out. “If Second Sister were to divorce—” He had barely uttered the words.

Jiang Yun shook her head immediately. “No, that’s out of the question. Your second sister has recently given birth and is living a perfectly good life. Divorce? Besides, she already has four children. If they divorced, what would become of your second sister?”

“She could come back home. We could all live together.”

“That won’t do, it just won’t do.” Jiang Yun shook her head and said earnestly, “Even if the Cui family doesn’t love their daughter, they still care about their reputation. Even if they really did divorce, there’s no way they’d let your second sister take all the children with her.”

“Four little ones! How could your second sister bear to do that? It would be like taking her life.”

Tang Xianling: …Mother has a point.

Could it really be that there’s no other way?

Seeing her husband’s furrowed brow, Huangfu Tieniu said, “We’ll see tomorrow. Their family values their reputation in business. Even if they divorce, you’re still there—if worst comes to worst, we’ll just use your name as a shield.”

“?” Tang Xianling muttered, “What kind of ‘banner’ do we have?”

He was just a small-time shopkeeper in the neighborhood—how far could he really go with that? The official matchmaker, Scholar Yuan? Or Young Master Wei, the scion of a prominent family who’d bought bread from his shop?

Early the next morning, Tang Xianling put on his “new clothes”—the matching couple’s outfit that Tieniu had ordered for them when they got married. The clothes had been hanging there and had been stretched out a bit, so now they were wrinkle-free. He put them on.

His mother was also wearing new clothes.

Then they bought a few simple pastries.

His mother wanted to buy expensive ones, but Tang Xianling refused, saying, “The Cui family treated Second Sister like that; not even bringing a bag of shit to their house is already showing how good-natured we are, and yet you want to buy expensive pastries.”

His words were a bit crude.

Jiang Yun worried, “If we take the ordinary ones, I’m afraid they’ll look down on your second sister and say we don’t value her.”

“We’ve come all this way—how could we not value her? Mother, listen to me. Ordinary pastries are the safe choice. This time, since we’re visiting Second Sister, and she has three little girls and a newborn ger—four children in all—let’s pick four longevity locks.”

Jiang Yun stammered, “Longevity locks? Made of silver?”

“We can’t afford gold ones.” As Tang Xianling spoke, his eyes lit up. “We’ll use the twelve taels from Second Sister’s dowry to buy them. When we deliver them to the Cui family, I’ll make sure everyone hears about it.”

The longevity locks given to the children by their maternal grandmother’s family—even if the Cui family were destitute, they shouldn’t dare to embezzle them. Otherwise, they’d be condemned by everyone.

Earlier, Tang Xianling had thought that if he gave Second Sister twelve taels of silver, she surely wouldn’t be able to hide it. But the moment it passed through her hands, it quickly became the Cui family’s money. It was better to do it this way—by giving it to the child.

“We’re showing our support for Second Sister. Since the Cui family looks down on her for having daughters and ger instead of a son, our family should make it clear that we cherish and love the child she’s given birth to…” Tang Xianling went on at length.

Jiang Yun was quickly persuaded; Wu-ger was right.

Giving money to the eldest sister earlier had caused the Lin family to split up; it would be better to do as Wu-ger suggested. If Erniang needed money in the future, the children’s money would also belong to Erniang.

In the end, Jiang Yun spent the money to buy four small longevity locks. She tied them together with a slightly thick red string. The lock pendants were cute and dainty, with three little bells hanging below—they were quite beautifully made.

She didn’t spend it all; there was still a little over two taels left.

“Let’s slip these two taels into Second Sister’s hand on the sly,” said Tang Xianling.

Jiang Yun nodded.

After the family finished their shopping, they carried their bags—big and small—and asked for directions to the Cui family’s grain shop.

The Cui family’s shop had been open for a while. Inside were a father and son. The middle-aged man saw the well-dressed visitors at the door and stepped forward to ask what they wanted to buy.

Jiang Yun studied him for a moment before recognizing him and said, “Bo’an, it’s me.”

Cui Bo’an froze for a moment. He looked at the elderly woman in front of him, thought for a second, and finally remembered.

“Mother-in-law?!” He was genuinely taken aback. How had his mother-in-law from Fengyuan City ended up here? He glanced at the other two people beside her. He recognized the shorter one—he thought it looked like Wu-ger, but then again, it didn’t quite match.

He had seen him before—he looked just like this—but now he had a completely different aura about him. He stood with his back straight, meeting his gaze directly, letting him look him over without a hint of shyness. He even smiled and said, “Second Brother-in-Law!”

Cui Bo’an felt completely out of place. His mother-in-law seemed like a stranger, and so did Wu-ger. He wondered, “Could I still be asleep? Is this a dream? Did my mother-in-law and Wu-ger really travel all this way?”

“It seems you really don’t recognize me, Second Brother-in-Law. It has been several years since we last met.” No matter what criticism or complaints swirled in his mind, Tang Xianling wore a cheerful smile on his face. 

Seeing a guest had arrived, he took the initiative to say, “Father passed away. We sent someone to deliver the news, but Second Brother-in-Law and Second Sister didn’t return for the funeral—”

Cui Bo’an grew anxious and hurried to explain, “At the time, Zhenniang was pregnant and couldn’t travel.”

“Of course I know that. Both Mother and I understand. Second Sister and her husband’s filial devotion is beyond reproach.” Tang Xianling’s smile faded, replaced by a look of sorrow. “I didn’t see Second Sister at Father’s funeral or burial. A few days ago, Father appeared to me in a dream, saying he was worried about Second Sister and didn’t know how she was faring. We received word that she had given birth, and Father wanted to see his grandson…”

Cui Bo’an said, “It’s a ger.”

A boy? A grandson?

Tang Xianling was on the verge of cursing. Choking back his words, he asked, “Is my brother-in-law blaming my second sister?”

“Not at all,” Cui Bo’an hurriedly replied. “Zhenniang and I are still young; we’ll have more children eventually.”

Tang Xianling: …He didn’t want to put on a show anymore; he truly fell silent.

Father Cui came out then, patted his son on the arm, and said warmly, “Your mother-in-law is here. Go call Erniang over. Don’t just stand in the shop—go sit in the family quarters in the back yard.”

He then asked Jiang Yun where she was staying. Jiang Yun told him the name of the inn.

Father Cui and Cui Bo’an were surprised. Staying at such a fine inn?

Father Cui said, “Why stay at an inn? When the whole family comes to town, we should stay at home.” Jiang Yun used to be so reserved that she certainly wouldn’t have known how to handle such polite small talk, but now she was different. She smiled and said, “Erniang has just given birth. Since you have so many children at home, I was worried we might disturb our in-laws. The inn is actually quite comfortable.”

Soon, a commotion came from the backyard.

Tang Zhen appeared. Upon seeing her mother, her eyes welled up with tears; she hesitated to acknowledge her, then called out, “Mother.” 

Jiang Yun’s eyes also reddened, and the two embraced. Mrs. Cui stood nearby, warmly welcoming them, saying things like, “Since you’ve come all this way, there’s no need to be so formal with gifts and such.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they moved to the main hall of the Cui residence to talk.

“And this is…?” Cui Bo’an had noticed a handsome young man standing behind Wu-ger from the start and had been curious, but hadn’t found an opportunity to ask. Tang Xianling replied, “Oh, there have been many changes at home. Second Brother-in-Law doesn’t know yet, but this is my husband.”

“Husband?!” Cui Bo’an was aware that the Wu-ger had remarried and taken a new husband—it had been mentioned in the letter sent by Mr. Feng. However, given the Wu-ger’s history as a widowed man who had been married twice, Cui Bo’an had assumed that even if he were to remarry, his new husband would likely be an older man, serving as a second wife to him.

He never would have imagined that the new husband would be so young and handsome, and his demeanor didn’t seem like that of an ordinary man. Tieniu then clasped his fists in greeting and said, “Greetings, Second Brother-in-Law. I am Huangfu Tieniu.”

As soon as Tang Xianling heard this, the phrase “using a tiger’s skin as a banner” flashed through his mind. He knew Tieniu didn’t care for his original family, but he hadn’t expected him to bring up the Huangfu family now—it was obvious he was doing it to back up his second sister.

A little warning to the Cui family.

Since Second Sister couldn’t leave, he certainly wouldn’t let the Cui family mistreat or look down on her.

When Cui Bo’an heard that name and observed the man’s demeanor, his eyelid twitched. Where on earth had his Wu-ger found such a husband? Could he possibly be from a distinguished family?

That can’t be.

Given Wu-ger’s background—and the fact that he caused his first husband, a Xiucai, to die—no family of standing would ever marry such a man. It must be an ordinary family, though the surname is rather unusual.

Cui Bo’an, lost in thought, smiled and asked politely, “I’ve never heard that surname before. Where are you from, young man? Please enlighten me.”

“My ancestral home is in the countryside of Mizhou.”

Cui Bo’an had never heard of Mizhou, but upon hearing “the countryside,” the polite expression on his face softened slightly. Just as he’d thought… 

“Later, my ancestors fought alongside the Mizhou army. After my Great-Grandfather established the kingdom, the whole family moved to Lujing.”

Not only was Cui Bo’an stunned, but even Father Cui, who was serving tea to Jiang Yun and Wu-ger, dropped the teacup with a trembling hand. It shattered on the floor with a crash. Mother Cui instinctively called for Erniang to sweep it up, and Tang Zhen also stood up to fetch a broom.

“Don’t let Erniang do the sweeping—you go clean it up right away.” Father Cui said, then chuckled, “I just accidentally shook my hand—I hope I didn’t scare my in-laws, did I?” 

Mother Cui stood up. “Right, right. I’ll clean it up. Erniang, why don’t you stay and chat with your mother and younger brother? It’s not easy for them to have come all this way.” Tang Zhen sat there, shifting restlessly and feeling quite uneasy. How could she let her mother-in-law clean this up?

Father Cui looked at this Huangfu Chen, stammering and unsure how to broach the subject, even wondering if he should kowtow to him. Cui Bo’an was also stunned for a moment—could a family like the Tang’s really produce such a figure of immense influence?

Tieniu smiled wryly, his expression earnest. “My ancestors distinguished themselves in battle and were granted the rank of Fourth-Rank Military Officer. But that’s not my own doing. After our family settled in Lujing, we divided the estate. Now I’m all alone—my mother passed away long ago, and my maternal grandfather is stationed at the border; we haven’t heard from him in years.”

“The spirit said it missed Second Sister. Fengyuan City is only a three-day journey from Cuilin Town—what’s so difficult about that? It’s not like we’re at the border and need a travel permit, so we came.”

He was speaking honestly, but to the Cui family father and son, it came across as modesty.

Cui Bo’an hadn’t expected Wu-ger to possess such influence. Even if Huangfu Chen belonged to a collateral branch of the Huangfu family, his ancestors had still held official positions and earned meritorious service.

There’s a world of difference between commoners and those with officials in their ancestry.

Even a branch family is different.

Though he was an orphan, he had the Huangfu family of Lujing behind him—a bloodline connected to a Fourth-Rank official. A county magistrate was only a Seventh-Rank official; even they would kowtow and bow with trembling reverence upon meeting him.

Cui Bo’an couldn’t even imagine how they were supposed to pay respects to a Fourth-Rank official! Overcome with excitement, his face flushed slightly. Not knowing how to treat this distinguished guest, he personally poured tea to offer him.

“Second Sister’s Husband, please don’t be so formal. I’m just a commoner now,” Huangfu Tieniu said politely as he accepted the teacup.

Upon hearing this, Cui Bo’an showed not the slightest hint of disrespect. He spoke warmly: “Your ancestors were great contributors to our Rong Dynasty. Even if their fortunes have waned, as the saying goes, ‘A tiger may fall on hard times, but it remains a tiger…’”

Tang Xianling:…

This second brother-in-law really does say whatever suits the occasion—he’s quite the opportunist.

Father Cui was even more so—he was about to close the shop for the day, and he even sent his wife out to buy ingredients to prepare a feast for the guests. Tang Zhen offered, “Let me do it, let me do it,” but Father Cui pressed down on his daughter-in-law’s arm and said with a smile, “Your family has come to visit. Go talk to your mother and younger brother—there’s no need for you to do this.”

“Oh, that’s right, Zhenniang. The children haven’t met them yet—hurry and bring them over to say hello.”

She had switched from calling her “Erniang” a moment ago to “Zhenniang” now.

Earlier, when asked, she’d said the children were asleep or out playing, but now she was calling them back. There were three little girls: the eldest was eight this year, the second was six, and the youngest was four.

The eldest daughter was composed and spoke with a touch of maturity; the second was shy and timid; the third had just been in the room with her fourth, putting him to sleep and playing with him.

Tang Xianling took a look at the children. They were all well-dressed—their clothes were ordinary but had no patches. However, the third daughter’s clothes were the most worn-out, as if she were wearing hand-me-downs from her older sisters. As for the fourth son—

The little boy was wailing.

Tang Zhen stood up and said, “The fourth ger is hungry. I’ll go check on him.”

“Sis, I’m coming with you.” Tang Xianling stood up, not wanting to stick around and listen to Cui Bo’an and Tieniu exchange pleasantries. Jiang Yun said she’d go too, running her fingers through the three young girls’ hair as if she were looking at her own three children.

“She looks like your eldest sister, and this one looks like you.”

Hearing her mother say this, Tang Zhen felt a strange sense of inferiority. Their life was clearly much better now—she had plenty to eat and drink, and her three daughters’ clothes weren’t the tattered, patched-up rags they used to be. She’d even bought them new hair ribbons, yet hearing her mother speak like this, it seemed as though nothing had really changed.

…Just like when the three sisters were still at home. Tang Zhen turned her face away, not knowing what to say.

Tang Xianling held the baby, who was wailing loudly. The moment he was picked up, the crying stopped. The child wasn’t shy at all; he stared at Tang Xianling with wide eyes. Tang Xianling chuckled and showed him to his mother. “He’s actually quite well-behaved.”

“Hey, ask Grandma for a present.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Zhen froze for a moment and looked behind her. Not seeing her mother-in-law there, she realized that the “Grandma” Wu-ger was referring to was actually his mother. She immediately grew a bit nervous and corrected him: “Wu-ger, when you call mother, you should say ‘Grandmother.’ Here in Cuilin Town, calling her ‘Granny’ is also acceptable.”

“He said it on purpose,” Jiang Yun interceded on Wu-ger’s behalf. Now it was Tang Zhen’s turn to be puzzled.

Jiang Yun first called the children over and took out the longevity locks, fastening them one by one around their necks. As soon as Tang Zhen saw this, she grew anxious. “Mother, why are you spending so much money on this? And why are they made of silver? How much will this cost? If my father finds out—”

“Your father is dead.” Jiang Yun finished fastening the longevity locks on her granddaughters and looked at her second daughter with a calm expression.

Tang Xianling stifled a laugh.

Sometimes Mother’s words really took him by surprise.

Tang Zhen was speechless for a moment, as if she didn’t recognize her own mother.