sjar Chapter 100: Why Did They Sever All Ties?
Chapter 100: Why Did They Sever All Ties?
Tian Tian looked at Tian Zhigao and Wang Xiuying, "Since you say that you've been looking for work in the county for the past few decades..."
"Then there should be quite a few people who can vouch for you, right?"
"Tell me, which families have you worked for?"
Tian Zhigao pouted, "I...I only do odd jobs."
"And...helping traveling merchants from out of town with moving and carrying tasks..."
"Besides, that happened five years ago. Where are we supposed to find someone to prove it?"
Wang Xiuying muttered, "Yeah, where are we going to find proof of that?"
"You said your father works in the county, do you have any witnesses?"
Tian Tian glanced at Wang Xiuying in surprise, not expecting her to be so quick-witted.
After arguing with the people outside, Wang Yulan turned back and echoed Wang Xiuying, "That's right, what evidence do you have?"
"If you have any evidence, why don't you show it to the adults?"
She waved her arms at Tian Tian...
Tian Tian grabbed her arm and straightened her hand, "Sir, fellow villagers, everyone can take a look."
"This woman, surnamed Wang, said she has worked in the fields for decades while also raising her children..."
"But her hands don't have any calluses at all, how can she look like someone who has worked for decades?"
When the people saw it, they noticed that although Wang Yulan's hands were wrinkled, they were very delicate, without any calluses or wounds.
They looked down at their hands...
Rough, dark, cracked, and calloused – these are the hands of someone who does manual labor.
Tian Tian then reached out and took Wang Xiuying's hand.
She had expected this, and she kept her hands tightly tucked into her bosom, not daring to take them out.
Li Huaiyuan gave the constable a wink, and the constable stepped forward and pulled Tian Zhigao's hand up.
Tian Zhigao's hands were also very smooth and fair.
"These aren't hands for working!"
"Yes, she's fair-skinned and clean-cut; she looks like she's enjoying a life of luxury."
Tian Tian then showed everyone her hands at the opportune moment.
She was only fifteen years old, but her hands were already covered with thick calluses. "It's been two or three months since my family traveled from the village to the county."
"Life is better than before, but the calluses on my hands are still there."
Tian Tian withdrew her hand and turned to Li Huaiyuan, "Your Excellency, we have severed all ties with this family, yet these people are turning black into white, falsely accusing my mother and slandering us. They are truly despicable."
"This humble woman begs Your Excellency to send someone to Qingliu Village to investigate the truth and restore justice to my mother."
Li Huaiyuan already had a conclusion in his mind, but since Tian Tian said so, he went along with it and said, "In that case, send someone to Qingliu Village immediately to investigate and bring Tian Zhongqing, the village chief of Qingliu Village, and the villagers here for questioning."
While waiting for the villagers to arrive, Li Huaiyuan and Tian Tian returned to the study.
"Fortunately, you severed ties with your family and even re-established your household," Li Huaiyuan exclaimed.
“Your mother and eldest sister are both gentle and kind-hearted. It seems that severing ties with your family is your idea.”
Tian Tian sat down. "Although my mother and my eldest sister are kind-hearted, they are still very firm in their attitude towards them."
"Moreover, our family... is very united and supports each other."
"They are the best family!"
Li Huaiyuan nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed."
"It's quite remarkable that your family of women can run Baishi Teahouse so well."
He looked at Tian Tian and sighed, "Second Miss, you've just come of age, and your reputation has been ruined by this marriage to bring good luck. How dare you still show your face in public and do business?"
"Aren't you afraid... you really won't be able to find a husband?"
Tian Tian shrugged indifferently, a smile playing on her lips, her tone relaxed, "If we can't find it, we can't find it. What does it matter?"
Her eyes were clear and firm. "Life still goes on, we still have to eat, and the teahouse still has to stay open. I just want my family to live more comfortably and have less to worry about."
Upon hearing this, Li Huaiyuan was taken aback at first, then nodded.
Tian Tian smiled and said softly, "Everyone says a woman's reputation is important, but can a good reputation put food on the table? I can earn a living with my own hands and protect my family's safety. I think that's what a reputation is."
Li Huaiyuan couldn't help but cast an approving glance at her, and sighed softly, "Miss Tian is a very insightful and clear-headed person."
The yamen runner hurried to the outside of the study. "Sir, Tian Zhongqing, Tian Zhicheng, Tian Bonian, and several villagers from Qingliu Village have arrived in the hall."
Li Huaiyuan stood up. "Second Miss, let's go."
The two entered the hall one after the other, followed by Tian Zhongqing, Tian Bonian, Tian Zhicheng... and several villagers from Qingliu Village...
Feng Wuliu, Liu Xianglan, Guo Da, Zhao Jinhua, and a few others who looked familiar.
Tian Zhongqing looked furious, Tian Bonian frowned, while Tian Zhicheng watched coldly.
The other villagers, on the other hand, were reserved and embarrassed.
Li Huaiyuan sat down, his voice deep and authoritative, "Which one of you is Tian Zhongqing?"
Tian Zhongqing stepped forward and said, "My lord, I am Tian Zhongqing."
"Tian Zhongqing, are you aware that your wife, Wang, is going to sue your daughter-in-law's family for neglecting their parents-in-law?"
Tian Zhongqing sighed, as if he were very unwilling, "This humble subject knows."
"However... I did not wish to sue the Lu family..."
Tian Zhigao couldn't help but interject, "Dad, you're just too soft-hearted."
Li Huaiyuan slammed his gavel, "No whispering allowed!"
Tian Zhigao lowered his head in fright.
Li Huaiyuan continued, "Tian Zhongqing, are you saying that what your wife and stepdaughter-in-law said is true?"
Tian Zhongqing hesitated for only a moment before speaking, “Reporting to Your Excellency, what they said... is true.”
Li Huaiyuan frowned, his face displeased, and his tone turned colder. "And you? As fellow villagers of Qingliu Village, you should know something about the Tian family and the Lu family, right?"
"Tell me what you think."
Several villagers exchanged glances...
Hesitation!
At this moment, Zhao Jinhua was the first to stand up and said, "Sir, how could we know what happened in the Tian family's house?"
"but..."
"Whenever Lu married into the family, she was rarely seen with her children when she went out."
She only said that Madam Lu went out, but didn't say whether Madam Lu went out to dig for wild vegetables, gather firewood, or work in the fields...
Her husband, Guo Da, chimed in, "Yes, the children are all left at home."
Liu Xianglan exchanged a smug look with Zhao Jinhua, then stepped forward. "Your Honor," she said, "my family lives in front of the Tian family's house. I often hear Master Tian and his wife saying that Lu Shi does nothing, and even if she does, she can't do it well..."
"On the day the family severed ties, it was clearly Tian Tian who threw herself into the river, but Madam Lu said that if anything happened to Tian Tian, she would risk her life to make a big scene!"
"That family...is always making trouble and causing trouble."
Tian Tian clenched her fists...
These people probably came running as soon as they heard the constables say they were coming to testify for the Tian family.
I can't stand seeing them live a good life; I wish they would suffer!
Tian Tian looked up at Tian Bonian... "Village Chief, you know best what happened the day we severed ties."
Her goal today is to prevent Wang Yulan and the others from leaving the county government office unharmed.
If they dare to sue, they will have to bear the consequences.
Tian Bonian stepped forward and said, "I, Tian Bonian, a scholar who has passed the imperial examination, greet Your Excellency, the County Magistrate."
Li Huaiyuan's eyes were sharp as he slowly spoke, "Tian Bonian, you are the village chief of Qingliu Village, you should know everything about Qingliu Village, so tell me."
Why did they sever ties with their family?