Chapter 26: A Day of Rest

"Mother, it's not so urgent yet, there's no need to worry," Qin Huiyin said. "I won't let myself be ruined by this. You have to trust my abilities."

Li Peach Blossom’s eyes turned red with tears. "I promised your father that I would take good care of you, that I’d make sure you have a good life. And now I’ve let you suffer alongside me. I’ve failed him..."

Qin Huiyin glanced at Tang Dafu.

When Li Peach Blossom mentioned his 'first wife,' Tang Dafu showed no resentment, only shame for having implicated her.

All things considered, Tang Dafu was not a bad stepfather. He was ordinary and honest, like most men, and truly, there was nothing to criticize about how he treated Li Peach Blossom and her daughter.

Tang Third Uncle, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke. "I still have some money left. If you need it, I can lend you some to help you get through this."

"Third Uncle, you haven’t left yet?" Only now did Qin Huiyin notice him standing at the doorway.

He had remained unseen because there was no need for him to intervene in the negotiation with Chen Zhongyi; no violence had occurred. If Chen Zhongyi had tried to harm the vulnerable women and children in this household, he would certainly have stepped in.

Unlike the other villagers who lingered outside to watch the drama, Tang Third Uncle would step forward to help his fellow villagers in need, even if he hadn't managed to make any money off Tang Dafu's family lately.

"Someone came to cause trouble for your family. I couldn't just leave without making sure you were all safe. What kind of elder would that make me?" he said.

"Thank you for your kindness, Third Uncle. For now, we won't trouble you. If we truly have no other choice, we’ll come to you, but you mustn't find us a bother then."

"I'm just an old man with few expenses. Over the years, I've saved up a little. If your family is in trouble, I won't stand by and do nothing. Discuss it among yourselves, and if you need help, come find me."

With that, Tang Third Uncle left the Tang household. As he walked out the gate, several villagers clustered around him.

"Third Uncle, we're all part of the Tang clan—how about helping us out too?" one called.

"That's right! Help me, and I’ll even let you adopt my son as your grandson. How about that?"

"Get lost, all of you! A bunch of vultures, do you take me for a fool?" Tang Third Uncle said, full of contempt. "My things are mine to give to whomever I choose. Don’t even think about it."

With those words, Tang Third Uncle drove off in his ox-cart.

Li Peach Blossom strode out, standing at the gate of the picket fence. She shouted at the villagers watching the spectacle, "What are you staring at? Keep it up and I’ll poke your dog eyes out!"

Her voice was naturally charming, and even when she tried to make it harsh and intimidating, it had little effect.

"Huiyin’s mother, I actually think that Boss Chen’s proposal isn’t bad. Your daughter will have to marry someday anyway. Rather than marrying a poor farmer, why not a rich man? Boss Chen fancies your Huiyin—give her to him, and you won’t need to pay back those fifty taels of silver. Boss Chen is wealthy. Huiyin will have a far better life with him than with you!"

"Widow Wang, you can’t say that—Boss Chen is old enough to be Huiyin’s father! And he already has a wife. Marrying him would make Huiyin a concubine."

"So what if she’s a concubine? As long as she can live well, what’s wrong with being a concubine? With our kind of background, we’re no noble ladies—why be so delicate?"

Li Peach Blossom grabbed a shovel from by the courtyard wall and hurled it at the women gossiping and cracking seeds. "You bunch of wretched old hags! Go on, keep talking! I’ll take you all with me to hell!"

"She really is mad. If it weren’t for her seductive face, bewitching all those men, none of this would have happened."

"Exactly! Who doesn’t know she’s cursed? Tang Dafu was doing fine for years, but as soon as he married her, misfortune struck. Didn’t you hear what Chen said? He came here because of her in the first place."

"That’s right, it’s because of her, and now her daughter is suffering too. If I were her, for the sake of my family, I’d just find a place to end it all..."

Splash! A bucket of water was flung over them.

"What are you doing?" one of the drenched women screeched.

"Are you mad? We’re still here, why are you splashing water everywhere?"

"You little brat! How dare you be so rude to your elders? No upbringing at all..."

Qin Huiyin stood holding the now-empty basin and addressed the women, "This is my house. If there’s filth at my doorstep, am I not allowed to wash it away? Ladies, since your mouths are so filthy, I’ll just work a bit harder and help you clean them as well. How about that?"

"Li Peach Blossom, look at your precious daughter..."

"Did my daughter say anything wrong? With mouths as filthy as yours, you must be eating too much dung. I suggest if you have so much time, go work in the fields and grow better crops. Otherwise you’ll end up with nothing to eat and have to eat dung for the rest of your lives..."

"Tang Dafu, you useless man! Marrying such a shameless shrew, no wonder you’re so unlucky—she’s cursed you..."

"What’s going on here?" A clear, cold voice broke through the clamor.

The crowd turned to see Tang Yichen, carrying a book box on his back, approaching. At the sight of him, the villagers, as though having found someone to appeal to, scrambled to complain.

"Your stepmother is truly malicious. While you were gone, she made your siblings work day and night, while her precious daughter doesn’t even know where the well is..."

"Just now someone came to collect a debt, and your stepmother only knew how to blame your father. Your poor father—he was hurt and crawling on the ground..."

"Your stepsister is no good either, splashing us with dirty water. She’s so vicious and mistreats your siblings. Yichen, are you really going to let this evil mother and daughter take over your home?"

Tang Yichen’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper as his gaze fell on Qin Huiyin and her mother.

Every time Li Peach Blossom saw her stepson, she felt uneasy. Though he was still young, she always sensed he could see right through her, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Qin Huiyin tugged at her mother’s sleeve. "Mother, let’s go inside."

Tang Yichen addressed the villagers, "Ladies, I’ve just returned and don’t know what happened. But I did hear you all gathered at my doorstep, loudly insulting my father."

"That’s because..."

"I’ve just come home and I’m tired. Please, ladies, go back. I’d like some peace and quiet."

"Yichen, you’re preparing for the exams, aren’t you? Having a stepmother like Li Peach Blossom is a stain on your reputation. Be careful she doesn’t disgrace you further."

Tang Yichen’s face grew stern. "I know what I’m doing."

"Yichen, are you getting ready for the coming exam?"

"Mm."

"You’re the best scholar in our village. Even your teacher says you’re a promising talent. If you pass the county exam and become a scholar, your family won’t have to pay taxes anymore."

At the mention of Tang Yichen’s studies, the outrage from earlier melted away, replaced by ingratiating smiles. Now, looking at Tang Yichen, they found him more pleasing than ever, each one secretly considering the prospect of tying their family to his.