Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Confession

Madam Qian—and the Zheng mother and son—were driven out of the Tang family’s yard.

Madam Zheng Li refused to leave quietly. She planted herself at the gate, stamping and shrieking a stream of filth so foul it made people’s ears burn.

Tang Lu Wu came storming out with a chamber pot in her hands, her small face twisted into a scowl sharp enough to cut.

Qin Hui Yin stopped short.

It was the first time she’d seen Tang Lu Wu look this alive—this fierce. Somehow, she couldn’t help liking it.

“Ah—are you out of your mind?” Madam Qian caught sight of the chamber pot being lifted and went pale. She spun and bolted as if the devil himself was behind her. “Your whole family’s insane!”

No matter how hard Madam Zheng Li tried to talk tough, she couldn’t stomach that kind of scene. She grabbed Zheng Da Pang by the sleeve and ran, shouting as she went, “You’d be better off a bachelor for life than marrying a woman from that house! A nest of shrews—whoever takes one home is doomed!”

Zheng Da Pang stumbled along, but his eyes kept sliding back—back to Qin Hui Yin, full of reluctant longing.

Beside Qin Hui Yin, Tang Lu Wu stood frozen, the chamber pot still raised.

Qin Hui Yin leaned closer and said, “Sister Lu Wu, look at you. You’ve got a backbone now.”

Tang Lu Wu seemed to come back to herself all at once. She hurried to set the chamber pot down, her sun-darkened cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“They were talking so dirty,” she muttered. “I just… I wanted to scare them into leaving.”

“You did exactly right.” Qin Hui Yin gave her a firm thumbs-up. “People like that only understand one thing—louder madness. Just remember: do it when we have the numbers. If they’ve got more people than we do, don’t rush to the front. That’s called knowing when to bend.”

From the doorway, Tang Yi Chen’s expression had gone dark.

Li Tao Hua didn’t wait for anyone to speak. She strode straight into Tang Da Fu’s room like a storm breaking and pointed straight at him.

“It’s because you’re useless that outsiders dare to bully your wife and children!” she snapped. “They’re counting on us not being able to scrape together 50 taels. They’re just waiting for us to sell our daughter!”

Her throat tightened, then she drove the words out anyway, fierce and raw. “If it comes to that, I’d sell myself before I ever sell our daughter!”

Tang Da Fu’s face crumpled. He reached for her hand as if holding it could keep the whole house from falling apart.

“It’s my fault,” he said hoarsely. “I’m the useless one. I dragged you and the children down.”

Qin Hui Yin watched, a little stunned. Whatever else this stepfather might be, the man had perfected the skill of surrendering before the first blow. In another life, that alone would’ve earned him a wife.

She stole a glance at Tang Yi Chen, then lowered her voice. “Brother Chen, I’m sorry. But don’t worry—while I’m here, Sister Lu Wu stays.”

Tang Yi Chen’s eyes were cool when they cut to her. “On what basis can you guarantee that? This time we weren’t at the last resort, so your mother refused. What about next time?”

Qin Hui Yin didn’t flinch. “Then we can’t let ourselves be pushed that far again. I can’t guarantee anything.” Her voice stayed calm, but there was a hard edge under it. “When someone’s backed into a corner and survival is on the line, they’ll do anything. Never test where a person’s bottom line is. All you’ll learn is that human nature is selfish—and sometimes there isn’t a line.”

Tang Yi Chen stared at her. “You’re only 11.”

“I wandered with my mother.” Qin Hui Yin shrugged. “I’ve seen more than your 14 years put together.”

She paused, then added quietly, “I don’t think my mother’s wrong. For my sake—for staying alive—she could do anything. The only thing I can do is take care of her well enough that she never has to cross that line.”

Tang Yi Chen didn’t answer. His gaze dropped, as if he’d been forced to look at a question he’d never wanted to ask himself.

If it were him—if betraying someone else were the only way to keep his family alive—what would he do?

He didn’t like the answer that rose in his chest.

After Madam Qian and the Zheng pair fled, the Tang family went back to their tasks as if fear were a thing you could sweep away with the dirt.

Tang Yi Xiao returned with firewood strapped to his back and two green plants clutched in his hand.

“See if these are useful,” he said, setting the wood down and bringing the plants over to the kitchen.

Qin Hui Yin turned, took one look, and her eyes lit up. “Not bad, Brother Xiao! Two more wild chilies.”

Tang Yi Xiao’s ears went red. He shot her a glare. “Talk properly.”

“What a prickly little brat.” Qin Hui Yin laughed and waved him toward the wall. “Plant them by the corner, a bit away from the others.”

Tang Yi Xiao stalked off, grumbling under his breath.

Qin Hui Yin remembered something and poked her head out. Tang Yi Chen was in the yard splitting firewood, shoulders working in steady rhythm.

“Brother Chen,” she called, “can you catch fish?”

He grunted in answer without looking up.

“Then catch two for me!” Qin Hui Yin said brightly. “We’ll have steamed fish tonight.”

She’d promised to bring food to Song Rui Ze. With him injured, fish would help him heal.

Tang Yi Chen set his axe down, took a fish basket off the wall, and headed out.

Dusk was settling in. In the fields, villagers were still bent over their work, but the Tang family’s own plots lay neglected—Tang Da Fu couldn’t manage them, and the rest of them were busy just keeping the household upright.

On the path by the river, a villager saw Tang Yi Chen rolling up his sleeves and called out, half amused, half doubtful. “Brother Chen, fishing isn’t that easy…”

Before the words were even fully out, Tang Yi Chen scooped up a fish, swift and clean, like he’d done it a hundred times.

The villager scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. “Heh. Smart people really are different.”

Tang Yi Chen caught two fish with ease, nodded once, and started home.

He’d almost reached the Tang gate when someone stepped out and blocked his path.

A young woman stood there in a new dress, her hair pinned with silver. Rouge and powder softened her features until she looked nothing like a village girl.

“Brother Yi Chen,” she said, voice trembling with determination, “I have something to tell you.”

Tang Yi Chen frowned. “You are…?”

Her face flushed—embarrassment and anger crashing together. “Brother Yi Chen, I’m Su Cai Xia. We grew up together. How can you not recognize me?”

Tang Yi Chen didn’t answer.

Truthfully, he still didn’t remember. There were too many people his age in the village. If seeing each other in childhood counted as “growing up together,” he’d have a whole village of close friends.

He’d never liked socializing. Aside from his siblings, he’d had no interest in anyone. Later he went off to study, and whatever faint faces he’d once known blurred into nothing.

Su Cai Xia swallowed, then forced the words out. “I work at an embroidery shop now. I earn money every month. If your family is short on silver… I can lend you some.”

Tang Yi Chen’s gaze didn’t soften. “What’s the condition?”

Su Cai Xia’s eyes shone as if she’d been waiting for that question all her life. “I admire you. If you’re willing to marry me, I’ll support you through the Imperial Exam. I’ll give you everything I earn.”

Tang Yi Chen’s mouth opened—then his gaze flicked past her shoulder.

Qin Hui Yin stood a few paces away, a basket hooked over her arm, looking like she’d walked straight into the wrong scene. She lifted a hand and gave an awkward little wave. “I was heading to the vegetable patch and happened to pass by. Please… go on.”

Tang Yi Chen walked over as if the choice had already been made. He took the vegetable basket from her and placed the fish basket into her hands.

“I’ll go,” he said. “What vegetables do you need?”

“That doesn’t seem right…” Qin Hui Yin glanced sideways at Su Cai Xia, who was glaring at her like she wanted to bite.

Qin Hui Yin felt a flicker of discomfort. It took real courage for a girl to confess—even in her old world. In this era, it was braver still.

Tang Yi Chen didn’t spare Su Cai Xia another look as he walked past her. His voice was flat, decisive.

“Don’t admire me anymore. I won’t marry for the next 10 years—and I’m not interested in you.”