Volume 1 Chapter 22: Driving Zhao Jinniang to Fury

Jiang Shunde felt the same way. "Tangtang is just a little girl. She’s exhausted from studying all day. Why don’t we drop one of the commitments?"

Jiang Xian thought that made sense. She had intended to take Tangtang along while selling goods or hunting to rub off on her good luck, but with her schedule so packed, there would be no time for the child to accompany her.

"Then let's have her study with Physician Chen for two hours every afternoon. Physician Chen is learned, after all; he can teach Tangtang how to read and write!"

"Yes, that’s the way to do it. Our Tangtang is only five and a half—this is the age when she should be playing. We can't keep her cooped up in a classroom all the time, or she’ll end up dull-witted from all that studying!"

Jiang Xian giggled. "Dad, you're exaggerating!"

Jiang Shunde picked up another piece of tender tofu and placed it in Tangtang’s bowl. "Good granddaughter, don’t listen to your mother’s fussing. We’ll just go learn medicine for a while each day; don't push yourself too hard!"

Tangtang beamed and nodded obediently. "Mm, Tangtang won't push herself. Tangtang will listen to Grandpa, Grandma, and Mommy!"

Jiang Xian looked at Tangtang with a pang of pity. The silly girl was likely still feeling very insecure, which was why she spoke in such a pleasing, subservient way. Her obedience was heart-wrenching. However, change wouldn't happen overnight; they would take it slow.

The family of four enjoyed a harmonious dinner and chatted for a while before washing up and heading to bed.

Winter days were long. When Jiang Xian woke up, it was only a quarter past five in the morning, and the horizon was just beginning to turn a pale, fish-belly white. She followed her usual routine, rising to exercise and running around the river embankment for half an hour. Since she had to head into town today and return early to take Tangtang to Physician Chen’s, she headed up the mountain to collect her goods before the sun had even fully risen.

Perhaps because she had caught so much game the day before, or perhaps because she didn’t have Tangtang with her, she only caught one wild rabbit and one wild pigeon in her ten traps. After resetting the traps and pits, she headed back down.

Jiang Shunde and the others were already up. Madam Qian had changed Tangtang into a new set of clothes, styling her hair into two small buns with braids at the ends, tied off with red velvet flowers—she looked absolutely adorable.

"Wow, who is this little beauty?" Jiang Xian teased, beaming with delight.

Tangtang’s cheeks flushed, and she answered sweetly, "I’m the little beauty from beautiful Mommy’s house."

"Have you had breakfast?" Jiang Xian checked the time; Brother Da Niu should be arriving soon. Because she had a large load of goods, she had arranged with Chen Da Niu the day before to hire his donkey cart for a round trip to Junxi County. During the winter slack season, Chen Da Niu’s cart was mostly idle except for hauling grain for tofu, so he was happy to earn the extra money.

Madam Qian draped the rabbit-fur shawl she had made the day before over Tangtang’s shoulders and laughed, "She finished long ago. She had the egg pancakes your father made and a bowl of millet porridge. This child is easy to raise; she isn't picky at all! Unlike you when you were little—you wouldn't even touch an egg pancake if it had green onions sprinkled on it."

Jiang Xian stuck her tongue out playfully, thinking to herself that even in both her lifetimes, she couldn't stand the taste of onions, ginger, or garlic—there was no helping that.

"Mom, I reckon today’s goods will fetch a good price. Just give me twenty taels of silver; once I’m back in the village, I’ll go straight to the village head to settle the purchase of the paddy fields."

"Oh, alright!" Madam Qian, who had already prepared fifty taels in banknotes, took out two ten-tael notes and handed them to her. "Tuck these into your inner pouch and keep them safe. Don't go losing them on the road."

"I know, Mom!"

Madam Qian glanced at Tangtang, and remembering how her own health had suddenly improved over the past two days, she pulled out another ten-tael note and handed it to Jiang Xian.

"When you return from the county seat, buy two bolts of satin and five pounds of cotton. Chinese New Year is almost here. I’m idle at home anyway, so I’ll make new padded jackets for the two of you. Don't buy ready-made ones from the shops; the lining they use is poor, the stitching is uneven, and they don't stuff them with enough cotton."

"Alright, then I’ll buy enough for you and Dad too. If we’re making them, we’ll make them for the whole family. I'll have to trouble you with the work, Mom!" Jiang Xian decided on the spot. She couldn't stand seeing Madam Qian work herself to the bone without ever getting a new set of clothes for herself; it gave her an inexplicable sense of guilt. Besides, it wasn't as if they were short on money—why suffer needlessly?

Although Madam Qian huffed and complained about Jiang Xian being a spendthrift, deep down she was glad that her daughter was worth the effort of raising. Jiang Xian wasn't doing this out of pure filial piety; she simply couldn't stand the type of parents who claimed they went without food and clothing just to provide the best for their children, only to hold it over their heads later during arguments, claiming they never got anything for themselves. It was a classic case of unnecessary suffering. If you have the means, why stage such a performance to make your children feel guilty?

The sound of a donkey braying echoed from the gate. Jiang Xian tucked away the banknotes, scooped up Tangtang, and walked outside.

Jiang Shunde shouted, "Daughter, should I load all these things by the gate onto the cart?"

"Yes, Dad!"

By the time she finished, Jiang Shunde had already loaded the previous day’s game, the furs, and a basket of herbs onto the cart. Jiang Xian sat at the back, holding the bundled-up Tangtang. Chen Da Niu cracked his whip, the donkey let out a huff, and they set off toward the main road at the village entrance.

Halfway there, they passed two women who were whispering, clearly plotting something. Jiang Xian merely glanced at them, unconcerned, and continued to play with Tangtang, teaching her to count. Madam Wang and Madam Zhao walked past, having spent the entire road discussing how to sabotage Jiang Xian’s upcoming marriage.

When Chen Da Niu reached the village entrance, he ran into Zhao Jinniang. She stood at the gate, waving at him with a sycophantic smile, and shoved a prescription slip into his hand. "Da Niu, you’re heading to the city, right? Could you help me pick up three doses of medicine from the pharmacy there?"

As she spoke, she began digging for silver from her sleeve. Not waiting for an answer, she pressed two taels into his hand, smiling broadly. "Da Niu, if it’s not enough, just cover the rest and I’ll pay you back when you return. Consider the extra a tip for your trouble!"

Under normal circumstances, helping a fellow villager pick up medicine on a trip to town would be a simple favor. But the couple, Chen the Scabby and his wife, had become quite loathed lately, especially after they abandoned Tangtang. After their string of bad luck, the villagers whispered that they had thrown away Tangtang’s good fortune. Chen Da Niu, who had already been paid thirty coins by Jiang Xian to charter his cart for the day, looked completely conflicted, not knowing how to refuse.

A crisp, clear voice rang out from the back of the cart.

"I’m sorry, Auntie Chen, but Brother Da Niu’s cart is chartered by me today. If you want him to run errands for you, you’ll have to wait for another day. Or, if you give me ten coins, I can handle this errand for you instead!"

Only then did Zhao Jinniang notice Jiang Xian and Tangtang huddled in the back. Her expression darkened, and she scoffed, "I wasn't asking you. Just because you chartered his cart, does that mean he’s not allowed to do anything else while in the county seat?"

Chen Da Niu took the opportunity to back out, nodding. "That’s right. Xiao Xian has several stops to make; there’s no time to run to the pharmacy. If I mess up her business, who would ever dare hire me again? Maybe you should ask someone else."

Jiang Xian added a final blow: "Or, you could give Brother Da Niu ten coins, and I’ll give him twenty so that neither of your errands gets delayed. Otherwise, why would I, having paid to charter this cart, agree to have it used for your business? Don't you agree, Auntie Chen?"

Zhao Jinniang was so angry she could barely speak. She put her hands on her hips and shouted, "Who are you calling 'Auntie,' you little wench? I’m only ten—er, I’m not much older than you. Since we both adopted the silly girl, by rights, you should be calling me 'Big Sister.' Hmph, acting so high and mighty just because you have a little money!"

"First of all, Auntie, you are fifteen years older than me. At fifteen, one is old enough to be a mother, so calling you 'Auntie' is perfectly appropriate! Second, the child you abandoned, I have re-adopted. Let's keep our roles straight—there’s no 'by rights' here, and we aren't related, so don't try to climb the family tree. However, I do want to thank you for giving up such a wonderful girl like Tangtang. Third, I paid for this cart, so I’ll decide how Brother Da Niu is used. If you want to use him, pay up! If you won't pay, then you’re just not as big a spender as I am! Finally—"

Jiang Xian hugged Tangtang, smiling mischievously as she pointed at Zhao Jinniang. "Good girl, didn't Mommy teach you that you must greet people when you see them?"

Though Tangtang was a little afraid of the raging Zhao Jinniang, she remained steady and nodded, her large, clear eyes full of sincerity. "Mm-hmm!"

Jiang Xian grinned wickedly. "Then shouldn't you greet Grandma Chen? And tell her that taking advantage of others is wrong!"

At these words, Zhao Jinniang’s face turned the color of a pig’s liver. Tangtang called out in her milky voice, "Hello, Grandma Chen!"

Zhao Jinniang almost rolled her eyes back and fainted on the spot! A child who had called her "Mother" for three years suddenly became a granddaughter-generation figure and called her "Grandma"—who could take that?

"To hell with that! You little jinx, you’ve only been with her for a few days and you dare to humiliate me like this!" Zhao Jinniang shrieked, pointing a finger at Jiang Xian. "Jiang Xian, don't push your luck!"

Jiang Xian wore a nonchalant smile, though her eyes were cold. "Auntie Chen, you’re being quite unreasonable. How am I bullying you? Ask Brother Da Niu—I’m the same generation as him, and he’s a generation younger than you, so naturally, my daughter is a generation below that. Does she have to call you what I call you? Besides, Tangtang is my daughter now. If you dare to be harsh to her again, just try it!"

At that, Zhao Jinniang remembered her own courtyard wall that had been kicked down. A chill ran down her spine.

Chen Da Niu scratched his head and chimed in, "She’s right. Xiao Xian is my generation, and I’m a generation younger than you, so her daughter is definitely a generation below!"

"Chen Da Niu, you’re part of our Chen family! How can you side with an outsider!" After shouting this, Zhao Jinniang snatched back her prescription and silver, glaring viciously at Jiang Xian. "Hmph, I won't lower myself to your level. Fine, don't help! You want to earn my money? Not a chance! You heartless people, just see who has the last laugh. One day when you have to beg me for a favor, I’ll grind you into the dirt..."

Zhao Jinniang shot a final, knife-like glare at Tangtang. While no one else saw it, Jiang Xian saw it clearly—the black aura on Zhao Jinniang’s forehead was growing thicker.

Tangtang gripped her hands tightly together, leaning against Jiang Xian, forcing herself not to show a shred of fear.