Volume One, Chapter Six: Has the Shen Family Recently Come Into Wealth?

Page 1/3

Yin Tiantian looked up at the young master’s expression, wishing she could shut Er Gouzi’s mouth. To openly say in front of the young master that he was no good, to try to steal from him, to call him useless—it was no different from trampling all over him!

“Shut up!”

Yin Tiantian snapped, but Er Gouzi didn’t think he was wrong.

“I’m not wrong. Look at him, then look at me. Although I’m younger, if you’re with me, I’ll never let you suffer!”

Er Gouzi felt wronged.

“Tiantian, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t bother supporting those freeloaders!”

“I admit I was a bit impatient back then, but it was only because I loved you so much—I couldn’t bear to see you jump into the fire!”

The bullying had reached the doorstep. Inside, Mr. and Mrs. Shen wore sorrowful expressions but dared not intervene.

These days, the strong always bullied the weak. The Shens had once hoped that Shen Fuzhu and Yin Tiantian would marry soon, so they could have grandchildren early, and with more children, no one would dare to bully them.

But now, the son they had raised for eighteen years wasn’t theirs anymore—he was taken away. Instead, they were given a frail biological son who had even beaten the elderly couple. Even a widow’s family dared to bully them...

They felt only greater despair, resigning to fate.

“Our Shen family’s legacy won’t be continued by outsiders.”

Cui Heng propped himself against the doorframe with one hand and pulled Yin Tiantian behind him with the other.

“Young master, be careful with your leg...”

Er Gouzi chased to the threshold outside. Cui Heng stood inside. Standing side by side, Yin Tiantian noticed that Cui Heng was half a head taller than Er Gouzi, though he looked thinner and less sturdy.

“I don’t need any siblings. I appreciate your goodwill. Whether Tiantian can have my child is our family matter. No need for you to worry.”

Er Gouzi tried to step inside, but Cui Heng blocked him at the door.

Fearing Er Gouzi might recklessly hurt Cui Heng, Yin Tiantian peeked from behind Cui Heng and saw Cui Heng pushing Er Gouzi’s chest with one hand. Cui Heng’s expression was calm, while Er Gouzi’s face turned red as he couldn’t move forward an inch!

Cui Heng’s loose sleeve slipped back, moonlight revealing the muscles on his strong arm. With a slight push, Er Gouzi staggered backward and fell hard onto the ground.

“If you ever dare to covet my woman again, I won’t be polite! Now get lost!”

His sleeve fell back down, concealing his arm. His aggressive aura suddenly vanished. Bathed in moonlight, his loose robe hung on him, and he looked once more like a delicate young master needing protection.

Yin Tiantian’s eyes sparkled with stars—her young master called her his woman and had not despised her!

Page 2/3

Her young master was protecting her!

“Young master, are you alright? You’re amazing!”

Yin Tiantian didn’t know much about him. In her previous life at the Hou Mansion, the matriarch had ordered no one to speak of Cui Heng. Those who served him were sold off, and no one mentioned him in the household.

She had only heard his name at others’ banquets. Most pitied his status, while others used him to mock Shen Fuzhu’s idleness and incompetence.

“Young master, tomorrow I’ll buy some bones from Wang the butcher in the neighboring village to make soup for you. You must get better quickly, so no one dares bully us!”

“I bought lots of things today. I also met an interesting person. Next time I go to town, I’ll shamelessly ask him to help us find some book-copying work...”

Yin Tiantian chattered cheerfully, making Cui Heng feel that perhaps the future wouldn’t be so bleak.

“It’s late, go to sleep now.”

Er Gouzi still stared at Yin Tiantian, but Cui Heng hesitated for a moment before putting his arm around her shoulders. Yin Tiantian naturally leaned on him like a crutch as they entered the house.

Unable to fight or snatch back, Er Gouzi got up dejectedly and went home.

The Shen house had only two rooms—the east and west rooms. The west room was for the elderly couple, while the east room’s earthen bed was partitioned by bamboo curtains, where Yin Tiantian slept.

The purchased grain was piled inside, with a small bean lamp lit.

“Young master, if you need to use the restroom, just call me.”

Yin Tiantian lay down, drowsily giving the instruction. She was too tired and fell asleep immediately.

Cui Heng lifted the bamboo curtain and glanced at her. The girl was asleep, but her brows remained furrowed.

Back when he was at the Hou Mansion, such rough maids never got close to him. He was surrounded by many, but they all vanished like smoke. Now, only the Shen parents and this girl were left...

He shared half his quilt with her.

The night passed silently. Cui Heng’s leg ached, and he barely slept. At first light, the girl quietly left the room to cook, then went out to work.

By the time the Shen couple woke, Yin Tiantian had already returned from the back mountain with a basket of mushrooms and a bundle of firewood.

“Young master, you’re awake. Wipe your face.”

As soon as he opened his eyes, the girl smiled sweetly, holding hot water and a clean cloth. “I’ll cook some dishes, then we can eat.”

Yin Tiantian scraped the last bit of pork lard from a jar and fried two dishes. That morning she found a nest of wild chicken eggs in the mountains, scrambled two of those, and also cooked a bowl of mushrooms.

Page 3/3

While everyone ate, she fetched two loads of water, then borrowed a basin from a neighbor to wash wheat, drying it afterward. She also soaked soybeans in a bucket.

She kept busy all morning.

After finishing breakfast, she went to the neighboring village to buy meat.

Wang Cuihua peeked out to look.

“Has the Shen family suddenly come into money? Tiantian keeps running errands, and yesterday she bought a lot of things!”

Neighbors across the way were curious.

“Do you think the Hou Mansion left them some money? After all, that was their son for eighteen years. They couldn’t really be so heartless! Widow Wang, you’ve been bullying them a lot lately. If the Hou Mansion investigates, you’ll get a beating too!”

Wang Cuihua’s face tightened.

“That can’t be! Everyone saw how hard the Shen elders were beaten. They swapped out their son and didn’t even kill them—that’s mercy... But there’s one thing I don’t understand. We live in this poor mountain valley—how could the Shen elders have the power to replace the Hou Mansion’s bloodline?”

Aunt Li across the way scoffed.

“Everyone in our village wants to know! But they won’t boast about it. I’m so curious, I wish I could just go ask them now!”

“Aunt Li, if you find out, tell me too...”

“Tell your Er Gouzi to ask for you!”

Wang Cuihua spat.

“What are you up to? Want to watch our show? No way!”

She slammed the door shut.

Turning, she saw Er Gouzi sitting in the yard, staring blankly at the wall. Wang Cuihua’s anger flared, and she grabbed his ear, scolding him indirectly.

She cursed harshly. The Shen elders dared not utter a word; Yin Tiantian was not home to hear; Cui Heng didn’t indulge her.

Just as Wang Cuihua was in full rant, suddenly a lump of something dark fell from the sky and smeared across her mouth.

Peace returned to the world.