Chapter 9: You're the Only One with a Brain?

If he hadn't been so weak and unable to muster his strength, he would have met the King of Hell long ago.

Old Man Qian was tidying his medicine box, still in a state of shock.

He looked at Wei Shen, whose breathing was frail upon the bed, and then at the honest-looking Wei Shouzhong beside him, feeling that something was fundamentally off.

"Shouzhong, is this really your son?"

Wei Shouzhong replied without hesitation, "Yes. Could I mistake my own biological son born to me and Huiniang?"

"No, it's just that you two look like this, and he looks like that."

Old Man Qian frowned. "I remember when your son left years ago, he was thin and short. His looks weren't particularly striking, much like you and your wife."

Those words were quite unpleasant to hear!

Wei Shouzhong replied with pride and certainty, "It's not his fault that my son is handsome."

"He joined the Wei Family Army. He gets to eat full meals every day; with plenty of nourishment, how could he not grow tall and sturdy?"

He sighed. "However, don't say it's just because he looks unfamiliar to you, Uncle. If I saw him on the road, I wouldn't recognize him either."

"It was only because Huiniang had sharp eyes that day, spotting the peace talisman he was clutching so tightly. Huiniang had gone to the temple to pray for it personally before he left years ago. Fearing the child might lose it, she sewed it tightly with thread so it could be hung around his neck."

"They say one shouldn't die far from home. I fear this child has returned to let his fallen leaves touch their roots."

At this mention, Old Man Qian had a memory triggered.

That was right—when Wei Shen had fallen into a coma, he had been clutching that talisman so tightly, refusing to let go.

It was clear he valued this peace talisman more than anything else.

The ill-timed doubts vanished along with those words.

————

By evening, the sky was dark and heavy, as if brewing a torrential rainstorm.

Lady Wang was sulking and did not prepare supper for Yu Tingwan; she simply heated some food and ate in the kitchen with Little Mrs. Xu.

For several days straight, they had been eating bean rice, and the smell alone made Little Mrs. Xu feel nauseous.

"Mother, are we really not going to let her eat?"

Lady Wang said coldly, "Will she die if she misses one meal?"

"The Village Head scolded me in front of everyone! I've lost all my face and dignity!"

Little Mrs. Xu: "..."

*But isn't this your own fault?*

Lady Wang felt a lump in her throat, and the more she thought, the more something felt wrong. "That matchmaker Liu is strange too, daring to offend me! Before, she was calling me 'Scholar's Wife' every other word, but then she turned around and acted like she didn't know me."

"Hasn't she caused trouble for many girls over the years? What's wrong with one more little slut next door!"

*Exactly!*

Little Mrs. Xu strongly agreed.

Yet, she couldn't do anything to Yu Tingwan.

A 'thud-thud' sound came from the door.

Startled, Little Mrs. Xu turned to look outside and saw Yu Tingwan standing there, though it was unclear how long she had been standing.

Something trembled in the sky; immediately after, thunder rolled like war drums, and lightning danced wildly like silver snakes, seemingly exploding behind Yu Tingwan.

The piercing light tore through the layers of dark clouds, suddenly brightening. At a glance, the young girl's disheveled hair made her look like a soul-snatching White Impermanence.

Yu Tingwan spoke in a gentle, good-tempered voice, "No matter how much you speak ill of me, you just won't stop."

"This is my house!"

Lady Wang snapped, "Even if I pointed at you and cursed, you'd have to take it!"

Yu Tingwan blinked.

Lady Wang added, "Don't you go getting cocky! Sooner or later, I'll make you pay for this!"

Yu Tingwan curled her lips into a smile. "Alright."

Lady Wang felt provoked.

Yu Tingwan acted as if she had no way to deal with her. "Then, Aunt, please continue."

As she spoke, she turned to leave.

After a few steps, she paused.

"How does it feel to have your schemes fail?"

She had no intention of waiting for Lady Wang's reply; she only let out a low laugh.

"If you have nothing better to do than to make people feel disgusted, are you the only one with a brain?"

Lady Wang laughed out of sheer anger. "Is this how you speak to your elders?"

"Originally, I thought I would endure and endure, that I had to act humble and low before I had the ability. But why? I've realized it now—constant concessions only allow people like you to push even further."

Yu Tingwan's face suddenly turned cold. She glanced at the sky, her voice exceptionally chilling. "Just how thick is Aunt's skin that you can act so overbearing in front of me?"

"If you insist on tearing off the mask of civility between us, I won't be the one left feeling ashamed. If I were you, if I had even a shred of shame left, I would hide that nauseating, ugly face of mine."

Little Mrs. Xu didn't even dare to breathe.

*Have you been eating gunpowder these past few days?!*

Not daring to offend either side, she shifted her body, unwilling to participate in this conflict.

Lady Wang yelled, "Get out!"

She stamped her feet in rage. "Get out of here!"

"You'd better freeze to death outside!"

"Without the Hu family, you wouldn't be where you are today! Everyone says you are sensible, but it's all an act! I'd like to see if the Village Head still stands on your side!"

Her tone was contemptuous. "Yes, I treated you poorly, but so what? Even a beast would wag its tail at me, but you!"

In contrast to her hysteria, Yu Tingwan was as quiet as if she weren't even alive.

The soles of her shoes were soaked by the snow, and the chill crept upward.

Her voice was very soft, nearly drowned out by the thunder. "I have been wondering for many years."

"When my parents perished in the fire and the Yu family home was burned to ashes, Constable Zhu from the yamen felt pity for me. But since there were many children in the family, they couldn't afford to raise more, so after much trouble, they found my uncle."

"When Uncle came to see me, he cried and said he would take me away."

"Though I was young, I never heard Mother mention having a brother in her maiden family. There was never any contact over the years. I only knew that she had been rescued by Father when she was at her wits' end, and the two of them married."

"It is clear that there was a grievance between her and the Hu family."

She had entered the Hu family in a state of uncertainty, and had intentionally tried to investigate over the years, but the people of Xilin Village avoided the subject.

"I was small then, what could I do? My father and mother gave their lives to save me just so I could live well, so I could not be cast out."

She paused.

"But a few days ago, when I went into the mountains, I accidentally overheard some things Granny Fan said."

Lady Wang turned pale with shock.

"You..."

Yu Tingwan turned her head. "Do you want me to say it to you word for word, Aunt?"

She curled her lip. "Do you dare to listen?"

"Tell me, if I were to run to my second cousin's teacher and mention it..."

Before she could finish, Lady Wang interrupted her.

"No!"

"Er-lang is not involved in this; you cannot harm him!"

Yu Tingwan looked as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"But wasn't my mother innocent back then? Wasn't she sacrificed just the same?"

The way Lady Wang looked at her changed; there was now fear in her eyes.

Back then, Hu Dazhu had nearly divorced her because of this matter.

If it hadn't been for the fact that the newborn Da-lang was gravely ill and needed care, she would have been cast out long ago.

As a result, for all these years, she had not dared to mention her sister-in-law to Hu Dazhu even once.

When Hu Dazhu went to fetch Yu Tingwan, the Village Head, upon learning of the matter, had sighed deeply.

*[Since you've decided to bring her back, raise her well. Dazhu hasn't had it easy; he's been asking people to find his sister for years, only to receive news of her death. He must be hurting. As for that matter... I will instruct everyone to be mindful and not mention it in front of the girl, otherwise, it will create an enmity.]*

A sarcastic smile hung on Yu Tingwan's lips. "So, does Aunt still think she has done me a favor?"

"As for me, my thoughts have been very chaotic these past few days; I truly don't have the energy to deal with you."

"I advise you, Aunt, it would be best to keep your head down."