The sky was overcast, as if it was about to rain.
The deep mountains were full of wild beasts, so Yu Tingwan only wandered at the foot of the mountain.
The ground was covered with a thick layer of snow. She busied herself for most of the day, collecting quite a few dry branches. Her hands were purple from the cold, and she stamped her feet, taking out the water gourd hanging at her waist, drinking a few sips as her teeth chattered.
Though she looked thin, she was surprisingly strong.
Where was the once delicate Miss Yu who couldn't even walk properly and would complain of fatigue after such a short time?
Yu Tingwan tightly bound the dry branches with a rope and dragged them back, stopping to rest occasionally along the way.
From afar, she could hear a clamor ahead and the sound of someone hurling insults. Yu Tingwan remained indifferent, unperturbed for even a moment.
She wondered how things were going on Matchmaker Liu's side.
Mrs. Wang should have gone over.
Just as she was thinking, a scream pierced the sky, stabbing painfully at Yu Tingwan's eardrums.
"Get lost! You bastard! While others are filial to their mothers, you're the opposite, asking me for money!"
Mrs. Wei, with her white hair and stooped figure, glared fiercely with her cane, "I have no money, not even a copper coin for you."
"Mother! This is life-saving money, I beg you!"
Wei Shouzhong's eyes turned red with urgency, "I don't want much, just the pension silver for Lang."
Mrs. Wei angrily struck him with her cane.
"Even if he's treated, there's no guarantee he'll survive. Why waste the silver? Your wife might be foolish, but why follow suit?"
"Why don't you just consider that he died outside long ago!"
Wei Shouzhong, ignoring the pain, couldn't believe it: "He is my own son!"
"Back then, he was clearly too young for conscription, yet he was pushed up. Doesn't mother feel any shame?"
Standing by the side, Wei Shoucai hurried forward to pat his mother's back to ease her breath, glancing at Wei Shouzhong.
"Say a little less."
"Mother also does it for your own good. If Lang only had minor injuries or illnesses, Mother alone wouldn't be hesitating, even I, your big brother, would be willing to spend the silver. But he has already caught King Yan's eye."
The pension was instigated by him to be collected by Mrs. Wei.
What Mrs. Wei held, wasn't it his? How could he let Wei Shouzhong take it?
Wei Shouzhong looked directly: "In the dead of night, how does elder brother and mother sleep peacefully?"
In the past, he didn't care, as he was exhausted at heart, pretending to understand nothing. But now, having regained what was lost, it was clearly the heavens showing mercy!
Mrs. Wei didn't like the second daughter-in-law, and by extension, didn't take a liking to the offspring of the second family.
"What's Old Second talking about?"
She smiled shrewdly: "Anyway, your elder brother has many sons, it's difficult to support them. Later, you can adopt one for yourself, and they can still take care of you in your old age."
Wei Shoucai agreed, "I've discussed this with your sister-in-law, we have no objections."
Wei Shouzhong felt like he was in an ice cellar, chills spreading all over his body. Usually non-confrontational, he suddenly let out a cold laugh: "If I'm not given what is mine, I'll take it myself."
"If you dare, don't blame me for not recognizing you as my son!"
Wei Shouzhong hesitated slightly.
But his Lang was in imminent danger.
He recalled that day when Lang was a bloody mess, with clothes that could easily be torn into flesh if one was not careful.
New and old wounds piled up on his body, looking terrifying. One could only imagine the suffering he endured over the years.
The most helpless thing was the gash from a sharp weapon, stabbing through from his chest to his back, leaving a blood gouge bigger than a fist. Just stopping the blood drained most of the herbs from Elder Qian's house.
Hui Niang stayed by the side, crying day and night.
If they were to experience the grief of losing a son again, neither Hui Niang nor he would remain sane.
Thinking of this, the anger Wei Shouzhong accumulated over the years fully erupted.
He dared not postpone, pushing Wei Shoucai aside, he directly kicked open the door to Mrs. Wei's room and barged in.
"Old Second! How dare you!"
Mrs. Wei, as fierce as she was, was still aged. How could she stop a strapping farmer full of brute force? She watched as Wei Shouzhong rummaged for the money pouch, clutching her heart in distress, "Are you trying to kill me!"
Yu Tingwan lowered her eyes.
Ah, how she truly envied Wei Shen.
The wind howled fiercely, the girl's frail silhouette trudged forward with great difficulty.
In the vast world, Yu Tingwan seemed exceptionally insignificant. Her face, frozen to a bloodless pallor, contrasted with the enchanting brilliance of the teardrop mole at her eye corner.
Her footprints were covered by the winding traces left by the dry branches she dragged behind.
She didn't know how long it had been, but amidst the whistling cold wind, her voice was faintly discernible.
Unlike her usual indifference, it was fragile and aggrieved.
"But Tingwan's father is the best."
The Hu Family's door was half-open, and in the yard sat an elderly woman in a dark blue cotton coat, neat and without patches. Her hair was neatly combed, pinned with a very fine silver hairpin, looking quite respectable.
This was the Village Chief's wife, Li Lian.
Beside her was Mrs. Wang, who looked like a frostbitten eggplant, and Mrs. Xiao.
The snow on the branches rustled down, and Yu Tingwan, unable to dodge, got hit right on. Under the gaze of all, she wrapped herself tighter in her cotton coat, sneezed, her nose tip turning red and trembling from the cold.
She looked especially pitiable.
After greeting the people, Yu Tingwan dragged the large bundle of dry branches into the house. Hearing footsteps behind, she didn't need to guess who it was.
She said softly, "Mother-in-law, is there something you need?"
Seeing her shivering while speaking, Li Lian casually closed the room door, blocking Mrs. Wang's view and the roaring cold wind outside.
"Came to chat with you."
The Village Chief scolded Mrs. Wang, not for Yu Tingwan's sake, but for Hu Yaozu.
If a scholar were to emerge in the village, it would be a source of pride for the Village Chief.
If things got out of hand, and there were so many people at the time, Mrs. Wang's intentions to sell her niece couldn't be kept secret. Sooner or later, it would reach Yu Tingwan's ears.
The Village Chief saw it as being kind, so he took it upon himself to let her visit and ease Yu Tingwan's mind.
Li Lian unobtrusively examined the young girl in front of her.
With such a charming appearance, it was no surprise that Mrs. Wang considered sending her to the Dong Family.
She smiled wider, "You are a considerate child, having suffered over these years. Your aunt is not truly wicked, tell me if something isn't right. In terms of seniority, she has to call me Aunt, so I can surely scold her a few times."
"Your uncle and his family probably won't make it back for the New Year. Without men at home, it's challenging. If there's anything you need help with, just let me know."
Yu Tingwan pretended not to know her intentions, looking at her in surprised gratitude.
Li Lian patted her hand and casually asked, "Good girl, how old are you now?"
"Seventeen."
"Then it's time to find someone to marry."
Li Lian shook her head, "Da Zhu isn't a very responsible uncle, and your aunt is muddle-headed too."
Yu Tingwan seemed to reflect.
Li Lian indeed gave her a hint.
She was only temporarily staying with the Hu Family, without her own family, she would eventually need to marry.
Instead of living in fear of Mrs. Wang's schemes, she might as well find her own path.
Yu Tingwan's gaze toward Li Lian grew warmer.
She was particularly straightforward: "Is mother-in-law going to help me find a match?"
How wishful you are!
How many proper families would consider your background?
However, Li Lian was concerned about her reputation, and Yu Tingwan's gaze was persuasive.
"Well... well, that's fine too."
"Wan Niang, why don't you tell me what kind of person you're looking for, so I can keep an eye out for you. Maybe someone gentle and reasonable, like your cousin-in-law?"
What's so good about a scholar? Can't pick up anything heavy or shoulder any burdens.
Having scholarly knowledge is just the icing on the cake for a noble family, but for regular folks, if it doesn't lead to success in the imperial exams, a few sour poems won't protect her.
Father was different, burly and strong, even hooligans and ruffians didn't dare lay a finger on her or her mother.
Yu Tingwan earnestly said, "Someone with strong fists."
Li Lian: ???
Are you particularly resistant to being bullied or something?