Tang Yunshu really admired the audacity of her eldest uncle and aunt. Even after everything, they still tried to cling to family ties.
Yunshu herself wasn’t skilled with words; she was the type to act rather than talk. She glanced at Second Brother, and he immediately understood. He stood up and said firmly,
“I’m speaking for my father’s sake: Uncle, you talk about the eldest brother being like a father, the eldest sister-in-law like a mother—but where were you when my father needed a wife? All these years, you exploited him, used him for work, and then kicked him aside. Where’s your conscience? You even have the nerve to say you’re brothers? Your nerve is remarkable.
“Leave now. We won’t see you out, and our two families should have nothing more to do with each other. Don’t let our family’s poor nature rub off on you.”
With that, he gestured toward the door, making a clear motion of sending them off.
This time, Tang Dashu and his wife, as thick-skinned as they were, had no choice but to leave in embarrassment.
Once they were gone, Zhao Lanzi pulled Tang Dashan close, worried. “Why didn’t you tell us what they did to you? If we’d known, we wouldn’t have borrowed money from them. There was no reason to deal with them at all.”
Tang Dashan felt guilty, a mixture of helplessness and weariness in his eyes. He said softly,
“Lanzi, you and the children have really suffered these years. I didn’t let you live a good life—my failure. I didn’t tell you all this before out of respect for him as my brother.
“You don’t know… back then, our parents died early. If not for my eldest brother taking care of me, we wouldn’t have survived. I held on to that feeling of gratitude for him all these years, hoping to repay him in some way. I never wanted to believe that the brother who cared for me back then would become like this.”
Second Brother said, “Father, he’s no longer the brother you knew back then. He’s changed.”
Tang Dashan sighed. “Yes… he’s changed. I only hope that you six siblings, no matter what happens, will never change. Always stay close and love each other. As the saying goes, ‘brothers united are as strong as metal.’ As long as you work together, no one can bully you.
“And you, Yunshu, being the only sister, your five brothers should always care for you, protect you.”
Eldest Brother took over. “Father, don’t worry. Our bond is different from other families. We’ll always look out for each other, and especially for our sister.”
The other brothers all nodded in agreement.
That night, Tang Dashan felt a heavy weight in his heart, knowing he would never have another brother like that. Zhao Lanzi quietly comforted him.
Tang Dashan truly was a good man—a good husband and a devoted father.
The next morning, Tang Dashan and his sons busied themselves building a shelter for the family’s beloved ox. Yunshu had no need to interfere and went to Qing Mountain to check the traps.
As expected, the traps had caught some game—though nothing large, there were rabbits, roe deer, and small deer. She stored the animals in her space and restored the traps, continuing further into the mountains.
Luck seemed to favor her that day; she didn’t encounter any large predators, only a few squirrels hopping happily along the pine trees.
She paid attention to the movements of the animals while gathering medicinal herbs. The mountains were rich in herbs: huangqin, chaihu, zhimu, jiegeng, cangzhu, and notably yuan grass, which grew thick and strong. She harvested a full basket and returned home at dusk via the space’s teleportation ability.
That evening, her brothers helped wash the herbs while Yunshu rested—she was utterly exhausted from the day.
The next morning, Yunshu told Fourth and Fifth Brothers, “Get your things ready. Today we’re going to the town to enroll you in school.”
Fourth Brother replied, “I’ll pack. But do we need to live at the school in town?”
“Probably. Otherwise, commuting would take too long. Today we’ll just check things out. Don’t bring too much. If you need more, we can buy it in town.”
Second Brother said, “Little Sister, I’ll drive the cart for you.”
Fourth and Fifth Brothers quickly chimed in, “Second Brother, we want to learn to drive the cart too! Once we know, we can help Little Sister.”
Yunshu smiled. “Brothers, don’t limit your ambitions to just that. Every one of my brothers will grow up to achieve great things. Keep it up!”
Second Brother added, “Little Sister, we’ll work hard to be your strongest support. Once you marry, no one will dare bully you.”
Fifth Brother blurted out, “Little Sister, can you not marry? We’ll take care of you for life!”
Hearing this, Yunshu felt warmth surge through her heart. She loved them so much—these siblings connected by blood.
Zhao Lanzi laughed and patted Fifth Brother’s back. “Silly child, nonsense talk. Girls have to marry someday. Come on, let’s go.”
Second Brother drove the ox cart, carrying the younger siblings. The villagers looked on with envy as they headed toward town.
In town, the first stop was the familiar pharmacy to ask about schooling. The shopkeeper said there was only one school in town, adequate for basic learning. But for higher achievements, they would need to go to the county academy.
The annual tuition at the town school was seven taels of silver. Boarding at the academy meant paying for lodging and food separately, and the students had to buy their own supplies.
Yunshu led the three brothers to the academy. Its name was simple: Huanling Town Academy.
“Brothers, let’s go inside,” Yunshu said.
Second Brother was cautious. “Little Sister, you three go in. I’ll stay with the ox cart. What if someone tries to mess with you?”
The three entered and met the academy’s headmaster, a kind-looking elder in long robes with gray hair.
Yunshu stepped forward and explained, “Headmaster, I want these two brothers to attend the academy. What procedures are needed?”
The headmaster sized her up and asked, “Oh? You’re bringing your brothers? Where’s your eldest brother?”
He implied that, being young, she might not have the authority to enroll them.
Yunshu replied calmly, “Headmaster, my father is busy with farm work at home. Anyone can come to handle this. We’ll manage all the necessary procedures ourselves.”