The carriage driver cracked his whip, hurrying the horse-drawn cart away. Hooves pounded on the long-dried dirt road, kicking up clouds of dust!
The villagers let out soft jeers, secretly reveling in the commotion, feeling a hidden satisfaction.
So what if Tang Dayong had prospered? He still fled like a stray dog each time, slinking away with his tail between his legs!
Li Qiushuang, trembling with fear, repeatedly thanked Second Grandpa Li and the villagers before dragging her daughter and son inside to scold them.
Tang Tian knew she had been reckless earlier. After all, in this place, a father killing his daughter wouldn’t necessarily land him in jail. If she died, she’d just be gone—worthless.
But perhaps a remnant of the original girl’s soul lingered in this body, harboring a deep-seated hatred for Tang Dayong and the rest of the Tang Family.
So, seeing her mother bullied to tears, Tang Tian’s temper flared, and she rushed forward without thinking…
Her foolish older brother, completely oblivious, paid no mind to their mother’s scolding. He dug out a few hawthorns and continued munching, drool dripping everywhere.
Tang Chuan, however, sided with their mother and gave his sister a cold glare for the first time. Deep down, he blamed himself more—despite having regained some strength after days of eating well, his frail body still wasn’t strong enough to protect their mother and sister…
With no one to turn to, Tang Tian had to save herself.
She grinned, wrapped her arms around her mother’s, and turned on the charm—coaxing, sweet-talking, and swearing promises until she finally managed to soothe her mother, who held her and began to cry.
Tang Tian patted her mother’s back gently, offering comfort while her mind wandered, thinking about speeding up her plan to sprout beans.
Tang Dayong had lost face this time and probably wouldn’t show up again soon. Even the Tang Family would likely be too absorbed in their “wealth and glory” to come cause trouble.
She had to seize this window of opportunity to act quickly—at the very least, to gain the ability to protect themselves.
Moreover, the villagers had behaved well today. If they proved reliable after further observation, she could bring them aboard the fast track to prosperity, binding them together through shared interests.
In the future, if the Tang Family tried to scheme against her and her siblings again, they’d find they weren’t targeting helpless orphans and a widow—but the entire Tangjia Fort!
By then, even if she and her family wanted to surrender or hand over their business and income, the whole village would never allow it!
After her cry, Li Qiushuang quickly dried her tears and returned to her chores.
The constant threat of hunger and cold left her no room or time for prolonged grief.
Tang Tian continued taking her foolish brother into the mountains, each time hauling back large bundles of firewood. Occasionally, they’d bring home a pheasant, rabbit, or a few wild bird eggs.
The villagers spoke of them with growing envy, gradually spreading the idea that the little Tang girl was a lucky charm.
This was exactly what Tang Tian wanted to hear. After all, she had many plans ahead—each one beyond the capabilities of a four-year-old. Planting the idea early that she was no ordinary child would make the villagers rationalize any unusual behavior later on.
Of course, away from prying eyes, she stored more dried firewood and game in her Space, saving them for winter use.
One day, as Tang Hai dragged dry branches down from Dongshan, Tang Tian followed behind and spotted village children racing toward the west.
She tugged at Tie Niu, Third Grandma Tang’s grandson, to ask what was happening. Wiping his runny nose, Tie Niu hopped impatiently, looking as if he wanted to dig a hole with his bare feet.
“Oh, Tang Bao’er, stop pulling on me! The merchant caravan has started passing through the western dirt road, and they’re giving out two black steamed buns to anyone who helps lift their carts! I need to go too, let go of me quickly. If we’re any later, Gou Dan’er and the others will take them all!”
Tang Tian’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and her grip loosened. Tie Niu immediately dashed off, not even bothering to pick up his worn-out shoes that exposed his toes.
Tang Tian shouted for her silly brother to drop the firewood and chased after him.
There was a dirt road to the west of the village, not very wide and usually rough from local traffic. The sudden diversion of the merchant caravan here had drawn many villagers to watch the excitement.
Li Tie, the fourth son of Second Grandpa Li’s family, went to strike up a conversation and learned some news: the official road east of the county town was under strict control because some important personage was traveling through, and both merchant caravans and common folk were barred from free passage for half a month.
The caravan manager was troubled by the poor condition of the dirt road and hired many people to help lift the carts and escort them for over ten li.
The villagers—some watching the excitement, others helping out or being hired—created a scene livelier than New Year’s celebrations.
Tang Tian wove through the crowd with Tang Hai, appearing just like any other mischievous child.
But when the caravan had completely departed and dusk fell, Tang Tian emerged from the roadside ditch clutching a basket.
Li Tie saw her and asked curiously, “Where did you find that basket, Tang Bao’er?”
Tang Tian widened her innocent eyes and replied softly, “Fourth Uncle, a child threw it out from one of the big carriages earlier.”
Fourth Uncle Li stepped forward to examine it and was delighted. “Oh my, how did this torn book get tucked inside the basket? It must have been some rich family’s young master who didn’t want to study and secretly tossed it out. Take it home and have your mother sell it at a calligraphy and painting shop in town—it should fetch at least a hundred wen!”
Tang Tian immediately clapped her hands and exclaimed, “That’s wonderful! If we can sell it for money, we can buy food. Mother and we won’t have to go hungry anymore!”
As she spoke, she called for her silly older brother, hoisted the basket onto her back, and raced home.
Villagers who wanted to see what book it was didn’t get the chance and could only repeat the words “lucky break” several times…
Tang Tian’s maternal grandfather had been a successful merchant with substantial family wealth. Li Qiushuang had studied reading and writing since childhood and was naturally familiar with books.
Hearing that her daughter had picked up a book, she was pleased. But when she pulled out the tattered book to reveal a thick stack of snow-white paper beneath, she was genuinely astonished.
The paper was of exceptional quality—so fine she had never seen its like. Without a doubt, selling it would bring a considerable sum of silver!
“Tang Bao’er is amazing! You’ve truly brought back a treasure. Tomorrow, Mother will take you to town to sell it. With any luck, we can buy two jin of cotton, and I’ll make padded jackets for you!”
Having achieved her goal, Tang Tian obediently agreed on the surface but couldn’t help feeling proud inwardly.
The tattered book was something she had found in the mountains, weathered by wind and rain until most of the characters were blurred beyond recognition. But the white paper was from her Space inventory—one hundred neatly stacked sheets of printer paper.
White as snow, resilient as silk, with a smooth texture perfect for writing—any scholar who saw it would likely be willing to pay a high price.
And with the departed merchant caravan as a cover, anyone trying to trace its origin would find it impossible…
That night, clouds drifted in from somewhere, bringing a light drizzle.
When Tang Tian woke early the next morning, she heard commotion in the village. Running out to look, she saw Third Grandma Tang and Second Grandpa Li among other elders standing in the street with grim expressions, cursing incessantly.
Third Grandma Tang’s cane seemed ready to poke a hole in the heavens!
“Damn the heavens! After a year of severe drought, now that winter is almost here, it finally decides to rain!”
“Exactly! It’s like milk coming in after the child has already died—utterly useless!”
The villagers joined in the cursing. The once-revered heavens, after four years of famine, had become an object of scorn!