A half-grown boy was supporting Third Grandma Tang just outside the door. The morning breeze whipped around the gaunt, hunchbacked old woman, making one fear she might be blown away.
“Oh, Third Grandma, please come in and sit!” Tang Tian paused for a moment before welcoming the old woman inside.
Third Grandma Tang patted Tang Tian’s small head, then swept her gaze around the room and couldn’t help but frown, sighing.
“Your brothers are in poor health, and your mother’s mind isn’t quite right. Fortunately, you’ve become more sensible than before. They say poor children mature early, but it’s hard on you, little girl!”
Although Tang Tian didn’t find their current situation particularly unbearable—after all, compared to the post-apocalyptic world, this was relatively stable—she still felt grateful for someone’s concern.
“Thank you, Third Grandma, I’m not suffering. Besides, Mother just temporarily lost her way. When she recovers, she’ll protect us, and my brothers will be cured! As for my father… he abandoned us, but we don’t want him either!”
The little girl’s fierce determination truly surprised Third Grandma Tang, yet it also matched her own temperament.
She couldn’t help but smile in approval. “That’s right, child, you should have such spirit. When your mother wakes up, tell her exactly that! A mother of three children must always stand tall and fight for survival—how can she waste time pining over a man! When Tang Dayong died in battle, didn’t you all carry on living? Just consider his bones completely rotted away now!”
Tang Tian also smiled. Though her thin face was smaller than a palm, her eyes sparkled brightly, looking clever and shrewd.
Third Grandma Tang ruffled Tang Tian’s withered yellow hair again, then turned to take a small, heavily patched cloth bag from the half-grown boy.
The boy seemed somewhat reluctant, his small hands gripping the bag tightly, until Third Grandma Tang shot him a fierce glare.
“Our family has some coarse rice we can’t finish. We’ve brought you some—keep it to make congee.”
With that, the old woman dragged the half-grown boy away.
In Year 4 of the Great Calamity, countless people had starved to death. How could Tang Tian believe Third Grandma Tang’s family had surplus coarse rice? They were likely going hungry themselves to help her mother and the three children!
She thought about returning the rice, but after a moment’s hesitation, she stopped.
Her spatial ability couldn’t be exposed, and the grain stolen from the Tang family couldn’t be discovered. These two jin of coarse rice could serve as a good cover.
Moreover, preserving this kindness would also provide her brothers and mother with hope to keep living.
Sure enough, Tang Chuan had heard everything clearly, his eyes already red with gratitude.
Just as Tang Tian stored the coarse rice and was about to close the door, Fourth Uncle from Second Grandpa Li’s family arrived unexpectedly, bringing a wind-dried rabbit…
Then came Fifth Aunt from South Street, Elder Sister-in-law from the eastern foothills…
Before the sun had even risen above the mountain peaks, the worn kang in their dilapidated shack was already covered with various items.
Perhaps in wealthy households, these bran cakes and dried vegetable cornbread wouldn’t even be considered fit for servants, but for the Tang mother and her three children, they were timely aid delivered in a snowstorm.
When Li Qiushuang woke up, Tang Tian was feeding her eldest brother while occasionally wiping rice broth from her second brother’s mouth.
Li Qiushuang’s tears streamed down again. It was all her fault—her good children had suffered so much because of her. In the future, as illegitimate children, they might face bullying. Perhaps it would be better to end it all…
Tang Tian caught sight of her mother weeping bitterly from the corner of her eye, but she deliberately pretended not to notice. Only after ensuring her brothers had finished their meal did she scoop another bowl of Coarse Rice Porridge and casually remark, as if making small talk:
“Mother, are you thinking of ending your life? And taking us along with you?”
Li Qiushuang fell silent, bowing her head in shame.
Tang Tian stirred the thin porridge, her small face remarkably calm.
“Mother, my eldest brother is very clever. If he could study, he might even place first in the imperial examinations someday. My second brother is strong—if we cure his illness, he could pursue a military career. And me? I’m smart too, and I’ve learned skills from the immortal grandfather. I’ll definitely earn lots of money and live a wealthy life someday.
“But if you die for that ungrateful man, there’ll be no one to protect us as we grow up. If we fall into Grandma and Aunt’s hands, or even that domineering Princess stepmother’s clutches, Eldest Brother probably wouldn’t get a single sip of medicinal broth. He’d soon die from illness, and Second Brother—simple-minded as he is—would be cast out to fend for himself. With so many starving refugees outside, guess what would happen to him? Roasted or boiled for food?”
Roasted? Boiled?!
Li Qiushuang’s head snapped up. As a mother, her children were her absolute priority, far surpassing that black-hearted man!
Tang Tian pointed at her own slender frame and continued, “And me, Mother. I’m quite pretty, just too thin. Last year when the peddler came to the village, he told Grandma that a little girl like me could fetch a good price if sold to traffickers and sent to Jiangnan as a ‘slim horse.’ If you die, do you think Grandma would waste any time selling me off…?”
“No! Never!” Li Qiushuang yanked her daughter into a fierce embrace, guilt nearly suffocating her.
She’d been so consumed by her own bitterness and hatred, she’d forgotten her three vulnerable children—one ill, one simple-minded, one still small. Without her, how could they survive?
If Tang Dayong could abandon his wife who’d shared years of hardship with him, how could he possibly cherish his children?
Moreover, that Princess was young and beautiful. They’d have children of their own. Her own children would likely be treated worse than servants, perhaps even killed or sold off!
“No, Tang Bao’er! Mother was wrong! I won’t die, I definitely won’t die! Sobs I’ll protect you all! No one will harm you!”
“That’s more like it!” Tang Tian grinned, her large eyes curving into crescents as she pressed the porridge bowl into her mother’s hands. “Eat quickly, Mother. We have lots to do once you’re full!”
Though Li Qiushuang had changed her mindset, she remained clueless about what to do next. A woman with no possessions, how could she keep three children alive during this famine?
Her eldest and second sons needed medical treatment. Four mouths needed feeding. Winter was approaching—they had no preparations, and this dilapidated shack couldn’t keep out wind or cold…
Even if villagers helped them temporarily, they couldn’t rely on charity forever!
Fortunately, Tang Tian had a clear plan.
Once her mother finished the porridge, she swiftly stored everything in her spatial inventory, then pulled her brothers off the bed, announcing brightly:
“Mother, let’s go.”
“Go? Where?” Li Qiushuang was bewildered.
Tang Tian declared with unwavering confidence, “To the county magistrate, of course! To file a complaint, so you can divorce Father and sever all ties with the Tang family!”
Before Li Qiushuang could respond, she added a few more points.
“Mother, remember, it must be a mutual separation, not a divorce. Because only through mutual separation do you have the right to reclaim your dowry! Wasn’t the Tang family’s courtyard built with your dowry silver? And all the household items and farming tools were bought by you too, right? Once we get them back, we’ll have a place to settle! It would be even better to demand compensation money or grain from the Tang family! Aren’t they planning to follow Tang Dayong to the capital to enjoy wealth and luxury? Perfect timing—these things can all be left to us!”
Li Qiushuang was heartbroken, but having lived dutifully for most of her life, the sudden mention of mutual separation made her flustered.
“Should we wait a bit longer? Your father might…”
Bang!
The door of the dilapidated shack was suddenly kicked open. Tang Laotai stormed in with Tang Laoer and Tang Laosan, along with the gleeful Liu Meihua, all seething with anger.