Chapter 297: Stepping Stone and Roadblock

Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Stepping Stone and Roadblock

’Is it Ji Huan? No, how could it be her? Absolutely not...’ Tian Jiao shook her head unconsciously.

"How could it not be?" Widow Tian cut her off. "That night, I was coming down from Guai Mountain and happened to see her standing with Song Jing. That little hussy is just like her mother, always seducing men."

In truth, she hadn’t seen the face clearly. She only saw that the figure resembled her from a distance. Coupled with a guilty conscience, she didn’t dare spread it around, afraid that others might follow the clues back to her... so the matter was pushed to the back of her mind.

Tian Jiao didn’t ask her mother why she was on Guai Mountain so late at night.

She remembered back at the beginning of the year, during the war, when the men had all gone to the mountains to take shelter. After the crisis was over, she had gone up the mountain to call Jiang Wu home and had seen Song Jing and Ji Huan on the mountain path...

She had felt something was off back then, but she had taken it for granted that there was no way anything could happen between those two.

She never would have thought that they had actually gotten together!

’What incredible scheming. I really underestimated Ji Huan...’

Tian Jiao’s heart felt like it was on fire, and waves of acid burned in her stomach.

She even began to suspect that Ji Huan had been involved with Song Jing for a long time.

’So she gave up Jiang Wu on purpose? Deliberately pushed the inferior one onto me, letting the villagers curse me, while she herself landed on a higher branch.’

The more Tian Jiao thought about it, the more convinced she became that this was the truth.

She stormed out of her mother’s house, her heart full of rage, and looked up to see Jiang Wu waiting at the door.

In the past, no matter how much Tian Jiao and Mrs. Mao argued, she had never taken it out on Jiang Wu.

But today, just looking at him made her feel sick.

She had once been so certain of her own judgment, so sure that there was no one in the village better than Jiang Wu.

But Ji Huan’s actions had delivered a harsh slap to her face, telling her that the man she’d fought for wasn’t a treasure, but a good-for-nothing!

When Jiang Wu saw her come out, he hurried to her side. "Jiaojiao, don’t blame Mother. She’s just anxious to have a grandchild... I’ll apologize on her behalf. Let’s go home. Don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health over." ℯℯ𝑙.

Tian Jiao’s suppressed anger, which had been building for days, suddenly erupted.

"Grandson, grandson! Is there anyone else in her eyes besides a grandson? Now even you are pressuring me! Do you also resent me for not being able to have a child? Are you regretting it? If you regret it, then go find Ji Huan! See if she’ll choose that Scholar of hers or you, you good-for-nothing!"

Jiang Wu had never seen this side of Tian Jiao.

Rage twisted her delicate features, and the mouth so accustomed to sweet nothings now spat out words full of resentment and thorns.

’And... she called me a good-for-nothing...’

Seeing Jiang Wu stunned, Tian Jiao felt a faint twinge of regret.

She still needed to rely on Jiang Wu to fend off Mrs. Mao’s nitpicking. If Jiang Wu grew distant from her, she would truly be isolated and helpless.

But the shock of Ji Huan and Song Jing’s affair was too great. Tian Jiao had no time to worry about anything else, nor was she in the mood to act with her usual gentle affection. She wasn’t even willing to offer a half-hearted apology, simply turning and walking away with a cold expression.

Jiang Wu wanted to ask where she was going, as she wasn’t heading in the direction of their home.

But his mouth opened and closed without making a sound.

His mind was filled with the slightly terrifying image of Tian Jiao’s enraged face and the words "good-for-nothing" that had tumbled from her lips.

Tian Jiao indeed had no intention of returning to the Jiang family’s house. After leaving the alley, she stood in place for a moment, then turned and headed toward the southeastern part of the village.

Guo Ling had deliberately chosen to visit Mrs. Meng at dusk, thinking there would be fewer people around. Unexpectedly, she ran headfirst into Tian Jiao.

Tian Jiao’s eyes darted about for a moment before she forced an awkward smile and hurried away.

Guo Ling watched her retreating figure, slightly puzzled.

Mrs. Meng’s home had indeed been bustling with activity lately, but most of the visitors were older women hoping to act as matchmakers for their own daughters or relatives.

’This Tian Jiao is already married... She can’t be thinking of marrying again, can she?’

Guo Ling sneered in contempt.

’There’s no shortage of daydreamers in the countryside. First Tian Jiao, and now Ji Huan.’

’Too bad daydreams are always burst in the end.’

’You can’t blame others for it. You can only blame yourself for not having the right fate.’

The Guo Family’s precious eldest granddaughter was nothing special in Mrs. Meng’s eyes. Even if she had some standing, she was ultimately just a servant.

Mrs. Meng assumed Guo Ling was just like the others, there to scheme for Song Jing’s hand. She gave her a cold look and wasn’t even planning to let her in the door.

Having spent years in the Bai Mansion, Guo Ling couldn’t boast of much, but she had become quite skilled at reading people.

Just as Mrs. Meng was about to close the door, she spoke up, offering her congratulations.

Mrs. Meng had heard the word "congratulations" far too often lately, so it held no novelty for her. What caught her attention was what Guo Ling said next.

"An important person has taken a liking to Song Jing. Aunt Meng, your family is about to have a joyous occasion."

Guo Ling successfully gained entry. Mrs. Meng even offered her a cup of tea, waiting for her to explain in detail.

Guo Ling could tell that Mrs. Meng was not a patient person, so she didn’t beat around the bush.

"I won’t hide it from you, Aunt. It’s the Academic Administrator, Fang. His prized daughter has taken a fancy to Song Jing. She’s seventeen, about the same age as him..."

Hearing this, Mrs. Meng’s displeasure was already showing on her face.

’What does she mean, "taken a fancy to Song Jing"? Is that how a well-bred young lady is supposed to act? For a young woman, she has no sense of shame. And such a high-and-mighty tone. What’s so great about being an Academic Administrator?’

"It was my oversight. Academic Administrator Fang is a high official of the Standard Fourth Rank. All the academic officials and students in the entire Northern Pass must listen to him. He is in charge of all matters related to the imperial examinations.

"Song Jing is taking the provincial exam next month, isn’t he? You probably don’t know how difficult that exam is. Although Song Jing is very talented, his foundation is still shallow. What if...

"If he becomes Academic Administrator Fang’s son-in-law, the Administrator, for his daughter’s sake, will surely look out for him a little. How hard would it be then to pass the exam and become a scholar? Such a young scholar... Song Jing’s future would be truly limitless."

Guo Ling thought that by laying out the Academic Administrator’s official position and the benefits of marrying his precious daughter, Mrs. Meng would be overjoyed.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Meng became even more displeased.

"My Jing’er doesn’t need anyone’s help to become a scholar."

Guo Ling was taken aback. She quickly said, "Yes, yes, of course. Song Jing’s scholarship is first-rate, otherwise he wouldn’t have caught the eye of Academic Administrator Fang and his daughter. But Aunt, becoming a Scholar is just the beginning. Song Jing will face many more hurdles in the future, each one harder than the last. There’s clearly a shortcut available, a powerful backer to rely on. Can you really bear to watch him struggle and stumble through the mud on his own?"

To be honest, Mrs. Meng was somewhat tempted.

Although she didn’t know exactly how powerful an Academic Administrator was, a fourth-rank official in charge of the imperial examinations for the entire Northern Pass was enough.

She also wanted Song Jing’s future path to be easier and smoother.

However, while Song Jing appeared gentle, he was actually fiercely proud. He would never be willing to obtain through underhanded means the honor he could earn on his own.

Besides, she had her own pride. Other than her own son, she was unwilling to rely on anyone else. It was called having a ’backer,’ but wasn’t it really just living at the mercy of others’ whims?

Guo Ling tried every persuasive trick she knew, but Mrs. Meng remained impervious. So, Guo Ling had to play her final trump card.

"Aunt Meng, you ultimately don’t understand how official families work. When they set their sights on someone, it’s not a simple matter of you saying no."

Mrs. Meng immediately understood the implied threat. Her heart sank, and her face instantly turned cold.

"If we are unwilling to have him marry her, can they force the marriage on us?"

"Why don’t you understand, Aunt Meng? This isn’t just about marriage anymore."

Guo Ling shook her head, a smile playing on her lips, her expression one of sincerity and regret.

"Perhaps you don’t need him as a stepping stone, but when that stepping stone becomes a stumbling block in your path, can you move it? I’m not trying to frighten you, but offending the Academic Administrator means giving up hope on the imperial examinations. Even if he passes the exams, with Academic Administrator Fang’s connections in the capital, Song Jing’s official career will surely not be smooth. Wasting half his life would be a small matter; it’s not impossible that he could lose his life... You should consider it carefully."

Guo Ling stood up and walked to the door. As if a thought had just occurred to her, she turned back to look at the still-dazed Mrs. Meng.

"Miss Fang is a young lady from a prominent family, possessing both beauty and virtue. You have no need to worry that she is not a match for Song Jing, Aunt. Or... is it that you have another daughter-in-law candidate in mind? For example, Song Jing’s sweetheart—Ji Huan?"