Chapter 82: The Unyielding Tian Jiao

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Unyielding Tian Jiao

But Ji Liantang didn’t see it that way.

"I don’t think it’s the Hu Family helping her out. It looks more like Wuan is the one helping the Hu Family. Think about it. If selling vegetables was really the Hu Family’s business, why has Wuan already built a new house while the Hu Family hasn’t? Besides, why didn’t the Hu Family set up a stall years ago? It makes no sense for them to have been poor all these years while sitting on the recipes for hot and spicy soup and fried dough sticks."

Mrs. Zhu was the first to agree with him.

Back when Ji Huan moved out of the Hu Family’s home and back into her dilapidated shack, she had acquired so many nice things and was dressed in new clothes from head to toe. Yet, Widow Xie’s family hadn’t changed at all. Mrs. Zhu had sensed something was off even then.

But she hadn’t given it much thought at the time. Plus, after the incident where Mingmao got beaten at the village entrance, she was even more afraid to bring it up at home.

"So you’re saying it was really all that jinx’s idea? Selling vegetables is one thing, but where did she get that reci—" Granny Kang slapped her thigh. "I knew it! That Mrs. Wei was always so secretive, hiding who knows what. It must have been her! That damn pest of a woman! Once she married into my Ji Family, she became one of us! What right did she have to hide a recipe and give it to her daughter? That little bastard! How dare she use the Ji Family’s things to make money for outsiders..."

The others mostly believed this version of events, as they couldn’t find any other explanation.

But Granny Kang’s vulgar words were grating on Ji Liantang’s ears, and he grew increasingly irritated.

"Mother, I finally made it back for a visit. Shouldn’t you be happy for me instead of meddling in other people’s business? Even if the recipe was Mrs. Wei’s, it’s no one else’s business if she passed it down to her own daughter. Besides, how much money can you make from a small stall? Can’t you be more forward-looking? If my classmates from the county school ever saw you acting like this, I’d be utterly humiliated!"

In the past, he might have let her cause a scene, but things were different now. He couldn’t afford to do something that would lower his status over a bit of money.

Seeing her son lose his temper, Granny Kang forgot all about recipes and stalls and quickly backed down.

"It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought up that jinx and ruined the mood. First Brother’s wife, Third Brother’s wife, hurry up and kill a chicken for dinner! Eldest, go buy some meat. Ming Fang, go get some wine. We have to celebrate properly for Fourth Brother today! My son is about to become a Scholar..."

The entire Ji household bustled with activity. Outside, a figure quietly slipped out of the courtyard.

After leaving the Ji Family’s home, Tian Jiao grew more and more resentful the more she thought about it.

She had intended to incite Granny Kang to go and raise hell with Ji Huan, ideally to snatch all the money Ji Huan had earned and force her back into poverty.

Her plan had been perfect, but it was ruined by Ji Liantang’s sudden return.

And that wasn’t all. What else had she heard? Ji Huan was actually running a stall in town with the Hu Family!

Tian Jiao felt a lump in her throat. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, so she turned and headed straight for her mother’s house.

"What recipe? I knew her for so long and never heard anything about a recipe."

Her daughter must have lost her mind. She knew full well her mother hated talking about that Mrs. Wei, yet she still brought her up.

Tian Jiao was getting anxious. "Think carefully. Did you ever see anything with writing on it in her room? Or did she ever let anything slip..."

Widow Tian grew impatient. "You’re my own daughter. If there was anything to tell, wouldn’t I have told you already? Why are you being so weird, asking about a recipe from a dead person?"

Seeing that her mother genuinely didn’t know, Tian Jiao was quite disappointed.

"What do you know? The recipe Mrs. Wei left for Ji Huan, Ji Huan gave to the Hu Family, and now they’re running a stall in town making money."

"What?" Widow Tian’s expression shifted multiple times before she gritted her teeth and spat, "I knew it! That bitch, Mrs. Wei! She acted nice to everyone, but behind their backs, she gave all the good stuff to that Xie woman! Why give the recipe to the Hu Family to make money while keeping it a secret from me? That shameless Mrs. Wei! She was always putting on an act to fool men, and the little bastard she gave birth to is just as rotten as she is!"

Tian Jiao was in no mood to listen to her mother’s ranting. She got up and headed outside.

"Where are you going? You just got here. Aren’t you staying for dinner?"

Tian Jiao didn’t even turn her head. "No, I have things to do back home."

Seeing Ji Huan’s life getting better and better, she had no appetite at all.

Just as she stepped out of her mother’s house, she spotted Aunt Lu across the way, hanging laundry in her yard. An idea sparked in Tian Jiao’s mind, and she walked over.

"Auntie, are you home alone?"

"Oh, it’s Jiaojiao." Aunt Lu beamed when she saw her. "Here to see your mother again?"

Tian Jiao walked into the yard without waiting for an invitation. She and her mother had been neighbors with Aunt Lu’s family ever since they came to Dafeng Village, and the two families had always been on good terms.

"These sheets are hard to wring out once they’re wet. Why didn’t you ask someone to lend a hand? Here, let me help you."

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, grabbed the other end of the sheet from the wooden basin, and started wringing it out with all her strength.

Aunt Lu had been struggling to wring it out herself. She sighed, "You’re such a thoughtful girl, not like those boys of mine..."

The two started making small talk.

"The New Year is just over a month away. Why aren’t Uncle and Auntie back yet?"

Aunt Lu sighed. "With three boys in the house nearing marriageable age, we’re desperate for money. So the two of them went to another province to work. They sent a message early on saying they wouldn’t be back for the New Year. It’s probably for the best. Without money, the New Year doesn’t feel like much of a celebration anyway..."

"That can’t be right," Tian Jiao said, her eyes wide with feigned surprise. "I heard from the villagers that the Hu Family paid you wages for helping them. How could it not be enough for the New Year?"

Aunt Lu shook her head. "The wages weren’t bad, but it’s not enough to do much with."

Tian Jiao put on a skeptical look. "Auntie, I can’t believe you’d hide things even from me. You were both helping the Hu Family, but Ji Huan earned enough to build a house. You must have earned a lot too."

Seeing that Tian Jiao didn’t believe her and was even accusing her of being secretive, Aunt Lu got anxious.

"How can you compare the two! Wuan isn’t working for the Hu Family. We thought so at first, too. But then we realized the Hu Family listens to her for everything, and it became clear that Wuan is the one in charge. She takes the lion’s share, so of course she has the money to build a house. As for us..."

A storm of emotions instantly churned within Tian Jiao.

Although she had long suspected it and had even deliberately spread such rumors, hearing it confirmed with her own ears was still hard for her to accept.

’So, the hot and spicy soup stall is also Ji Huan’s?’

’What right does Ji Huan have? She’s clearly inferior to me in every way. I even snatched away the best thing she had. Why is it that not only has she not fallen into ruin, but her life is getting better and better?’

Tian Jiao suppressed the sour bile rising in her stomach and forced a smile. "Ji Huan is really something... Since she’s making so much money, why is she so stingy? We’re all neighbors from the same village. It’s only right that she should share a little more. That way, your family’s life would be a bit easier too."

Aunt Lu didn’t think too much of it and just said that the pay wasn’t bad.

"You might think it’s a lot, but it’s nothing compared to what she’s taking in. Besides, without your help, she wouldn’t be able to earn so much..."

Tian Jiao wore a look of disapproval, appearing especially indignant on Aunt Lu’s behalf.

"Aunt Lu, you’re just too soft. People are taking advantage of you right under your nose and you don’t even know it. Let me ask you, if the business is Ji Huan’s, then the Hu Family is also working for Ji Huan, right?"

"..." Aunt Lu hesitated before nodding.

"Then that’s it. Their marriage arrangement had been dragging on for years and was about to fall through. But they paid a visit a few days ago with both a betrothal gift and a bride price, and the Cao Family immediately agreed. Think about it, where did they get that kind of money? It must be from selling vegetables this time! And I heard they’ve recently set up another stall in town selling food. That’s a long-term source of income, with money coming in every single day..."

At this point, Tian Jiao deliberately paused. Seeing a change in Aunt Lu’s expression, she continued.

"I just feel it’s unfair to you, Auntie. Everyone’s helping Ji Huan, but she’s being far too biased! If she gave you as much as she gave the Hu Family, would you still have to worry about finding a wife for your eldest grandson next year? Uncle and Auntie could have also come home for a family reunion this New Year..."

"Well, you can’t really say that..."

Aunt Lu slowly began to feel a sense of unease.