The workers gradually returned.
The construction site bustled again.
Tian Jing remained unwilling to give up and went to the valley again, only to be repelled.
She regretfully told Xiao Song this sorrowful truth.
Xiao Song didn't believe it; how could Tian Jing not enter when its master could?
Tian Jing spread her hands helplessly, "Your master's era surpassed my ancestor's. That place must have been imbued with formations by my ancestor."
"Ancestors are the worst."
"Hey? You've learned to curse?"
"Hmph."
...
Just a few days into August, Lexia's pregnancy showed signs.
A midwife, Sister-in-law Niu, was called. After a few hours, she successfully gave birth to a baby boy.
Sister-in-law Niu, holding the ten yuan and twelve red eggs given by Lin Guangde, walked along, mocking the villagers.
"Didn't everyone say Lexia's belly held a baby girl, like immortals? Look at what this is! Lin Si Lai was so happy he gave me a whole bill. Heh, some people really should watch their words."
Upon hearing this, Tian Jing went to Doctor Yang's house, bought a basket of eggs, and took them to the Lin family.
"Congratulations, congratulations."
Lin Guangde grinned from ear to ear, "Thank you, Great Hero Tian, for your help."
Tian Jing waved her hand, "Boys and girls have nothing to do with me. The help I provided will only be seen in the future."
"I can already tell. My wife has given birth so many times, I can tell just by hearing the cries, it's perfectly normal."
"Then congratulations on getting your wish."
"We should still thank you."
Tian Jing did not claim credit, "It's also because this child is fortunate. As soon as I went up the mountain, I found the most crucial herb. And with that herbal juice, Lexia had no mental burden, and this child is healthy and strong."
"Indeed, indeed."
Tian Jing's words made Lin Guangde beam, his face blooming like a flower.
...
Rumors slowly spread in the village that Li Si Lai's son was probably not well, as he hadn't heard the baby cry.
Unlike their neighbor Lin Er Lai's son, who cried every day.
Lexia, confined to her postpartum rest, was unaware. Lin Si Lai intended to beat up those spreading the rumors.
His father stopped him, "If you beat them, they'll say you're guilty. Don't argue with them. Time will tell. Just as you don't care if it's a boy or girl, let those people say what they want, and Lexia won't have a mental burden. Now, you can't let her worry either, the baby still needs to be nursed."
For his wife's sake, Lin Si Lai endured.
But they couldn't avoid Fang Qiuhong. Lin Er Lai and his wife came to see the baby.
Fang Qiuhong entered Lexia's room and looked at the sleeping infant.
She then told Lexia about the village gossip.
The smile on Lexia's face vanished, "Fang Qiuhong, we severed ties between our families, and I didn't want to deal with you. But you keep pestering me. Are you here to see the baby? Or deliberately to tell me this?"
Fang Qiuhong feigned comfort, "Look at you, what are you in a hurry for? Don't village busybodies say anything? Didn't they also say you were carrying a girl before?"
"Get out!"
Lexia angrily chased Fang Qiuhong away. Was she referring to the villagers?
Lin Si Lai heard his wife yelling and rushed into the room, "What's wrong?"
Lexia pointed at Fang Qiuhong, "Get her out. Never let her in again. Haven't we severed ties? If we have, then don't associate anymore."
"Okay, okay, don't be angry, don't be angry. I'll get her out now."
After appeasing his wife, Lin Si Lai escorted Fang Qiuhong out, "Sister-in-law Lin, please."
Fang Qiuhong had achieved her goal and didn't care about being driven out.
However, as she left the room, she was slapped by her husband.
Lin Er Lai had come to make amends, but his wife had caused trouble for him again.
Lin Guangde chased his nephew away, "Lexia is right. If ties are severed, they are severed. Don't come again. You don't even need to interact like ordinary villagers."
"Uncle Two."
"Go! Don't make me throw you out. This happy occasion, you came to tarnish it. Are you satisfied now? Then hurry up and leave."
After driving away Lin Er Lai and his wife, Lin Si Lai quickly returned to the room to comfort his wife, "My father is very happy. He said hearing the cries means it's normal."
"Really?"
"Yes, how many times has my mother given birth? He can tell. Didn't you hear his joyful laughter every time he went in and out these past few days?"
Looking at her sleeping son, Lexia was still a little uneasy, "You said, why isn't he crying?"
"Are you silly? If he cried, you'd worry again. Don't you trust Great Hero Tian?"
Mentioning Tian Jing, Lexia felt reassured, "Mmm, I trust Sister Tian."
Tian Jing had also heard the village gossip and suspected Fang Qiuhong was behind it, including the rumors about Lexia carrying a girl.
But she had no proof, and it didn't concern her directly, so she didn't interfere.
...
This time, Lin Guangde was very low-key. He didn't host a feast or boast to outsiders. He named his grandson Lin Zhicheng, with the nickname Chengcheng.
Soon, Lexia was out of her postpartum confinement.
Ouyang Meihua was also nearing her due date. Mother Li handed over the vegetable shed to her son-in-law and moved directly to her eldest son's home.
After Mother Li left, Afeng felt awkward living in the main house.
She insisted on swapping with Tian Jing and her husband, saying she would be more comfortable in the kitchen.
Besides, it was perfect for Tian Jing and her husband to sleep on the heated brick bed with their three children.
With a roll and a change of bedding, the swap was complete.
Afeng breathed a sigh of relief. She truly felt uneasy living in the main house.
...
The villagers eagerly awaited to see whether Ouyang Meihua's second child would be a boy or a girl.
After missing the drama at the Li family's eldest son's home, they now had the drama of the Li family's second son's household.
Facing the uninvited arrival of two Master Xiaos, two young masters, and two servants, Tian Jing frowned, "Masters Xiao, it is truly humbling that you have deigned to visit my humble abode."
"Mr. Xiao Xueqi, I recall telling you I never wanted to see Master Xiao the Elder again. Have you forgotten?"
Xiao Xueqi quickly clasped his hands in apology. He was worried that his niece would disregard his father's dignity in front of the villagers and expel them.
"Jingjing, we truly have nowhere else to go, we were almost reduced to living on the streets. Please, be merciful and take us in for a while."
"Once we settle down, we will call back and ask them to send us money."
"Take us in? Living on the streets?"
Tian Jing's voice rose an octave in mock surprise, "How is that possible? You arrived with gold bars and foreign currency, and moved into the siheyuan that you forcibly bought from us. Such grandeur and power, yet you've been reduced to begging me, a village woman, to take you in? Do you think I believe you?"
"Keep your voice down, keep it down."
Xiao Xueqi's peripheral vision caught the villagers' amused faces, which they found rather coarse, and he quickly urged Tian Jing to speak softly.
"It's true. Let us in and we'll explain."
"No."
Tian Jing refused, "Doesn't every family have a few persistent and shameless relatives? I understand the saying that it's easy to invite a god but hard to send them away."
"Besides, my home can't accommodate so many people, and I can't afford to feed them."
"I can barely support my own family, and now I have to support you and two servants?"
"When a family falls on hard times, they still keep servants? They should sell them, get some money, and get by for a few days."
Xiao Xueqi was startled by his niece's words, "Human trafficking is illegal."
Tian Jing pointed behind them at the two servants, each carrying or shouldering several bundles.
"Don't tell me they don't have indentured contracts? And they aren't your family's servants?"
"Jingjing!"
Xiao Xueqi was both nervous and angry, "Why must you say it out loud? You know the situation is different domestically."
"Oh~"
Tian Jing nodded with a smirk, "That's like being a prostitute who wants a monument. Since you know it's different domestically, why did you bring servants?"
"Without them, you wouldn't even know how to eat, would you?"
"Jingjing!"
Master Xiao the Elder couldn't bear to have his party paraded like monkeys in front of the villagers.
"Arrange accommodation for us quickly. We've come to settle accounts with you."