Zeng Jingrong led Zeng Jingchu into another dungeon.
Zeng Jingchu told Zeng Jingrong about Tian Jing's hypothetical scenario.
Zeng Jingrong pondered for a moment and understood the reason: "Jingchu, Tiantian can't forgive you and your paternal aunt."
"Jingliang through the Yuan family, me through work, we can be friends with Tiantian, and Tiantian also treats us as friends."
"You've had a lot of contact with Tiantian through the watermelon business in Kushan, and she considers you a friend."
"When interacting as friends, it's best not to meddle in everything."
"Tiantian became very impatient when you asked about Lin Duo'er, and then you brought up the Tian family matter."
"Anyone can say that the second branch of the Tian family was the one who truly bullied her. But you and your paternal aunt cannot, because it was your paternal aunt who caused Tiantian's eighteen years of misery."
Zeng Jingchu frowned: "I can understand Tiantian hating mother, but why do you involve me? And Tiantian is also very resentful of me this time."
Zeng Jingrong shook his head. Tiantian must have seen in her past life within the labyrinth that Jingchu had abandoned the worthless Tian Jing.
In front of the Zeng family, the worthless Tian Jing was beyond help, so she was cast aside.
And Tian Jing, in that desperate situation, needed a hand to pull her up.
That hand was halfway extended, but it retracted because of Jingliang's 'death', and never returned.
Ironically, in reality, Tiantian had saved Jingliang.
In contrast, Tiantian surely held resentment in her heart.
Jingchu then went on to say that the second branch of the Tian family had bullied Tiantian the most. In Tiantian's heart, the ones who had bullied Tian Jing the most were her paternal aunt and Jingchu, who had withdrawn his hand.
He couldn't tell Jingchu about the labyrinth, so he could only say: "Just remember what I said, you and your paternal aunt will not be forgiven by Tiantian."
"Between you and Tiantian, if she needs your help, she will definitely ask."
"If you forcefully interfere in her affairs, she will find it repulsive."
"Let alone friends, even real family members don't act like this, do they? What about freedom? Trust? Privacy?"
Zeng Jingchu remained silent.
...
Yulia knew that Zeng Jingchu's sudden departure was not because she had driven him away.
Because she was so disheveled now, how could Jingchu, who resented her, listen to her and leave?
But regardless, she hastily changed her clothes and tidied herself up.
However, Jingchu did not come.
...
Tian Jing saw Yao Yao lying on the bed, kicking her feet and amusing herself, dressed in a thin cotton outfit.
The saying that a child grows with the wind was true. In just two months, the infant who could only eat and sleep was now opening her eyes to the world.
"Captain Tian." Ji Shiyi was folding her daughter's small clothes. Seeing the person at the doorway, she quickly stood up to greet her: "Come in and sit."
Tian Jing walked into the room with a smile, approached the bed, and bent down to pick up Yao Yao, who was looking at her: "Yao Yao, do you still recognize Auntie?"
Little friend Yao Yao stared at Tian Jing with her dark, bright eyes without blinking. After a while, her mouth curved, revealing the purest smile of an infant.
Her smile made Tian Jing's heart soften: "Oh my, Yao Yao still recognizes Auntie."
Ji Shiyi also smiled and said, "Yao Yao likes you very much. She just looks at others without smiling when they tease her. Even her dad and I have to tease her for a long time before she smiles at us."
"Heh heh." Tian Jing chuckled softly: "Our Yao Yao is a reserved little princess, she can't just smile at anyone, can she?"
As she spoke, Tian Jing changed the subject: "Has Yao Yao seen Grandma and Grandpa yet?"
Ji Shiyi shook her head. For ordinary people like them, they could only apply for a family visit after five years.
Tian Jing waved her hand: "I'll approve your leave. While the weather is not too cold yet, take Yao Yao back to stay for a while."
"Thank you, Captain Tian," Ji Shiyi smiled: "However, I want to postpone this leave until next spring. By then, Yao Yao will be over half a year old, and the temperature will be suitable."
Next spring?
Tian Jing raised an eyebrow. By then, Ji Shiyi would have also been here for five years. Was she unwilling to let her break regulations for a small matter?
Forget it, Yao Yao is still too young, and the temperature is indeed not suitable:
"That's fine too. Stay for a longer period then."
Ji Shiyi nodded with a smile: "My father is retiring. He plans to use this year to rest and adjust his condition. He also said that we should go back and stay for a longer period next year."
Speaking of Secretary Ji, Tian Jing paused slightly. It was indeed time for him to retire.
From Deputy County Head to County Head to Party Secretary, over a decade, he had remained rooted in this county.
At first, it was to keep a position for Brother Zheng, and later it was to keep a position for Zhou Chengbin...
"It's good to retire. It's peaceful. You can do what you want and live the life you want."
Ji Shiyi nodded. She knew how difficult her father's path had been. If she hadn't married Jingrong, she would have been forcibly removed years ago. How could she have peacefully retired like this now?
Tian Jing swayed Yao Yao in her arms to tease her.
Yao Yao's continuous smiles swept away the somewhat heavy atmosphere in the room.
Zeng Jingrong entered with Zeng Jingchu and saw this scene.
His own daughter, he had to put in twelve points of effort to get one or two smiles from her, but now she was smiling non-stop with Tiantian's swaying.
She was almost laughing out loud.
Seeing the two of them, Tian Jing stopped swaying: "Why did you bring him? Where's the eye mask?"
Zeng Jingrong felt jealous and compared himself to Tian Jing: "You didn't give Sister-in-law Ouyang an eye mask when you first brought her in."
Tian Jing retorted: "Can he be compared to Ouyang Meihua?"
One was a wealthy ordinary person, and the other was a powerful individual from a lineage of martial artists. If anyone said she was violating regulations, she would just admit Ouyang Meihua into the specialized team.
Zeng Jingrong paused and sighed, saying, "He wanted to see Yao Yao."
Tian Jing's gaze shifted to Zeng Jingchu: "How does it feel to be looked down upon by us?"
Zeng Jingchu's expression was complex. He didn't know why Tiantian had said those hypothetical scenarios.
But he knew that Tiantian believed that in that hypothetical situation, he, as the second young master of the Zeng family, would have abandoned Tiantian, who was being humiliated by the Chen family:
"It's very complicated. Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west."
Tian Jing glanced at him and handed Yao Yao to Zeng Jingrong: "I'm going for a walk. Jingchu's matter, you arrange it."
Watching Tian Jing's retreating back, Zeng Jingrong glared fiercely at Zeng Jingchu: "Instead of learning something useful, you learned to put on a show and caused trouble!"
Zeng Jingchu just smiled without speaking and extended his hand towards Yao Yao.
Yao Yao yawned, turned her head, and searched for her nourishment in her father's arms.
Zeng Jingrong placed his daughter in his arms: "Hold her steady, I'll go make formula."
...
As Tian Jing walked out, she encountered Li Wanting, who was cleaning, with Xiao Xiaohei by her side.
Xiao Xiaohei dropped the mop handle it was holding and ran happily towards Tian Jing, whimpering softly.
Tian Jing reached out and stroked its head.
Li Wanting, holding a basin of rags, greeted Tian Jing: "Captain Tian."
Tian Jing nodded and asked, "Did Haohao say he'd take you back for Chinese New Year?"
Li Wanting's face turned red: "He did, I..."
"Go back with him," Tian Jing interrupted her: "This year for Chinese New Year, the family should be reunited."
Li Wanting nodded in agreement.
Tian Jing lightly patted Xiao Xiaohei's head: "You'll go back for Chinese New Year too."
"Wuwuwu." Xiao Xiaohei excitedly wagged its tail like a dog.
Leaving the administrative building, Tian Jing went to the cafeteria.
Wang Huan and her younger sister Wang Xi were picking vegetables. Seeing Tian Jing arrive, they quickly stood up: "Captain Tian."
Tian Jing walked over to the sisters, pulled up a small stool, and sat down: "I've come to discuss something with you."
Wang Huan sat down and continued picking vegetables: "Did something happen to the Tian family?"
Tian Jing nodded. Wang Huan was an intelligent person:
"Tian Daxue and Tian Xiaoxue are dead."
Wang Huan suddenly looked up: "How could that be?"
Tian Jing said calmly: "They were killed by Tian Liji and Tian Ping, because of money..."