All the members of the inspection team, including Tong Xinhua, were taken away by Zeng Jingrong.
Old Master Shen was furious. He had just relaxed his grip on power in Ling County, and some were already stirring. Did they think he was old? Or were they planning to target the nursery?
Before he could act, a plaque was sent to the nursery in Kshan Mountain.
The plaque read, 'National Poverty Alleviation Plan Seedling First Planting Base,' with the inscription 'Office of the National Leading Group for Poverty Alleviation and Development.'
Upon receiving the plaque, Tian Jing felt like smashing it.
Zeng Jingrong had investigated and found that the man's intention to enter the nursery was to see if the ginseng cultivation was successful, its growth rate, and whether it could truly mature in three years to the equivalent of thirty years…
The involvement of higher authorities was not only to stop the internal conflict between Old Master Shen and his associates but also to prevent Old Master Shen from regaining control of Ling County.
The ginseng had not yet been harvested, and the effectiveness of the Ginseng Gu Ben Pill still had to wait…
Tian Jing handed the plaque to Lin Sila to hang. She then carried two large foam boxes and left the nursery.
Zeng Jingrong was called by Tian Jing to open the labyrinth gate. He watched as Tian Jing dug holes in a small area within the woods outside the labyrinth and buried two thick clumps of soil.
His mouth twitched, "Tiantian, this soil, it's not ginseng, is it?"
Seeing Tian Jing nod, he didn't know what to say.
After burying the soil clumps, Tian Jing infused some of her powers into the area before covering it with a layer of straw.
Then, she not only planted three circles of rose vines in a bow shape around the ginseng but also enclosed the entire area with vines.
Looking at the vibrant green leaves and flowers before him, Zeng Jingrong said she was being overly conspicuous.
Tian Jing walked away, "Besides you, who else knows? When spring arrives, it won't seem out of place."
Zeng Jingrong followed Tian Jing, "The investor Vice County Mayor Tong brought in is Jingchu."
Tian Jing nodded, "I guessed as much."
She also guessed that Vice County Mayor Tong must have a similar backing to Old Master Shen, and it would be difficult to dislodge him this time.
Zeng Jingrong was a little worried, "You and Jingchu..."
Tian Jing stopped and turned to look at him, "Zeng Jingrong, do you know? From beginning to end, I've always wished I was a member of the Tian family."
"If that were the case, I could have exacted revenge on the Tian family. Born but not raised, I could have done so without mercy."
"If the Zeng family hadn't found me, if you hadn't paid attention to me, Sun Liyang wouldn't have been so relentless, and Liu Yuelian's background wouldn't have been dug up by Sun Liyang."
"Grandpa Xiao wouldn't have known the truth, wouldn't have given up everything to seek revenge in person, and the tragic fate of those three, master and servants, could have been avoided. Liu Yuelian and Ouyang Lei wouldn't have separated."
"My birth brought her pain, so abandonment was natural. I don't blame her."
"But for her to fill a sliver of her guilt, she destroyed the only pure familial affection I had just gained. That is unforgivable."
"If she doesn't want me, she abandons me; if she wants me, she picks me back up. What does she take me for?"
"All of you who followed her are accomplices, accomplices in destroying the familial affection I desired most."
"Therefore, I asked Zeng Jingchu, when Zeng Jingliang was harmed, when I was still as useless as I was in the Tian family, would he and the Zeng family still acknowledge me? He hesitated; he had no answer."
"But if this question were asked to Grandpa Xiao, when he believed I was his biological granddaughter, he would certainly have an answer, and that answer would be to acknowledge me, because I am his family!"
In the first life, Grandpa Xiao bypassed his most beloved daughter and gave the siheyuan to the utterly useless Tian Jing. That was the answer.
"Tiantian..." Zeng Jingrong called out to the angry Tian Jing in panic. He didn't realize how much hatred and resentment Tian Jing harbored.
Tian Jing took a deep breath and waved her hand at him, "From now on, don't try to win anyone over."
"Everyone's stance and perspective are different, and they see the essence of things differently."
"Whatever Zeng Jingchu wants to do, let him. I never intended to be a loving family with him."
After locking the gate with Zeng Jingrong, Tian Jing went to the valley. Her heart was unsettled, and she wanted to see Grandpa Xiao.
Seeing that Tian Jing was in a bad mood, Ah Guang didn't follow her.
Tian Jing sat quietly by Grandpa Xiao's grave, allowing the pain and guilt to consume her.
If Grandpa Xiao hadn't secretly sent people to deliver gold bars, would she have even survived growing up in the Tian family? How would she have been found by Zeng Jingchu, giving that woman a chance to stop suffering?
If the Zeng family and Liu Yuelian hadn't appeared, how would the cultured and proud Grandpa Xiao have fought to the death with the Xiao family?
He had lost the will to live.
He was merely resolving the troublesome Xiao family for her.
If asked who in this world she owed the most to, it would only be Grandpa Xiao.
She owed Grandpa Xiao for two lifetimes.
…
After parting ways with Tian Jing, Zeng Jingrong called Zeng Jingchu.
"Jingchu, I don't care what you think or what you've been through in these past two years. I have two things to tell you."
"First, Tian Jing hates all of us. Because of our appearance, Grandpa Xiao, who loved her unconditionally, embarked on the most heroic path."
"Second, Yulia is the key for Tian Jing to treat you. She says keeping Yulia is for you to get revenge, but she actually said that when you are treated again, the location will be the dungeon."
"Jingchu, put yourself in her shoes. If you were abandoned at birth, then something went wrong in the middle, and then, at the happiest and most fulfilling moment of your life, your birth mother appeared and shattered the peace and tranquility. How would you feel?"
"She said she would rather be a Tian family member, born but not raised, and exact revenge without mercy. Yet, this her who hates us, without a word, personally asked Haohao and the others to call us 'uncle'."
"You couldn't handle a single jab from her? Then don't bother being the head of the Zeng family. Anyone can do that in good times."
There was no response from the other end. Zeng Jingrong sighed and hung up the phone.
…
The fifteenth day of the Lantern Festival.
The Li family called Damai and Xiaomai back to celebrate together.
Doctor Yang and Zhou's father and mother were also invited.
Zhou's mother pulled Xiaomai and smilingly announced to Mother Li and Ouyang Meihua, "In-laws, Xiaomai is pregnant. Yulin will have a companion."
Mother Li excitedly handed the great-granddaughter in her arms, whom she couldn't bear to put down, to her youngest daughter-in-law. She then came over and sat Xiaomai down, "Xiaomai, you must take good care of yourself. Every few days, go to the clinic and have Doctor Yang check your pulse for safety."
Xiaomai was a bit shy. She was already 36 years old, and now she was pregnant again. She wondered what the villagers would say about her.
Zhou's mother knew her daughter-in-law's concerns and comforted her, "That Mrs. Niu, she's over fifty and still walks around with a belly. What are you worried about?"
"Exactly," Mother Li chimed in, "Have your mother-in-law accompany you. Come back and chat or have a meal whenever you feel like it. A few months will pass quickly."
Xiaomai nodded. The Li family spoke words of congratulation to her for a while.
Mother Li looked at her eldest granddaughter and eldest grandson-in-law. Speaking of which, Damai was only 38 years old and could completely have a second child.
Grandmother's gaze, Damai immediately understood. She repeatedly shook her head at her grandmother.
Her child was already a heavy burden. Fangfang studied medicine and had too much to memorize every day; seeing it made her heart ache.
If she had another child, who would either learn to cook or study medicine, she couldn't bear it.
Yuan Man secretly squeezed his wife's hand. He had no intention of letting his wife risk having a second child. It was fine to give birth when she was younger, but at an older age, childbirth was too draining on the mother's body.
Damai turned and smiled at her husband.
Seeing this, Mother Li gave up on her intention to persuade them.