Old Man Tian thought about how composed and dignified Tian Jing had been when negotiating with him. Then he recalled that she had only asked for the golden key she wore initially. Was she truly willing to give up these gold bars? Or was this a tactic of playing hard to get?
"If she wanted them, she would have mentioned them during the negotiation the day before yesterday," Old Man Tian reassured his wife. "If you're still worried, keep a closer eye on her."
Old Woman Tian nodded. "After breakfast, I'll send her to gather pig feed and have her take Li Xiang along. I'll go search her room then."
"That's fine," Old Man Tian agreed. "Don't be too obvious, and remember not to offend her to the point of no return."
"I know."
In the west wing room, Tian Jing could no longer sleep. She got up to wash, ignoring Tian Ping's furious glare and Chen Yun's scrutinizing gaze. She calmly took her towel and walked out.
"Mom, look at her," Tian Ping was seething, wishing she could claw at Tian Jing's seductive face.
"Behave yourself. If you hadn't argued with her, your grandmother wouldn't have sent you to your maternal grandparents' house. Your grandmother won't let your elopement from their home slide."
Chen Yun gritted her teeth, frustrated with her daughter's lack of progress. Her own family wouldn't let this go, even if she married her daughter off within two days. These words, she dared not say.
If her daughter hadn't known Tian Jing's identity, she could have married the educated youth Lu, and Chen Yun would have had a son-in-law from the city. But this foolish girl, at some point, had overheard the family's big secret and couldn't keep her mouth shut, causing this huge mess. Who knew how many gold bars were still in that jar? This foolish girl had blurted it out so casually to that Lu.
Tian Jing was right. With her daughter's disposition, she'd likely tell the educated youth Lu about Tian Jing's identity in a heartbeat. And that educated youth Lu, who would dare to steal, couldn't be a good person. He might even use the lives of everyone in the Tian family to carve out a brilliant future for himself.
Thinking this way, it seemed like it was for the best that her daughter wasn't marrying the educated youth Lu. Getting married within two days also seemed like a good thing, at least she wouldn't be the target of her in-laws' anger.
Chen Yun found herself getting confused as she thought, was her daughter experiencing misfortune disguised as fortune, or fortune disguised as misfortune?
Hearing her mother mention her elopement again, Tian Ping pouted. "Mom, aren't I worried that Brother Lu will forget me when he gets back to the city? He promised to help me find a job, but I didn't have enough money. That's why I wanted to take one gold bar. I knew there were many, and I thought surely one should be mine? Who knew there was a whole jar!"
"Hmph! If you had given me one earlier, I wouldn't have told the educated youth Lu! Don't listen to that brat Tian Jing's nonsense. Is finding a job that easy to buy and sell? To get a job in the city, you not only need money but also connections. Brother Lu has both."
"Are you making excuses now? You took the gold bars, fine. Why did you tell the educated youth Lu?"
"I, I, I misspoke."
Chen Yun felt like slapping her daughter to death. Misspoke? How much had she said to misspeak? It was as if she wanted to bare her heart to that Lu.
No, how could she feel that marrying her daughter off like this wasn't safe either? Who knew if after marrying into another family, she wouldn't reveal Tian Jing's identity and the remaining two gold bars in the house?
Thinking this, she grew anxious. "Go back to bed and rest. I'll make breakfast."
"I want steamed egg custard," Tian Ping said, clutching her rumbling stomach.
Chen Yun was so angry her teeth ached. After causing such a huge disaster, she still dared to ask for steamed egg custard?
Then, thinking of Tian Jing's actions, her heart stirred. "I'll go ask your grandmother."
Tian Ping felt relieved and immediately fell asleep after crawling into her covers.
Chen Yun left the room and went straight to the main hall. Seeing her husband staring at the closed door of the east room, she quietly asked, "What did Dad decide?"
"Arranged for the eldest sister-in-law to look for a suitable match. She'll marry on the same day as Jing girl in two days. Arranged for the third sister-in-law and Mother to buy wedding supplies. Asked the educated youth Lu to pay three hundred and fifty yuan for the certificates."
Tian Yongyi's tone was calm, as if it wasn't his daughter who was about to be married.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yun hurried to knock on the east room door. "Dad, Mom, I have something to discuss with you."
Tian Yongyi thought his wife was pleading for their daughter out of pity and quickly pulled her aside. "It's already decided. Your pleading will be useless."
Chen Yun shook off his arm and urgently knocked on the door. "Dad, Mom, I really have something urgent to say."
"Stop making a scene," Tian Yongyi grabbed his wife's arms with both hands, intending to drag her out.
With a creak, the east room door opened. Old Woman Tian saw her second son and his wife hugging and her temples throbbed. "What are you two doing? There are children in the house, what kind of behavior is this?"
"Mom," Chen Yun struggled to get into the east room. Unable to free herself from her husband's grip, tears welled up in her eyes. "Let me go, let me tell Dad and Mom something."
"Second son, let her go," Old Woman Tian also saw that they weren't embracing affectionately.
Tian Yongyi could only back down. "I'll go with you."
He absolutely would not allow his wife to plead for Ping Ping, that idiot.
"Mmm," Chen Yun quickly followed her mother-in-law into the east room. Turning, she gestured for her husband behind her to close the door, then she hastily spoke:
"Dad, Mom, we as the younger generation have no objections to whatever arrangements you make. I just spoke with Ping Ping and repeatedly considered her temperament. Her heart is set on the educated youth Lu. If she finds out she can't marry him, she will surely cause a scene. Let's put that aside for now.
The most troublesome thing is her uncontrollable mouth. Even if she marries someone else obediently, who can guarantee she won't talk about it to those around her? We still have two gold bars at home, as everyone has seen. Everyone has seen."
Old Man Tian paused his hand, which was packing tobacco leaves. "Second son's wife, what do you mean?"
"I," Chen Yun lowered her head. "I mean to keep Ping Ping here for now. Let her get married in two years when she's more sensible."
"What if she remains this way, with an uncontrollable mouth, for her entire life?"
A harsh glint flashed in Old Man Tian's eyes. This second daughter-in-law was actually learning from Jing girl.
"She won't," Chen Yun looked up. "I will discipline her properly."
Old Man Tian didn't believe it. She was already nineteen. Her personality was set. Without suffering a great loss, mere persuasion from parents wouldn't change her.
"Alright, you go pacify her first. I'll think about it further."
"Thank you, Dad." Chen Yun was about to leave when she remembered something. "Mom, Ping Ping said, she said she wants to eat steamed egg custard."
"Eat my ass," Old Woman Tian cursed immediately. "She caused such a big problem, and I haven't even dealt with her yet, and she still dares to ask for steamed egg custard? Tell her to eat chicken droppings!"
"Dad?" Chen Yun turned to Old Man Tian.
Old Man Tian waved his hand. "You go out first. I'll talk to your mother."
"Alright, thank you, Dad."
Chen Yun turned and left the east room with satisfaction. Tian Yongyi, looking bewildered, also intended to follow her out.
"Second son," Old Man Tian called out to his second son. "You stay."