During dinner, Old Mrs. Tian gave Ding Aihua and Tian Jing an extra piece of flatbread each. Ding Aihua thanked Old Mrs. Tian sweetly.
However, Tian Jing, quick with her hands, snatched another piece. She hadn't gone up the mountain today, having lazed around in the house all day. With little activity, she was famished. "It's not enough to eat. I'm so hungry it's making me anxious. If I starve any longer, I won't be able to get out of bed. In a few days, will someone have to carry me up the mountain?"
Daring to snatch flatbread was challenging her authority, and she even dared to complain of hunger? Old Mrs. Tian's triangular eyes narrowed, and she intended to reprimand her. Even if she couldn't curse, she could at least say a few words, right?
Unexpectedly, Old Man Tian spoke up, "Old woman, steam an egg for Jing girl. Let her replenish herself properly."
Old Mrs. Tian's jaw nearly dropped. Seeing the old man give her a significant look, she pondered. It would only be three more days of peace at home, at most. She then agreed, "Second daughter-in-law, go steam an egg."
Chen Yun hadn't expected this task to fall upon her. "Mother."
"What is it?" Old Mrs. Tian's triangular eyes flared up again. "I can't even order you around anymore? Wasn't it your turn to cook today?"
*Hmph*, if your adopted daughter can't be taught properly, who else will serve her?
Chen Yun got up resentfully. It was actually the third daughter-in-law's turn to cook today; she was only assigned by her mother-in-law to help.
Old Mrs. Tian got up to retrieve eggs from the east room. Tian Jing shouted from behind her, "The egg custard yesterday was too watery."
Old Mrs. Tian's steps faltered. Was it watery? Could she still pick it up with chopsticks? This was clearly an excuse. Pained, she took out three eggs, telling herself she could see the girl off with at most a dozen eggs. She would endure. The house had been chaotic enough yesterday, and this troublesome girl had been quiet all day. She would continue to endure.
Chen Yun felt heartbroken looking at the three eggs. What made her even more heartbroken was that the flatbread she had placed on the table was gone, leaving only the half she had bitten into. "Where's my flatbread?"
Tian Jing dangled the flatbread in her hand. "Here it is. If you don't go steam the egg custard soon, I'll snatch someone else's flatbread."
The Tian family glared at Chen Yun.
Chen Yun hurriedly grabbed her half-piece of flatbread and took her porridge bowl to the kitchen.
"Comrade Chen, don't you dare eat it on the sly. I'll be inspecting shortly."
Tian Jing's words almost made Chen Yun drop her bowl. She actually wanted to smash it. Thinking of how the troublesome girl had smashed bowls yesterday, she suddenly felt envious. If she could be so unrestrained in the Tian household, she would wake up smiling in her dreams.
After finishing her flatbread, Tian Jing continued to stare at others, causing the Tian family to eat faster.
*Sigh*... If it weren't for needing to rest to continue tonight's good show, she would have gone hunting on the mountain during the day. This kind of food, with no oil, no flavor, and not even filling enough.
As the Tian family was nearing the end of their meal, Tian Jing's egg custard was ready. Chen Yun quickly placed the bowl in the center of the table, her hands immediately going to her earlobes; it was scalding hot.
No one at the table paid attention to Chen Yun's actions. Everyone's mouths watered at the sight of the egg custard.
Eight-year-old Tian Lixiang stared at the egg custard, his mouth practically watering. After his mother nudged him in the waist, he immediately reached out to pull the bowl towards himself but found it had vanished from the center of the table.
Looking up, he saw Tian Jing putting a trembling spoonful of egg custard into her mouth. He turned and buried his face in Old Mrs. Tian's embrace, wailing, "Grandma, I want to eat, I want to eat the egg custard."
Old Mrs. Tian patted her little grandson's back tenderly. "Alright, alright, I'll give it to you. Sit properly."
Hearing his grandmother's agreement, Tian Lixiang immediately sat up straight, no longer fearing Tian Jing. "You useless girl, hurry and put down the egg custard. You ate it yesterday, you're not allowed to eat it again today."
After taking another large bite of egg custard, Tian Jing raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Come, let me analyze this for you. From the time a girl can walk, she works. During busy farming seasons, she not only has to earn work points but also handle all household chores. As for boys, before they can work in the fields and earn work points, they do nothing. All their food and clothing cost money. When they grow up, more money will be needed to build them houses and get them wives.
"Take Tian Liwen and Tian Liwu, for example. They spent all the family's money to get wives. Tian Lifu is 20 years old and still doesn't have money for a wife. Tian Lihui, at 18, should also be getting married soon. Where will the money come from? They'll have to borrow. A few years later, when Tian Lijin gets married, they'll have to borrow again. By the time it's your turn, they'll have to borrow even more. Tell me, how much money does a boy cost the family in his lifetime?
"On the other hand, when a girl gets married, the betrothal gifts she receives go to her family. Like your elder and second sister-in-law, did they earn a large sum of money for the family? Yet Tian Liwen and Tian Liwu paid out a large sum of money. So, who is the useless one?" Sudanshuwang.
Tian Jing lowered her head and continued eating the egg custard, unconcerned about the expressions on the Tian family's faces after hearing her discourse.
Tian Lixiang pointed towards the kang on the upper level. "Elder and second brothers are useless. Those who cost money to get wives are useless. Sister Jing, am I right?"
*Yo*, this kid has potential.
Tian Jing popped the egg custard on her chopsticks into her mouth and pushed the bowl towards Tian Lixiang. "Here you go, this is a reward for you. You're very smart and good at accounting. Next time you perform this well, I'll share more delicious food with you."
Tian Lixiang looked at the half-remaining egg custard in the bowl and then looked up, grinning at Tian Jing. "Okay, I'll listen to Sister Jing."
Tian Lixiang quietly ate the egg custard. Tian Jing stood up, surveyed the stunned Tian family, and chuckled, "Since ancient times, women have been looked down upon, and the label of 'useless' has been forcibly placed on them. See, I calculated it for Tian Lixiang, and he immediately understood."
Hearing this, Tian Lixiang looked up and nodded vigorously. "Yes, I am very smart."
Zhang Mei was so angry she wanted to remold her son.
Old Mrs. Tian, while seemingly looking at Tian Jing, had a vacant gaze, lost in thought.
Old Man Tian tapped his pipe on the kang table. "Hurry up and clear the table. What are you all spacing out for?"
This Jing girl needs to be sent away quickly. If she stays any longer, the harmony of this household will be completely disrupted.
Everyone was jolted back to reality by Old Man Tian tapping his pipe. Those who needed to do chores did them, and those who needed to sleep went to their rooms.
Before going to bed, Old Man Tian instructed his wife to steam an egg for Tian Jing once a day, depending on the situation, so she wouldn't have to ask again. There were only three days left, and ten eggs wouldn't even be used up. The past few days had given him a headache.
Old Mrs. Tian, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to attention and nodded in agreement.
In the latter half of the night, Tian Jing, who was on the verge of sleep, suddenly opened her eyes. *Finally, they're here?* She had thought that Lü Jianjun was just bluffing.
She heard faint footsteps heading to the backyard and immediately got up, coaxing Long Kui to life. She quietly opened her door. Tonight, the moonlight was obscured by a patch of dark clouds, but it didn't impede her vision. She nimbly climbed onto the roof and watched a dark figure in the backyard bending down to dig.