Tian Jing chewed on the flatbread, the morning's aroma gone. She had to eat, her stomach growled again.
Based on her guess, she needed to feed this body until it reached a standard physique, or eat meat and filling food every meal to escape this constant hunger.
Old Mrs. Tian, after venting her anger, saw everyone lowering their heads to eat and realized her solo performance was over. She picked up her chopsticks and continued eating, but with more force, the clinking of her chopsticks against the bowls and plates quite loud.
Old Mr. Tian frowned, glanced over, but said nothing.
After the meal, once the kitchen was cleaned up, Tian Jing went to heat water. Ding Aihua saw her and wanted to say something but closed her mouth.
Tian Jing didn't care what these people thought. If she could live a comfortable life, why bother with others' opinions?
After scrubbing the now dirty washbasin clean, Tian Jing returned to her room for a towel to wipe herself down. But seeing the black footprints on the towel and then looking at Tian Ping on the kang, her face full of provocation, Tian Jing took off her shoes and prepared to climb onto the kang.
"You, you, what are you doing?"
Tian Ping was so nervous she stammered. Her grandparents had repeatedly warned her not to provoke this girl, and she felt resentful and stifled.
Seeing the towel on the rope, which she hadn't been able to bear to use, but this brat had stolen, she couldn't help but snatch it down, throw it on the ground, and stomp on it twice. It felt good, but this brat's calm demeanor made her a little scared.
Tian Jing pointed at the towel on the drying rope, "What's going on with that?"
Tian Jing's tone was still calm, and Tian Ping's courage returned. No matter how much she changed, she was still the one who used to bully her and wouldn't dare utter a peep.
"That? I accidentally stepped on it. When I realized my foot was wrong, I had already stepped on the towel. So I picked it up and hung it back on the rope."
Her face displayed an expression as if she expected Tian Jing to thank her.
Tian Jing shot her a cold glance and continued to climb onto the kang. She went around Tian Ping, opened the kang cabinet, and rummaged for something.
As soon as Tian Ping saw where Tian Jing was searching, she immediately got up and grabbed her hand, "What are you looking for? It's all winter clothes down there, your clothes are on the upper layer."
Tian Jing pulled her hand out of Tian Ping's grasp.
"Splat." Something flew out of the kang cabinet with their struggle and landed on the floor. A few winter clothes that had been pulled out were scattered on the kang.
"Ah, my mirror!" Tian Ping screamed and jumped off the kang to pick it up. The palm-sized mirror had a crack in the shape of a human character, breaking it into three small pieces.
"Tian Jing, you broke my mirror! I'll kill you, you slut!"
Tian Ping shouted loudly, quickly climbed back onto the kang, and reached for Tian Jing's head.
Tian Jing dodged, grabbed Tian Ping's hand with one, and slapped Tian Ping's face with the other. "If you hadn't pulled my arm, why would things have flown out? It's even now, just pick it up. We're even."
Even? A dirty towel could be washed clean, but a broken mirror couldn't be mended. How could they be even?
And this was bought from a big city by someone entrusted by Big Brother Lü. She usually cherished it, hiding it among her clothes. This brat must have rummaged through the kang cabinet and known where the mirror was kept.
Looking at the beautiful face that met her gaze, Tian Ping's anger and jealousy surged. She struggled with all her might against Tian Jing.
Struggle?
Heh, if it weren't to annoy the Tian family, would she wrestle with this woman who couldn't even lift a chicken? A slap to the head and she'd be dizzy, wouldn't she?
Or, like the original host experienced, and what she found particularly frustrating—a hand knife, that could also work.
Darkness had fallen outside. To save candles and kerosene, they basically ate before dark and rested on the kang after. The Tian family, who had just lain down, were all drawn by the commotion.
"Stop!"
Old Mrs. Tian's loud voice boomed. Tian Ping immediately stopped, looked at Old Mrs. Tian with a wronged expression, "Grandma, she broke my mirror."
Tian Jing pushed Tian Ping away, grabbed her clothes, and got off the kang. She pulled the towel from the rope, opened it, and waved it in front of Old Mrs. Tian, "The one who provokes first is the one at fault."
Seeing Tian Jing walk out, the Tian family members naturally made way for her.
Upon seeing the black shoe prints on the towel, Old Mrs. Tian understood everything. She turned to her second daughter-in-law and said, "Second wife, send Pingping to her maternal grandmother's house first thing tomorrow morning."
"Grandma~" Hearing that she was to be sent to her grandmother's again, Tian Ping became anxious.
Old Mrs. Tian waved her hand, "What did you promise me this morning? Your word is your bond. There's nothing to negotiate."
How many times had there been trouble today? Not one of them was worry-free, and they were all from the second branch, including that brat.
Old Mrs. Tian returned to her room, and everyone else also went back to theirs. Only the second son's family remained in the yard.
Father Tian touched his still aching back and looked at his wife, "Mother is already disappointed in us."
For the first time, his mother hadn't scolded anyone. For the first time, his mother made a decision so calmly. This had never happened before. Since Jing girl suddenly changed, many people in the family had also changed.
After her husband and two sons left, Chen Yun entered her daughter's room, "Why did you provoke her again? How many times have I warned you today?"
"Mom, you blame me too?" Tian Ping was crying while looking at the cracks on her mirror. Hearing her mother's scolding, she felt extremely wronged. Su Dan Novel Network
Chen Yun's forehead throbbed. "How many times do I need to say it before you understand? Everyone has realized it today: as long as you don't provoke her, she won't cause trouble, because she doesn't want anyone to hold anything over her. Why don't you understand?"
"If you provoke her, she'll escalate things, making sure everyone knows she's being bullied. Your grandparents won't blame her, they'll only blame me for not teaching you well, and blame you for being ignorant. Why can't you hold back? Why did you step on her towel? Such obvious evidence, isn't it just asking her to retaliate? Fine, just go to your maternal grandmother's house honestly for a few days."
"Mom, I..."
Seeing her daughter still wanting to argue, Chen Yun interrupted her, "Grandma let you off once this morning, and you messed up again tonight. You're challenging her authority. She can't handle Tian Jing alone, and if she can't handle you either, her position will be threatened. Your grandfather won't allow such a thing to happen. You're slapping your grandparents in the face."
Chen Yun's voice lowered. Seeing her daughter still wanting to speak, she covered her daughter's mouth and whispered in her ear, "Tian Jing holds the leverage over your grandparents. And she's not a Tian family member, she can arrange a marriage exchange for your older brother. Under these conditions, as long as Tian Jing isn't too excessive, your grandparents will indulge her. If you continue to make trouble, our second branch will be kicked out of the Tian family, or, you'll be used for a marriage exchange."
All her earnest advice was not as effective as the last sentence. Tian Ping absolutely didn't want to marry a cripple. She heard he was old and ugly. It was her Big Brother Lü who was handsome and gentle.