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Although it was a heavy snowfall today, the Tan family’s busy routine carried on.
After Old Tan left with Tan Yiliang, Tan Erqian took Tan Sanyuan and the others to the school.
The school wasn’t far from the Tan family’s house—just a short walk past seven or eight households.
However, with the heavy snow, Tan Erqian held one of the younger boys with each hand, while Tan Sanyuan, being older, walked behind them.
It seemed that fate had a hand in things.
Just as Tan Erqian and his brothers passed two households, they ran into Chen Shian, who was on his way back home.
Chen Shian’s face darkened as soon as he saw Tan Erqian. He sneered sarcastically, “Well, if it isn’t the young master Tan. You’ve been living it up in the county; what are you doing back here?”
Tan Erqian ignored him completely, pulling the younger boys along and quickening his pace.
This only angered Chen Shian further. Bending down, he grabbed a handful of snow and hurled it at them.
Unfortunately for Tan Sanyuan, the snowball landed squarely on the back of his head.
Tan Sanyuan froze in place, his expression turning cold.
Tan Siwen and Tan Wuguan immediately turned around and shouted, “Second Brother, Third Brother’s been hit!”
Tan Sanyuan remained calm and composed, brushing the snow off his shoulders silently. He didn’t cry, nor did he throw a tantrum.
Chen Shian, emboldened by his actions, felt that in this mountain village, no one would dare stop him from bullying a few small children.
He grabbed another large snowball and hurled it at Tan Erqian.
But Tan Erqian reacted quickly, dodging the snowball and stepping forward to shield Tan Sanyuan. He glared at Chen Shian, his voice cold with anger. “You’ve been bullying me for a while now, but to think you’d dare to target my younger brother!”
Chen Shian, shameless as ever, denied it with a nonchalant sneer. “What makes you think I’ve been bullying him?”
With that, he clapped his hands and turned to leave.
Tan Erqian didn’t chase after him. Instead, he called out with a tone that was neither warm nor cold, “Big Brother Chen, I happen to have a few letters that you left in the shop. Should I deliver them to your wife?”
Chen Shian was nothing but a scoundrel—like the infamous Chen Shimei. He had a wife at home but still went around courting other women. Tan Erqian, though young and not fully understanding such matters, could tell from the letters he had seen that something wasn’t right. He wasn’t entirely naive, so he decided to make a comment to probe the situation.
When Chen Shian heard this, he panicked. He hadn’t realized that this little brat understood such things. His face turned grim as he quickly snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting? What letters?”
Tan Erqian remained unhurried, saying, “Big Brother Chen, I don’t really understand those letters. But I’ll go home and ask my mother. She can ask Aunt Chen about them.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Chen Shian rushed forward, fuming with anger. “You little brat, you’re already trying to blackmail others at such a young age! Give me those letters!”
Tan Erqian answered without hesitation, “I’ll give them to you, but only on one condition.”
Chen Shian asked, “What condition?”
Tan Erqian thought for a moment and then said, “Take your wife and leave this place. The further, the better.”
Chen Shian burst into laughter. “You little fool, dreaming such impossible things.”
Tan Erqian shrugged and said, “Well, if you’re unwilling, then forget it.”
With that, he turned and walked away with his brothers.
“Wait!” Chen Shian shouted, furious. He rushed forward to catch up, but his foot slipped on the snow, sending him tumbling down the hill.
It was a bad fall. He rolled all the way down the slope and landed with a splash in the icy pond at the bottom.
Tan Erqian glanced back coldly, then turned and walked away without a second thought.
Meanwhile, Chen Shian struggled in the water, shouting for help, “Help! Help!”
In truth, the water wasn’t very deep, but it was freezing cold. After soaking for a while, he’d probably catch a cold that would keep him bedridden for ten days or half a month.