Chapter 203

Wang Yuan’er was speaking about being helpless regarding Wang Min’er’s plight, but seeing Wang Er’s pain and Grandma Wang silently weeping in the room, as well as thinking of Xiao Zhilian’s kitten-like appearance, her heart couldn’t suppress the pang of compassion. She couldn’t help but extend a helping hand.

This time, she didn’t stir public opinion or anything, but instead directly visited the Tang household. However, unlike before, she brought a large number of gifts and accompanied Grandma Wang into the Tang family’s Songhe Hall.

Songhe Hall housed three generations of Old Madam Tang’s descendants-in-law, including Third Madam Tang and Madam Rong, the new daughter-in-law.

Upon hearing that the despised relative and grandmother of that little troublemaker had come, Madam Rong deliberately came to see what kind of people they were. As for the old woman, there’s nothing to say—she’s clearly a poor and sour-looking person, carrying herself with false solemnity and pretense. As for the relative, she wore an outfit that was seventy to eighty percent new, though one couldn’t tell when it had been in style. She had a slender figure and a calm demeanor, carrying herself with composure—but who knew what she was up to? Could she be acting? Tsk, someone from a humble, poor family trying to play a part—does that even change their impoverished origins?

As Madam Rong scrutinized Wang Yuan’er, Wang Yuan’er was scrutinizing her in turn.

This was Wang Yuan’er’s first time meeting Madam Rong. A lady of a prestigious household, she had an extraordinary demeanor and outstanding beauty. However, her slightly high cheekbones and slightly upturned eyes gave the impression that she wasn’t someone easy to get along with.

After a glance, Wang Yuan’er shifted her gaze and fixed her eyes on Old Madam Tang. She couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but Old Madam Tang appeared much weaker than the last time she had seen her a year ago. There were more strands of silver in her hair at her temples, and the sorrow between her brows was even more deeply etched.

“It’s been some time since we last met, dear sister. How is your health holding up?” Old Madam Tang greeted Grandma Wang with a forced smile.

The Tang family had been going through a tough time lately. Upon hearing that this grandmother and granddaughter pair had come for a visit, she didn’t feel pleased. However, noticing that they had come bearing large gifts, she chose to meet them despite her lack of enthusiasm—after all, it’s hard to refuse someone arriving with smiles and offerings.

Madam Rong sat holding a teacup, idly stirring the tea to skim off the foam with the lid. Hearing Old Madam Tang speak, she raised her eyelids slightly and inwardly thought: What is Old Madam Tang thinking? Meeting and talking with these countryside bumpkins—doesn’t she feel it lowers her own status?

“Thanks to your blessings, everything is fine. It’s just…” Grandma Wang managed a couple of sentences before she started coughing.

Wang Yuan’er gently soothed her grandmother’s back and said to Old Madam Tang, “My apologies, Old Madam. My grandmother is upset and agitated.”

For some reason, Old Madam’s eyelids twitched. Nanny Tang had mentioned that the eldest girl of the Wang family was a sharp one, adept with her words—in essence, someone whose tongue was not easily forgiving. Her sudden visit left her wondering about the purpose behind it. Her gaze briefly landed on the large bags placed at the grandmother and granddaughter’s feet, instilling a sense of foreboding. She’d even heard they’d brought two chickens, now left outside.

Wang Yuan’er handed a cup of tea to her grandmother and said, “Grandma, let me speak.”

Grandma Wang nodded.

Wang Yuan’er then gracefully saluted Old Madam Tang and said, “The purpose of this visit is not for anything else but to address the matter concerning my wayward sister.”

As expected, apart from Concubine Wang’s issues, nothing else could justify their visit.

Before Old Madam Tang could say anything, Wang Yuan’er continued, “My sister has been utterly disappointing and unlucky. Living a lonely life in a remote village, nurturing and recovering, is her own fate. When my second uncle got into trouble earlier, she became so distressed that she had a premature birth. Thanks to Old Madam’s abundant blessings, far away, she was able to protect her offspring. Although she circled the gates of death, she ultimately gave birth to her child, avoiding the tragedy of one corpse and two lives. Speaking of this, I must express my gratitude to Old Madam on behalf of my sister.”

As she finished her words, Wang Yuan’er saluted Old Madam Tang once more.

After hearing Wang Yuan’er’s veiled words of criticism, Old Madam Tang was still caught up in the phrase ‘one corpse, two lives’ and had not fully processed its implications before she received her bow.

“I heard about her premature and difficult labor, so I went to visit her with my second aunt. Oh my, little Zhilian—oh, you might not know yet. We’ve given the little girl a nickname, Zhilian, hoping she can grow up safely and soundly under Old Madam’s blessings. You wouldn’t believe it, but her eyebrows and eyes look exactly like Third Young Master Tang’s!” Wang Yuan’er spoke with a slight smile. Then, in an instant, her expression shifted to one of solemnity. “After all, being born prematurely has left the child frail. My sister, after her difficult labor, also needs to recover herself. Yet, she insists on nursing the baby personally. She is, after all, the mother, and only she can truly love her child. It’s said that a baby being nursed by their mother grows stronger. We all hope for the mother and daughter to recuperate well.”

When Old Madam Tang heard the comment about resembling Tang Xiuping, her eyelids twitched. Meanwhile, Madam Rong’s expression had already darkened.

“A piece of flesh fallen from one’s own body is always cherished. My second uncle and aunt feel the same. They went to visit just a few days ago, and upon returning, both fell ill. What do you think of this, Old Madam?” Wang Yuan’er glanced at Old Madam Tang with a half-smile.

“Oh? What happened?” Old Madam Tang asked calmly.

“It’s nothing else. When my second uncle and aunt went to the village, they found my sister washing clothes herself. Can you imagine? She had only just completed her confinement period and was already doing laundry with her own hands. And her condition—she’s completely emaciated, her face pale and thin. That’s not all; after having walked through the gates of death, she should be gradually recuperating. But what’s truly heartbreaking is poor little Zhilian. She’s already a month old, yet she’s still as frail as a newborn kitten. Her swaddling clothes were smeared with filth, and no one bothered to change them. She cried until she was almost suffocating, and still, no one paid her any attention. Tell me, as parents, who wouldn’t feel heartbroken seeing such a scene?” Wang Yuan’er wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Old Madam Tang listened, and the veins on her forehead throbbed.

But it wasn’t over yet. Wang Yuan’er continued, “My second uncle and aunt were so distressed and angered seeing the mother and daughter that they both fell sick upon returning. We thought to ourselves—how could a large and prominent family like the Tang family fail to properly care for a mother and her baby? It’s said even a tiger won’t eat its cubs. Surely, if the Tang family isn’t taking care of the adult, they should at least care for the child, right? We wondered if something might have happened in the Tang family, causing them to neglect things temporarily. But we can’t just sit back and do nothing. So we gritted our teeth, scraped together what we could, and bought some things. We are here to ask if you could send someone to the village to deliver these items so the mother and daughter can at least have some decent food and drink.”

She finished speaking in one breath and then placed all the items from the ground onto the table, unveiling their contents. They included common medicinal ingredients like Angelica and black beans, some snacks, and even two sets of baby clothes.

Looking at the array of items, Old Mada Tang’s face flushed red and then turned pale—it was an unpleasant sight. She had lived and schemed for most of her life, and if she couldn’t understand the purpose of Wang Yuan’er’s visit by now, all her years would have been in vain. This was clearly a blatant slap in the face, delivered openly and ruthlessly.

A prominent family like the Tangs couldn’t even take proper care of a mother and newborn child, leaving them hungry to the point where the maternal family had to bring supplies. If one were to put it kindly, it was “thoughtless.” But wasn’t it also a complete humiliation?

You claim to lack resources and manpower? Fine, here, I’ll bring everything—now you can deliver it to the mother and daughter yourself.

Old Madam Tang’s sharp gaze swept silently over Third Madam Tang and Madam Rong, her fingers clenching into a fist and her lips pressed into a thin line.

Third Madam Tang had initially assumed that this impoverished woman had come to take advantage of their generosity. She never expected this visit to turn into a direct confrontation. She had previously experienced the eldest Wang girl’s sharp tongue, but it had never been so bold and unrestrained before.

Under Old Madam Tang’s intense gaze, Third Madam Tang feigned surprise and said, “Could there really be such a thing? The village is far away, and overseeing everything from here is hard. Mother, rest assured, I will thoroughly investigate this matter and have those insolent maids who dared to overstep sold off far away.”

Old Madam Tang responded with a hum and, turning to Grandma Wang and her group, said, “It was indeed our oversight. Lately, there have been many affairs at home. We thought that letting the mother and daughter quietly recover in the village would keep them undisturbed by the trivial matters here. We didn’t expect such issues to arise.”

Wang Yuan’er covered her mouth with her hand as she smiled and said to Grandma Wang, “Grandmother, you see, I told you the Tang family are people of discipline. How could they let servants step over their masters? If word got out, wouldn’t people say it’s the servants running the Tang family?” Then, as if realizing her words, she lightly smacked her own lips and said, “Oh dear, Old Madam, please don’t take it the wrong way. That’s not what I meant.”

If it wasn’t that, then what did she mean? Old Madam Tang’s face turned ashen, her attempt to force a smile utterly failing.

“My sister has always said that Old Madam is a kind-hearted person. You’d even show compassion to beggars lingering at the Tang family’s back gate, let alone your own children. And now that I’ve seen it for myself today, it’s clear—you indeed have the benevolent appearance of Guanyin herself. Truly, your descendants are blessed. In the future, little Zhilian will undoubtedly kowtow to thank you, for after all, she owes her survival to Old Madam’s blessings.” Wang Yuan’er bowed gracefully and smiled as she added, “Old Madam, we won’t take up more of your time with family matters to tend to. These modest gifts may not be of much value, but they are a token of our sincerity. Please kindly have someone deliver them to the village.”

This alternating rhythm of criticism and compliments was devastatingly effective. No wonder Nanny Tang remarked on how skilled Wang Yuan’er was with words—her statements left them nearly defenseless.

Wang Yuan’er and her group quickly took their leave. They had come with large bundles, but when they left, they didn’t take a single thread with them, stating that everything was to be given to Wang Min’er and her child.

Hearing chickens clucking from outside the Songhe Hall, Old Madam Tang’s lips twitched. She angrily swept the tea bowl beside her off the table.

“Having someone slap us in the face at our doorstep—does this make you feel proud?” She glared coldly at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law before her, her chest heaving angrily. “Just a mere concubine’s daughter, and yet you couldn’t manage her properly. How do you expect to run the household in the future?”

It might have been somewhat tolerable if it were a distinguished family delivering this humiliation. But to be embarrassed by a countryside household—where did they get the audacity? Where did they find the confidence?

“Old Madam, these uncouth, unprincipled commoners aren’t worth your ire,” Third Madam Tang remarked dismissively.

“Ire? The sound of this slap echoes loudly, and you’re telling me I shouldn’t be upset? If word gets out that the Tang family is less capable than a common household, how does that sound?” Old Madam Tang slammed the table forcefully.

Third Madam Tang pursed her lips, about to speak, when Madam Rong suddenly interjected, “Old Madam, I believe the people in the village are neglecting their duties. Why not bring the mother and daughter back here to recuperate?”