Chapter 389 - 338: Packing Up and Leaving (Part 2)
Chapter 389: Chapter 338: Packing Up and Leaving (Part 2)
By the time the mother and daughter from the Zeng Family arrived in a hurry, they and Tian Xueqin could only stare at each other awkwardly. Tian Xueqin had no choice but to placate Zeng Rong, declaring that she only wanted a daughter-in-law like her and would push for their marriage as soon as Shaofeng returned to the country.
After that, she grew even closer with the mother and daughter from the Zeng Family. Whenever she was back in Beijing, either Mrs. Zeng would host or Tian Xueqin would treat them. Today, seeing that she had plenty of good food and tea on hand for guests, she had invited them over. Who could have expected something like this to happen?
She had lost so much face. Tian Xueqin let out a long, frustrated sigh.
Tian Sisi had eaten her fill. She let out a couple of burps, picked up a towel to wipe her hands, and pouted. "Auntie, why are you sighing again? Did they yell at you afterward? Shaoling and I were locked up and starved for most of the day. Isn’t that enough? What more do they want? They’re being ridiculous!"
"Sisi, keep your voice down. I’ve told you not to talk so recklessly."
The aunt and niece turned to look out the door. The path in the courtyard was brightly lit, and there was no one left under the eaves by Shaoling’s door. A guard had been posted there during the day simply to prevent Tian Xueqin from secretly sneaking them food. Now that they had been given something to eat and drink, there was no longer any need for one.
Tian Xueqin pressed her lips together. "Grandpa may be biased," she said to Tian Sisi, "but you and Shaoling were definitely in the wrong today. It’s not proper for young ladies to spout such nasty things that are taboo to the older generation! Even if you overheard some gossip and wanted to use it against her, you should have waited until the adults weren’t around. Haven’t I taught you to read the situation? But no, you just had to go and provoke her in the main hall!"
Tian Sisi’s eyes reddened, and she looked aggrieved. "Auntie, what do you mean we didn’t read the situation? This is the Gu family’s house, not the Tang family’s! Tang Manman is the guest. How can a guest be more important than the hosts? We couldn’t even say a few things to her?"
"You have to consider who you’re dealing with. The Tang and Gu families have a long-standing relationship. And it’s not like you don’t know Old Mrs. Tang—she has a terrible temper and is fiercely protective of her own. Years ago, Jiang Yuyan just casually mentioned that Tang Yaxuan didn’t look like a member of the Tang Family, and Old Mrs. Tang berated her until she cried. Yet you two weren’t afraid to poke the bear. Now you’re paying the price, aren’t you?"
"Auntie, if you ask me, this is Sister Jun Ran’s fault! Shaoling and I were just sitting there quietly. When Shaoling saw Manman walk in, she wasn’t going to bother with her. But Sister Jun Ran reminded Shaoling how Manman gave us the cold shoulder when the three of us went to the Tang family’s house last week. She said Manman had some nerve showing up at the Gu family’s place and insisted on dragging us over there to teach her a lesson and vent some frustration... and that’s how the argument started!"
Tian Xueqin looked at her niece with exasperation. "What am I supposed to say to you? If Jun Ran wanted to vent, why didn’t she open her own mouth? It was just the two of you causing a scene. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. If you understand that saying, why did you let yourself get played?"
Tian Sisi lowered her head. "I wasn’t thinking about that at the time."
"Well, great," Tian Xueqin said, forcing herself to be blunt. "Now Shaoling’s Eldest Aunt is upset on her future daughter-in-law’s behalf and she laid it on thick with the old madam. Now even the old madam can’t stand you and wants you sent away tomorrow!"
Tian Sisi looked up, her face a mask of confusion. "Send me away? To where?"
"Back to your old home in Ji City!"
"What?" Tian Sisi’s eyes went wide. "Auntie, you’ve got to be kidding me, right? I haven’t even taken my finals at school yet. It’s not vacation time. How can I go home? You want me to skip my classes?"
Tian Xueqin sighed. "It’s not me! I told you, it was Shaoling’s Eldest Aunt! Who was it that couldn’t hold their temper and had to stir up trouble? Your Eldest Aunt was never happy about you staying at the Gu family home for so long, and now you’ve given her the perfect reason to kick you out. And Shaoling is still locked up! Who knows when she’ll be let out!"
Tian Sisi pouted. "What business is it of the Eldest Aunt’s if I stay here? I’m here to keep Shaoling company. My room and board, if you really want to get specific, are coming out of your second branch’s share. The Eldest Aunt has no say over me! Auntie, you’re a daughter-in-law in this family, too. You mean you can’t even have one relative from your side of the family stay over? You can’t let the Eldest Aunt bully me like this!"
Tian Xueqin was speechless.
’She was very reluctant herself. She had only blamed her sister-in-law because she was afraid to scare her niece by telling her it was actually the old master and the old madam’s decision. It was better to just let Sisi think her Eldest Aunt couldn’t stand her.’
Seeing her aunt remain silent, Tian Sisi grew frantic. "Auntie, are you really going to agree to send me away? What about my school? And—and Shaoling will never agree to this! I’m going to tell her right now. We’ll go and confront the Eldest Aunt tomorrow!"
"Get back here!" Tian Xueqin grabbed Tian Sisi, softening her tone. "There, there, good girl. How about this? I’ll have your uncle rent an apartment for you. You can stay off-campus for a little while. Once your Eldest Aunt has cooled down, I’ll bring you back."