Chapter 6: Pointed Daggers Drawn
Cao and Tao each grasped one of He Jing's arms, glaring at each other in anger. Although Tao usually didn't dare to speak loudly in front of Wei, Cao's mention of "mother and son" ignited her fierce determination. If she lost this son, she would lose everything. In fact, Cao also regarded He Jing as his only reliance.
"Jing Er is my son!"
Tao and Cao were in perfect harmony, grasping He Jing's arm even more tightly, neither of them willing to let go.
He Huan watched clearly, they were too busy arguing and didn't notice He Jing at all. He Jing looked at Cao Shi, then turned her head to stare at Tao Shi, her small face pale, her teeth tightly biting her lower lip, not making a sound.
"Aunt Cao, what are you doing!" He Huan strode towards He Jing, one arm embracing him and the other grasping Aunt Cao's wrist.
Tao suddenly came to her senses, and before Cao could let go of her hand, she had already released He Jing. With a face full of shame, she retreated two steps back, but then glared at Cao with reluctance.
Cao saw her let go, and only then did she push He Huan away, shouting: "It's you who wants to drive me away, I can only do as you wish, take Jing'er and leave. This is what you forced me to do, it's you who can't tolerate us mother and son. From now on, even if we can't afford food and starve to death by the roadside, it's all your fault. In the future, when you see your father, let's see how you'll face him!"
He Huan thought she was just a vicious dog barking randomly, and lowered her head to examine He Jing's wrist, only to see that his slender white arm had already been pinched by Cao Shi into five finger marks.
"Big sister, I'm fine." He Jing hastily rolled down his sleeves and looked up at Cao Shi to say: "Auntie, big sister didn't lock me up..."
"What did you just call me?" Cao's face was filled with shock, her eyes wide with anger.
He Jing's face turned red, and she lowered her head, saying in a low voice: "Auntie, big sister has already told me..."
"You... you this-" Cao was shocked and furious, unable to utter a complete sentence. She slapped He Jing's back of the head with her palm, then grabbed his collar, shouting loudly: "I suffered for a day and night to give birth to you! For your sake, I almost lost my life!" She shook He Jing violently, her face iron-green, veins bulging on her forehead, her eyes about to spew fire.
He Huan hastily hugged He Jing and separated the two. Cao saw this, her resentment in her heart grew even more, she lifted her leg and was about to kick He Huan's body.
"How dare you!" He Huan pushed He Jing to the Tao family and stood in front of the Cao family with her head held high, saying: "You dare to touch me, see if I won't throw you out!" Although she was petite, her momentum had subdued the Cao family.
Cao looked at He Huan, then at He Jing who was leaning against Tao's chest with his back to her. Suddenly, a wave of sadness rose from the bottom of her heart, and she felt like an eggplant that had been frostbitten, completely wilted. If her son were of one mind with her, how could he have ended up in this state?
"Be careful, or you'll be struck by lightning!" Cao's words were threatening, and she quietly took a step back, lowering her eyes and not daring to look directly at He Huan. It was better to live in shame than to die with dignity; after all, she was just a poor person, and having enough food was more important than saving face.
By his side, He Jing's face was pale, biting his teeth to force himself not to make a sound. He didn't know if he had done the right thing or not, he was already confused, only feeling a deep pain in his heart.
He Huan glanced at Cao's family and bowed his head to say to Bai Shu, who was sitting on the ground: "Don't you still support Cao's wife back to her room?"
Not far away, under the corridor, Wei's family lightly pulled the corner of Cao's profile and secretly said in her heart: useless thing. However, although she despised Cao's fighting power, she didn't dare to confront He Huan head-on at this time. As He Huan said, Shen Jinglun is now the only hope for the He family, and Lin Xiyang's death can be said to be a godsend. In the future, when He Huan marries into the Shen family, won't she be the one who has the final say in this house? At that time, can a married-out daughter still return to her natal home to point fingers and give orders?
Thinking so, Wei also no longer insisted on the title of "Auntie", turned around and went back to her own room.
After all this commotion, He Huan was starving. She sent Tao Shi and He Jing back to their room and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Unfortunately, the kitchen only had a few salted vegetables, nothing else. Not giving up, she rummaged through the cabinets again, still unable to find any food.
"Zhang Aunt, is there anything to eat?" He Huan asked loudly, and as soon as he turned his head, he saw Tao Shi holding a plate of pastries and grasping a small cloth package standing at the kitchen door.
In a moment, the two arrived at He Huan's room. He Huan had some pastries and opened the package brought by Tao Shi.
Tao Shi watched her movements, just hesitating and not knowing how to speak, when He Huan had already taken out the pen and ink, recorded one by one the things in the package, and handed a copy to Tao Shi.
"Huan'er, what are you doing?" Tao Shi exclaimed in surprise.
"Aunt, as the saying goes, 'no work no gain', I can't just take your things for free. How about this, let's consider these things as a loan from you to me, your niece."
"What are you talking about?" Mrs. Tao's heart sank as she lowered her head. She had originally planned to tell He Huan that she was going to use these things to send He Jing to school. Now that He Huan mistakenly thought the things were for her, how could she explain?
"Great Aunt, from yesterday noon till now, I haven't eaten anything." He Huan pretended to wipe away tears and said with emotion: "In this family, only you remember to send me pastries. To me, it's not just two pieces of pastry." She choked back a sob, paused for a moment, then continued: "Actually, Great Aunt could have just pretended not to understand, like Auntie did. After all, although I keep saying I must marry Mr. Shen, he and I are worlds apart, and the marriage may not happen. Besides, at present, it's not just Jizhou, but also several nearby towns, who knows how many people want to marry him? And me? I have nothing, can do nothing, and don't even have a chance of winning." With that, He Huan let out a faint sigh.
Tao Shi listened to He Huan's words, and then let out a sigh, apologetically saying: "Huan'er, don't blame your aunt. Your aunt is not in good health, just like your mother said, I'm a medicine jar, who knows when I'll get sick again."
"Great Aunt, I know you don't want me to appear in front of Mr. Shen, it's all for my future, but..."
Mrs. Tao patted He Huan's hand and advised her with a bitter tone, "Huan'er, a girl's reputation is more important than her life. As for Mr. Shen, we can't reach that high. We'll think of ways to get through the tough days ahead, if all else fails, we can sell the house and find a small courtyard to live in temporarily, it should be able to hold up for a few years."
"Great Aunt, Jingdi is only ten years old, he still has to study and take the imperial examination, there's a great future waiting for him..."
"Don't worry about this. I made a vow before your great uncle's deathbed that I would definitely not neglect his studies."
"Great Aunt!" He Huan exclaimed, "Have you ever thought that if I were to marry into the Shen family, Jingdi would be Young Master Shen's brother-in-law. Not to mention Ji Zhou, even in the capital, the Shen family has many connections."
Tao's eyes widened slightly in surprise. After a long while, she shook her head and said: "Huan'er, you and he are of different social status, and he has many misunderstandings about us..."
"Great Aunt, my mind is made up. If I can marry Mr. Shen this time, it will be the best outcome. If not, I will publicly declare my vow and swear a solemn oath that I will never marry again in this lifetime."