Chapter 10

Early the next morning, Tian Yao prepared breakfast and left it by the bedside. Yu Nian was also awake, reminding him to be careful before he left.

Under Yu Nian’s gaze, he took the money he had saved earlier, waved at him, and headed for the town.

Squire Liu’s household was located on Dengjia Lane in town, and it wasn’t hard to find.

Carrying the wild geese, Tian Yao felt a bit uneasy as he approached the side gate of the Liu residence. He hadn’t really interacted with wealthy families like this before, and his heart was still somewhat timid.

Fortunately, the gate opened quickly. The one who answered was a young servant who didn’t seem very old. He didn’t look down his nose at anyone, simply asking what his business was.

Somewhat restrained, Tian Yao spoke, “I heard your residence is looking for wild geese for betrothal gifts. I happened to catch two the day before yesterday. Would your honorable household still be in need of them?”

The young servant, who had worn a somewhat worried expression, had his eyes light up immediately upon hearing Tian Yao’s words. He grabbed Tian Yao’s shoulder. “Wait here, just wait.”

Having said that, he rushed into the residence, shouting as he ran, “Master! Young Master! There’s hope!”

Before long, Squire Liu and Young Master Liu both hurried out. The anxious one was Young Master Liu; he looked towards Tian Yao’s hand. “You’re the one who said you have wild geese?”

Tian Yao nodded, not having had time to set down his bamboo basket.

Young Master Liu added impatiently, “I won’t take dead ones, you know. Several people came before, all with dead ones.”

Only then did Tian Yao lift the red cloth covering the basket. Inside were two live wild geese. Although a bit listless, they could still flutter their wings—exactly the kind of wild geese they needed.

And there were two of them!

This was truly an unexpected delight. It was the season when wild geese were about to fly south; seeing even one occasionally was already rare. This ger had actually managed to catch two.

“I’ll take both of your wild geese. Name your own price.” Young Master Liu stared at the two geese, unable to tear his eyes away.

Squire Liu had no objections either. After all, this matter was very important—it represented the face of their Liu family. He simply let Young Master Liu handle it.

Tian Yao was now in a dilemma. He was just about to speak when Tian Yusheng, who was nearby, came over. He was already working as a long-term laborer at the Liu household. Hearing that someone had come to deliver geese, he came over to watch the excitement.

Only then did he realize the person was Tian Yao.

Remembering his own elderly mother at home, who usually had a good relationship with Tian Yao, he interjected a word.

“Master, Young Master, this ger is someone from our village. He has no parents, and his life is truly difficult.”

Squire Liu was also known in town as the Charitable Liu, usually generous in his charity, so his reputation in town was also very good.

Young Master Liu also heard Tian Yusheng’s words and said directly, “Then I’ll give you six taels and six maces for the two.”

Tian Yao nodded somewhat dazedly. Someone already brought silver over to give to Tian Yao, and naturally, someone also took the two wild geese away.

Taking the silver, Tian Yao bowed sincerely to Young Master Liu. “I wish the Young Master and Young Madam a harmonious union of a hundred years, and eternal togetherness.”

Young Master Liu laughed heartily and had the servant grab a handful of wedding candies for Tian Yao.

Clutching the silver, Tian Yao found an empty alley and counted all his worldly possessions. Last time, selling Father’s leather had gotten him five taels; that same day, he’d spent almost three out of the two-plus taels. The silver from selling the wild boar hadn’t been touched. Today, he’d received another six taels and six maces. In total, that was fourteen taels. He could go get a wheelchair made for Yu Nian.

Tian Yao stood up, dusted himself off, and excitedly headed to the carpenter’s place.

“Master, I’m here.”

The carpenter still had some impression of him, because someone wanting a wheelchair only came along once every eight or ten years. So he still remembered Tian Yao.

“Yo, planning to have it made now?”

Tian Yao nodded, also thinking about bargaining with the carpenter. It would be even better if he could lower the price a bit more.

Tian Yao followed behind him the whole time, talking until his mouth was almost dry. In the end, the carpenter, utterly helpless, said that if Tian Yao provided the wood, he would accept nine taels of silver. This was his greatest concession.

Tian Yao only stopped when the carpenter was about to throw him out. He then paid a deposit of four taels of silver, saying he could come pick it up in a month.

This was the best news in a long time. The joy on his face was impossible to hide. By the time he got home, his face was almost stiff from smiling. As he neared home, he heard voices coming from inside the house.

He was a bit puzzled. Ordinarily, hardly anyone came to his home, let alone now that he and Yu Nian were married; even fewer people sought him out.

He quickened his steps a little, afraid that, like last time, someone had come to bully Yu Nian.

But the moment he entered the door, he saw the two people he least wanted to see: Tian Liu, and his eldest brother, Tian Wen.

Tian Wen was the first Child Scholar from their Huailing Village. Their family’s status in the village had risen dramatically overnight. Those were the most glorious days for their family, and the bleakest moments of Tian Yao’s life.

When Tian Wen passed the Child Scholar exam, Tian Yao was experiencing the pain of losing a parent.

Father was an old hunter, extremely experienced in hunting up the mountain. So when he went out, Little Dad simply kissed his temple very gently and told him to come back safe.

Tian Yao didn’t go along that time, because Father said he was going deep into the mountains, and it was too dangerous for a child to follow. So he went to play with Tian Liu.

In the mid-afternoon, the weather suddenly changed. Remembering that Father was still in the mountains, Little Dad immediately put on a straw rain cape and went to look for him. Tian Yao also followed. Little Dad didn’t stop him; at a time like this, an extra pair of hands was a good thing.

They followed the path Father took up the mountain. This was an agreement between Father and Little Dad: no matter where he went, he had to leave markings so people could find him.

The mountain path was even harder to navigate on rainy days, and Little Dad’s health wasn’t very good. Tian Yao directly carried him on his back. They followed Father’s marks all the way deep into the mountains, but they didn’t see any sign of Father.

The heavy rain drowned out Tian Yao’s heart-wrenching shouts, and also washed away any traces that could have led them to Father.

Tian Yao was like a headless fly. Finally, Little Dad held him down. Little Dad’s gaze had already shifted from earlier anxiety to a present calmness.

When they found Father, he was already not breathing. In his hand, he still clutched a medicinal herb—the one Little Dad had previously mentioned wanting to go up the mountain to gather.

Tian Yao could no longer cry. He watched Little Dad stand beside Father’s body. The little Tian Yao looked up at him, but saw a Little Dad he had never seen before. The Little Dad he knew always wore a gentle smile on his face. Not like now; Little Dad’s face was filled with boundless killing intent.

Tian Yao leaned over and hugged Little Dad. Only then did Little Dad return to his usual appearance, simply and gently stroking the top of his head.

Tian Yao could no longer remember how he carried Father’s body down the mountain, just as he could no longer remember whether he had seen a different Little Dad.

He only remembered that as they descended, Tian Liu’s house was filled with the sounds of festive drums and music, and red cloth as crimson as blood.

After Father passed, Little Dad forced himself to hold a dignified funeral for him. Already in extreme grief, his health was further damaged by the heavy rain that day.

From then on, he fell ill and could not leave his bed. But every day, he would tell Tian Yao many things. Tian Yao couldn’t understand any of it. It seemed Little Dad had gone mad from Father’s death.

Little Dad shook his head helplessly. He drew countless little booklets for Tian Yao—recipes, medicinal herbs, everything he would need to survive. He wanted to make even more, but his body simply no longer allowed it.

When he left, Tian Yao was by his bedside. He wiped away Little Dad’s tears. “Little Dad, are you happy now?”

Little Dad just laboriously raised his hand, gently resting it on top of Tian Yao’s head, just like before. Tian Yao could feel life slowly draining from his thin, dry hand.

“Yaoyao, I’m sorry.”

Tian Yao shook his head, clutching Little Dad’s hand. “I’m fine, Little Dad.”

Little Dad’s gaze gradually became vacant. He looked at Tian Yao one last time. “Yaoyao, your father has come to pick me up.”

Tian Yao just bit his lip fiercely until he tasted a hint of blood. Only then did he release his teeth and help Little Dad tidy his appearance one last time.

Within ten days, he had lost both parents.

Losing both parents also meant he no longer had anyone to shelter him. Those families who had once shown kindness for the sake of his parents gradually distanced themselves from him.

Tian Yao didn’t find it awkward. The only thing that truly upset him was that Tian Liu also ignored him. Only later did he learn that the day Father passed away happened to be the day Big Brother Tian Wen passed the Child Scholar exam.

He delayed for a while, thinking he should still go offer congratulations, when he overheard the conversation between Tian Wen and Aunt Tian.

“If his father and Little Dad were still around, I might barely consider marrying him as a concubine, and that would already be doing him a favor. Besides, his family had a death right when I passed the Child Scholar exam—what terrible luck.”

From then on, until they moved away, Tian Yao never set foot in their house again. And due to later events, he and Tian Liu were essentially sworn enemies, never to interact again. He never expected they would actually come knocking on his door today.

He angrily pushed the door open and saw the two brothers sitting there. Little Gray was guarding closely by Yu Nian’s side, as if afraid these two would do something harmful to Yu Nian.

Tian Yao smiled when he saw that, then put on a stern face again. “What are you doing here?”

Tian Wen wore a Confucian scholar’s robe, always showing off his image as a learned man, wishing he could wear it day and night without taking it off. He was tall and thin, with a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks. In their family, it seemed only Tian Liu was barely passable in looks. Tian Wen said, “The day before yesterday, I heard from Liu Ge’er that you were entangled with a man, pulling and tugging without shame, even hugging and embracing on the main street. It’s truly an offense against public decency.”

Tian Yao’s small head was filled with enormous confusion. “If you’re sick, go get treatment. I was pulling, tugging, hugging, and embracing my husband. Does that need your permission?”

Tian Wen was taken aback. He pointed a finger at Tian Yao. “You actually committed such an act of illicit union without a matchmaker! Today, I will discipline you on behalf of your parents!”

Tian Yao walked up to Yu Nian, examined him carefully—he wasn’t injured—and only then turned his head to look at Tian Wen. “If you’re sick, go get treatment. What are you doing at my house, playing the elder!”

Tian Liu was the most protective of his elder brother, the Child Scholar, so his delicate brows furrowed. “Yao Ge’er, Brother is just concerned about you. What you did is indeed inappropriate.”

Tian Yao: …

“What business is it of yours? Coming to someone else’s house to bark like a dog?” Tian Yao bent down and picked up Gray from the ground. “Barking worse than a suckling pup. Little Gray, teach them how to bark properly.”

Gray, as if understanding his words, barked out in various tones, even producing many different pitches.

Tian Wen’s face flushed bright red. This was the first time anyone had shown him such utter disrespect.

He had originally thought that while Tian Yao wasn’t a great beauty, he could barely be called comely. He was also strong, so marrying him as a concubine would be a great help around the house. It was just that for the past few years, Tian Yao was in mourning for his parents and marriage wasn’t discussed. These last two years, it had been brought up, but his reputation was no good. He had persuaded his mother for a long time before she agreed to let him be a concubine.

He never expected Tian Yao to be so ungrateful, even using a dog to humiliate him. This was outrageous!

Tian Wen pointed at Tian Yao’s nose. “Tian Yao, do you know what crime it is to insult a Child Scholar?”

Yu Nian watched Tian Yao’s figure shielding him and then spoke, neither lightly nor heavily. “What crime? You are merely a commoner, just a Child Scholar, without even the right to avoid kneeling in the court hall. If he scolds you, he scolds you—what crime can you possibly charge him with?”