Today, he had run out of paper and ink. After asking his teacher for leave in the morning to return home, the journey alone took nearly four hours. Tired and thirsty, he arrived home and stormed up the back mountain to find Qin Sang, expecting his Mother's doting care. Instead, he was met with cold words and a harsh scolding. His heart was already heavy with hurt, and he stood outside the door in a sulk, hoping his Mother would feel sorry for him and coax him inside. To his surprise, she didn't even glance his way.
This made him feel utterly ignored, and the looks from his elder brother and sister-in-law only deepened his sense of grievance.
The eight-year-old boy couldn't hold back his tears.
In the past, whenever his Mother heard him cry, she would immediately fetch him the tastiest treats without a word. Today, there was nothing.
His Mother let him stand there under the sun. She even said he wouldn't be allowed to continue his studies.
This was the time of day when the sun was at its fiercest. He felt like he was being roasted alive.
Would he die from sun exposure?
Once this thought crossed Tian Wenmo's mind, he could no longer resist the urge to enter the house. His legs instinctively stepped into the courtyard.
Once inside the courtyard gate, Tian Wenmo saw his Mother sitting in the main hall.
He shuffled reluctantly to the doorway, step by tiny step, before Qin Sang finally lifted her eyelids.
"Had enough of the sun?"
Qin Sang had wondered how long he could hold out, but it hadn't even been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
After all, he was only eight years old—still far too tender.
Feeling sorry for him was out of the question; he wasn't even her own child.
Moreover, even if he were her biological son, raising a little leech who showed no consideration for his parents would be worse than not raising him at all.
While he was still young and his values weren't fully formed, it was best to correct him now.
Tian Wenmo stiffened his neck, refusing to speak or answer, continuing his stubborn resistance.
Qin Sang wasn't in a hurry. She told Eldest Girl to pour him some water.
Eldest Girl was very obedient and brought over a cup of tea. Seeing this, Tian Wenmo felt his throat grow even drier. He thought that since his Mother had Eldest Girl bring him water, she must feel sorry for him after all. Just as he reached out to take it, Qin Sang's voice rang out.
"Do you know that the water in this cup was fetched by your eldest brother from the village well before dawn today? A single load weighs about sixty jin. Could you carry that?"
This wasn't something Qin Sang made up. It hadn't rained for months, and the village well was nearly dry. If you didn't go early in the morning, you might not get any water at all.
Tian Wenmo withdrew his outstretched hand, pouting, tears still streaking his face.
"That's because he's the eldest brother. Eldest Brother is the strongest, so shouldn't fetching water be his job?"
Tian Dazhuang, who had been used as an example, stood by awkwardly. Worried his Mother might think he complained about the work, he hurriedly explained.
"Mother, fetching water isn't tiring. I can manage it. I'm the eldest brother; it's my duty."
Qin Sang scolded him angrily.
"Adults are talking. Children shouldn't interrupt."
Tian Dazhuang immediately covered his mouth. Mother had scolded him, but she called him a child?
Qin Sang glared at her eldest son. What a useless ally—thoroughly brainwashed.
It wasn't easy to correct him either; this was a mindset and habit Tian Dazhuang had developed over more than a decade. It would have to be changed slowly over time.
She turned her gaze back to her youngest son.
"Hah, you say it's your eldest brother's duty to do these things. Then ask yourself: as the younger brother being taken care of, what should *you* be doing?"
Tian Wenmo's eyes widened. This was the first time he'd heard his Mother refer to him as someone being taken care of.
What was he supposed to do?
"I study hard," Tian Wenmo stated as if it were obvious.
Qin Sang was exasperated. So this was how the Original Body had raised her children. Just great.
"You study for your own benefit. What does that have to do with your eldest brother?"
"When I become a high official through my studies, Eldest Brother will have an official for a younger brother. He won't have to farm anymore; he can become a gentleman. Isn't that good?"
Hmph, good my foot. This was like her third-grade self promising her dad she'd get into Tsinghua or Peking University, become a big boss, and buy him a mansion and a Mercedes. In reality, seven years after graduation, she was still drifting around, relying on family support...
Such words were best taken with a grain of salt. Believe them, and you lose.
"Are you that confident you'll become a high official? Is it that easy? Your teacher is a scholar too. Did he become a high official?"
Tian Wenmo fell silent. His teacher was indeed a scholar, but he had never held an official post. He had seen several scholars in town who weren't officials either.
Seeing him crushed and questioning his life choices, Qin Sang spoke up.
"Since you think your eldest brother doesn't find fetching water tiring or hard, from now on, you can take care of all your own needs. Fetch your own water from the village, cook your own meals, wash your own clothes.
This will continue until you figure out what you should be doing."
Tian Wenmo clenched his fists in anger.
"Mother, are you giving up on me?"
Qin Sang laughed mockingly.
"Isn't this me taking care of you?"
Tian Wenmo was left speechless. Before he could recover, Qin Sang added another instruction.
"Oh, and go tidy up the Woodshed. Your Fourth Sister and Eldest Girl are sleeping with me now. Since you've suddenly come back, you can sleep in your Fourth Sister's Woodshed."
Tian Wenmo: "..."
Qin Sang went into the inner room to rest, telling the eldest and the others to take a break at noon too—this wasn't the time for work. Eldest Girl hesitated with the teacup, glanced at her furious uncle, fearfully set the cup down, and followed Grandma into the room.
Uncle looks so scary. Grandma, protect me.
Would Tian Wenmo go fetch water?
He absolutely would not.
He was the only child in the village who studied. If he were seen fetching water from the well, what would the villagers think?
Seeing his sister-in-law come out holding a bolt of cloth—a brand new piece of blue linen—a smug look crossed Tian Wenmo's face. Though he didn't know why his Mother was angry with him today, she still treated him best. Hadn't she bought cloth again to make him new clothes?
"Sister-in-law, I've grown taller. Make the robe longer this time."
Zhou Dahua, holding the cloth, hesitated and opened her mouth to speak, but Third Brothers Wife spoke up from behind her.
"Little Uncle, don't get the wrong idea. Mother said this cloth isn't for you. You just got new clothes early this summer. This time, it's for the rest of us first."
Tian Wenmo looked at his sister-in-law disbelievingly. Zhou Dahua nodded with difficulty.
"Little Uncle, Mother really did say that."
Tian Wenmo was so angry he was speechless. Mother had money to buy cloth bolt by bolt, so why wouldn't she buy him paper and ink?
Tian Wenmo couldn't understand. He simply turned and went to the Woodshed, only to step back out less than two minutes later.
The Woodshed was filthy and chaotic, filled with firewood and dust everywhere. Aside from a pile of straw, there were also mice. How could anyone sleep there?
Why was Mother treating him like this?
When it was time for the midday meal after the nap, Third Sons Wife excitedly brought a large pottery basin of stewed pickled chicken and vegetables to the table.
Only Qin Sang managed not to salivate, as she had eaten a few pieces of dried meat during the nap.
What would it look like for a grandmother, an elder, to fight over food with the children?
Qin Sang felt she might not have an idol's image to maintain, but she certainly had the burden of being an elder.
The children waited with restrained anticipation for Qin Sang to pick up her chopsticks. In no hurry, she lifted her gaze to Tian Wenmo standing by the door.
"You can come to the table to eat on one condition: this afternoon, you must slice the Millettia root I gathered this morning. If you don't want to do it, you can go hungry.
The rest of you, start eating."