Zhao Huan's hand wringing her clothes paused, then tightened:
"So what if Mother knows? I didn't say anything else. She was the one overthinking it. She believes whatever I say. Is it my fault?"
Qin Sang looked at her coldly:
"Do you still think you're not in the wrong?"
Third Brothers Wife muttered:
"That's just how it is."
Qin Sang slapped the table, startling everyone in the family:
"How old are you, and how old is Si Jin? You think scaring a child is a joke? If Si Jin had lost her life on the mountain today, would you still think it's a joke?"
In Qin Sang's eyes, Si Jin was eleven, just a child, but clearly, in Third Brothers Wife's heart, she wasn't:
"Mother, no child would be so bold as to run up the mountain alone."
Tian Sijin pursed her lips, clearly unconvinced:
"It's because you said Mother was going to sell me that I was scared. You were talking nonsense. I really shouldn't have believed Third Sister-in-law's words, because Third Sister-in-law isn't worth trusting at all."
Third Brothers Wife's expression changed slightly, and she sneered:
"I didn't beg you to believe me. You're acting like anyone cares."
There was no point in continuing the argument like this. Qin Sang glanced at her:
"Apologize to Si Jin."
Seeing the coldness on Qin Sang's face, Third Brothers Wife's expression faltered. She glanced at her husband and turned her face away:
"I won't. Does your Tian Family not allow people to speak anymore? I'm not wrong, so why should I apologize?"
Qin Sang's deep voice carried a tone of extreme displeasure:
"Fine. It seems you don't consider the Tian Family your own home at all. Fine."
Qin Sang pulled out a bench and sat down, her face cold as she scanned Third Brother and his Wife:
"If you don't apologize, we divide the family."
San Gui and his wife immediately exchanged glances:
"Mother, what did you say? Divide the family?"
Qin Sang said calmly:
"Yes, family division."
"Your wife doesn't treat Si Jin as family, nor does she show much respect to her older brothers and sisters-in-law."
"She maliciously spread rumors about her Mother-in-law and refuses to admit her mistake, even resorting to sophistry."
"I can no longer afford to serve such a great deity as her."
"The only reason I haven't told you to write a Letter of Divorce is because she's pregnant. You're not a child anymore. You brought up family division before, and today, Mother will grant your wish."
For a moment, one could hear a pin drop in the main room.
There was a trace of a smile on Tian Sijin's face. Mother was protecting her, which made her very happy.
Tian Dazhuang was somewhat worried, feeling that family division was a truly serious matter. But his younger brother's wife was indeed in the wrong. He didn't know how to start persuading them, as it didn't seem appropriate to persuade either side.
With every word Qin Sang spoke, Third Brother and his Wife's faces grew paler. When she mentioned the Letter of Divorce, Third Brothers Wife swayed, her legs so weak she had to lean against the adobe wall to stay upright.
Tian Sangui instinctively looked at his wife. Zhao Huan thought for a moment and still shook her head.
She wanted to divide the family, but not under these circumstances.
If word got out, how would she face people in the future?
Seeing his wife shake her head, Tian Sangui was also incredibly anxious. If they proposed family division and their mother didn't agree, they couldn't do it. But if their mother proposed it and they didn't agree, they had no choice at all.
Once the news of the family division spread, everyone in the surrounding villages would call him unfilial.
With a fawning expression, Tian Sangui knelt before Qin Sang and pleaded:
"Mother, we didn't want to divide the family. Please calm down. Huan'er is young and doesn't know better, and she's carrying your eldest grandson. You see..."
Qin Sang remained unmoved:
"To me, as long as grandsons and granddaughters are obedient and filial, there's no difference. Don't use the grandson as an excuse. The Tian Family doesn't rely solely on her to carry on the lineage. You still have your eldest brother and Xiao Wu. Mother doesn't count on you to provide for my old age."
Tian Sangui knew his mother was truly angry. She had been angry before, and it was common for her to hit or scold people when she was. But she had never spoken so calmly and coldly, which terrified him.
Tian Sangui could only turn to his wife:
"How about you... apologize?"
Zhao Huan felt she was in a difficult position, but looking at her Mother-in-law's face, she knew that if she didn't apologize, they wouldn't get any money even if the family was divided. They probably wouldn't even get much land, let alone the house. It would be no different from being kicked out of the family. At that time, San Gui might even be angry with her.
She wanted to divide the family, but it had to be done fairly, without being criticized by others or losing out herself.
After weighing it over and over, Zhao Huan reluctantly walked up to Si Jin and said unwillingly:
"Si Jin, I'm sorry. Sister-in-law said the wrong thing today. Can you please not be angry with me?"
It was impossible for Tian Sijin not to be angry, but she also knew it was rare for her usually arrogant Third Sister-in-law to lower her head and admit her mistake. She didn't want to truly cause chaos in the household.
After all, her third brother was still quite good to her:
"I accept your apology. I hope Third Sister-in-law won't talk nonsense in the future and will watch her mouth."
This sentence made Third Brothers Wife want to flare up again, but Tian Sangui hurriedly stepped in to stop her:
"Alright, alright. Si Jin has forgiven you."
He then said to Qin Sang:
"Mother, Huan'er has already apologized to her sister. Regarding the family division, how about we forget about it?"
Qin Sang glanced at him, saw the bitter smile on his face, and finally relented:
"Since she's apologized, there's still hope. We'll see if she changes in the future."
After saying this, Qin Sang looked at Tian Sijin:
"Regarding today's matter, you're also at fault, Si Jin. You must have your own judgment and not just believe whatever others say, being easily influenced by a word or two."
"Especially when it's said by your enemies or competitors."
Being scolded by her mother, Tian Sijin immediately lowered her head, and the defiance on her face vanished:
"I understand, Mother."
Tian Sangui said pleasingly:
"Mother, can we start the meal then? The food is getting cold."
Qin Sang gave an "en," and the others sat down one after another.
Since Qin Sang didn't pick up her chopsticks, they didn't dare move:
"Before we eat, I have one more thing to say."
Everyone looked at Qin Sang. She pulled a piece of cloth from her bosom and counted out several copper coins from it:
"Today, Da Zhuang and San Gui dug up quite a lot of mugwort leaves on the mountain. Each is rewarded with two wen as wages. Eldest Girl, Da Hua, and Si Jin haven't been idle at home either. Each gets one wen as wages."
As she spoke, Qin Sang distributed the copper coins one by one to everyone, then wrapped the remaining coins in the rag and tucked them back into her bosom:
"Put your money away and let's eat."
With that, Qin Sang picked up her chopsticks.
Everyone looked at each other, astonished by the copper coins pushed in front of them.
Mother was actually giving them money?
Third Brothers Wife couldn't take it anymore and stood up:
"Mother, why do they all get money, but I don't have a single copper coin? Even Eldest Girl has some. Why don't I?"
Qin Sang calmly raised her eyes to look at her:
"Didn't I make it clear when I was distributing the coins? They all did work. Did you?"
Zhao Huan looked for an excuse:
"I... I'm pregnant! How could you have the heart to make me do that physical labor?"
Qin Sang ate while holding her bowl in one hand:
"You know it's physical labor. They did it, and you didn't. So they have it, and you don't. Is that hard to understand?"
Zhao Huan was truly angry, but she was afraid of contradicting her Mother-in-law again, lest she bring up the Letter of Divorce or family division:
"Does Mother not consider me family? No matter what, I'm carrying the Tian Family's golden grandson. Aren't you afraid people will say you're biased and mistreating a pregnant woman if you treat me so differently?"