Tao Wang and Granny Tian were both astonished. Tao Daniu and Tao Erniu also felt that Tao Wenrui was just looking for trouble.
Granny Tian wanted to ask, "Did marrying a learned wife make you lose your mind?"
Seeing that she was about to speak, Tao Wang quickly interjected, "That works too. I’ll come to pick her up in a while. When we left, her mother was very worried. She was afraid we wouldn't treat her well, afraid she wouldn't eat well, drink well, or sleep well."
Xiao Yanyan chimed in, "Mhm. You tell my mother that I'll come home once I’ve had enough fun with my pretty aunt. Pretty aunt, I like you so much. You’re prettier than any of the girls in our village. Can you take me out to play?"
Su Yuyao didn't want to go out at all, but since these people had come such a long way, they couldn't just turn around and leave. Su Yuyao forced a smile. "Of course. I was just thinking about where to take you all to play."
Su Yuyao spent five days showing Tao Wang and his group around.
Tao Wenrui visited five different doctors. All five said there was nothing wrong with his health, yet he remained unable to perform.
Xiao Yanyan watched him head out every day full of hope and return full of disappointment, inwardly sneering. *When I take action, no one can ever tell.*
*In my past life, I was able to protect my younger brother as he grew up and help him hold onto his position as Crown Prince; it wasn't just because of my father the Emperor’s affection.*
*If I practiced medicine, I would certainly earn the reputation of a divine doctor. And medicine and poison have always been two sides of the same coin.*
Five days later, Tao Wang, Granny Tian, Tao Daniu, and Tao Erniu were set to return.
When Tao Wenrui went to the train station to see them off, Granny Tian couldn't hold back any longer. She pulled him aside and whispered, "Why did you keep that little girl? You two just got married."
Tao Wenrui thought for a moment and told her the truth. "Once you get back, please take good care of Qiongyan and Rushan. It’s possible that they—and Yanyan—are the only three children I will ever have."
Granny Tian was dumbfounded. "How could this be? How could this happen?"
"I was injured several times in the past."
"Then… can she really stay married to you?"
"If it really can't be cured, I won't hold her back."
"Then… what will you do? If I had known… if I had known you were planning to cast aside Yanyan’s mother, I should have stopped you."
Tao Wenrui felt a pang of regret. "You don't need to worry about me. If I can't get better, I'll just bring her mother and the children here."
"Yes, yes. Anyway, Yanyan’s mother hasn't planned on remarrying."
Granny Tian had arrived full of high spirits, but she returned home filled with anxiety.
As soon as Jin Xing heard that Granny Tian and the others had returned, she rushed over. "Yanyan? Yanyan!"
Hearing Jin Xing’s voice, Granny Tian hurried out of the house. "Yanyan’s mother is here? Come inside."
"No, just call Yanyan out."
"Yanyan didn't come back."
"What?!" Jin Xing panicked instantly. "Did you lose Yanyan?"
"No, no. Yanyan is with her father. Her father wanted her to stay a bit longer."
"Is he crazy?"
"What are you saying? Yanyan is Old Third’s own daughter. Old Third wants to spend more time with her."
Jin Xing curled her lip. If he wanted to be close to his daughter, he wouldn't have abandoned them in the first place. "Tao Daniu, Tao Erniu, come out here! Did you lose my daughter? I’m telling you, if you lost her, I’ll fight you to the death!"
Tao Daniu and Tao Erniu emerged from the house.
Tao Daniu said, "Yanyan really is with her father."
Tao Erniu added, "Can the four of us adults not even keep an eye on one child?"
Granny Tian chimed in, "That’s right. Old Third even bought you, Qiongqiong, and Xiaoshan a lot of things. I’ll go get them for you."
"Is he really that kind? Yanyan is really not lost?"
Tao Wang’s voice came from inside the house. "How could four adults lose one child? Unless we did it on purpose. But why would we want to lose Yanyan? We have no grudge against her."
Granny Tian added, "Exactly. Yanyan is really with Old Third. He dotes on her."
Jin Xing glanced sideways at Granny Tian. "Why do I find that so hard to believe?"
Granny Tian said, "Oh, seeing is believing. You didn't see it, but Old Third was so affectionate the moment he saw Yanyan."
Tao Wang said, "If you really don't believe me, I’ll take you to the county town tomorrow to make a phone call, but you have to pay the toll."
Jin Xing was still uneasy. "Let's go right now."
"Fine," Tao Wang said as he stepped out of the house. "Go home and get the money."
Little Yanyan was playing with the children in the residential compound when Tao Wenrui walked over. "Your mother misses you and wants to talk to you."
"Oh." Her mother likely suspected her grandparents had lost her. Xiao Yanyan clapped her hands and stood up. "Let's go."
Only when Jin Xing heard Xiao Yanyan’s voice did she feel relieved. "You scared me to death. I thought that even with four adults, they couldn't keep track of one child. Is your father treating you well?"
"He's good. My dad bought me lots of yummy things."
"How is your father’s new wife treating you? Has she given you a hard time?"
"No. She’s quite nice to me. I’ll be back in a few more days."
"Alright. I won't talk any longer, the phone call is expensive."
"Okay."
On her end, Xiao Yanyan hung up the phone and went back to playing.
Meanwhile, Jin Xing walked home, pondering why Tao Wenrui would keep Yanyan there.
The next day, after finishing breakfast, Jin Xing took Tao Qiongyan and Tao Rushan to her parents' home.
Granny Miao was surprised to see her daughter arriving early in the morning with her grandchildren. "What brings you here?"
"I have something to tell you. Qiongqiong, Xiaoshan, go play with your cousins."
"Okay."
After the children left, Jin Xing recounted the situation with Yanyan. "I’ve been thinking it over, and I don't believe Tao Sanniu would suddenly be that fond of Yanyan. Do you think his new wife is infertile?"
"Most likely. Why else would a man suddenly be so doting toward a child?"
"Exactly. Do you think that woman only told him she couldn't have children after they were married?"
"Probably. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said he wanted the three siblings to live with their grandparents."
"Then do you think he won't let Yanyan come back?"
"It’s not just Yanyan. He’ll likely call for Xiaoshan too. If that woman can’t have children, Xiaoshan would be his only son."
"I think so too. He’ll definitely bring Xiaoshan over."
"Then you’ll only have Qiongqiong left."
"I want him to take Qiongqiong away, too."
"Then what will you do?"
Jin Xing smoothed back her hair. "I’ll just live by myself."
Granny Miao felt a pang of heartache. "Why are you so foolish?"
Jin Xing didn't want to give all three children to Tao Sanniu, but, "I don't know how to do anything except farm. They’ll have a better future with their father than staying with me."
"Then what will you do when you get old?"
"I gave birth to them; they’ll always spare me a bite to eat."
Granny Miao pulled her daughter into her arms. "Why is your life so bitter?"
Jin Xing sniffled. "My life isn't bitter. I don't have to wait on a whole household, and I still get money to spend."
Granny Miao wanted to urge her daughter to find someone else. But what kind of person could she find? It was better to just live off half of Tao Sanniu’s salary.
Of course, if Tao Sanniu took the children away, he wouldn't send as much money.
But even a smaller amount was still more than what those old bachelors and widowers in the village could provide.
On the other side of town, Su Yuyao also went to visit her mother. "Mom, what should I do? I’m about to die of frustration."