CHAPTER 47: 47

The gears of fate turn along the predetermined tracks, and two seemingly unrelated lives—who knows if they may intersect one day? Fate does not favor nor specifically torment anyone.

Ah, fate! No one can really speak of it clearly. As Buddha says, it is beyond words.

During the half-month of Lan Tian’s seclusion, Mo Yuanle’s public explanation was that Lan Tian had been frightened and needed to recuperate at home, temporarily unable to meet outsiders. As a result, Yanhua and Hui Li did not come to the house to study medicine. However, Fourth Grandpa came over every other day, spouting nonsensical words.

"Sister-in-law, I’ve told you long ago, that girl is a walking disaster. She hasn’t been in the village for long and has already eloped with a human trafficker. Now the whole town knows about it. Hei Mei even came back specifically to ask me about this. I’ve lost all face in town, how can I even step outside with dignity? Sister-in-law, I know you’re kind-hearted. That wretched girl knows you’re soft-hearted, that’s why she shamelessly clings to your house. You can’t keep such a person. If you find it hard to speak up, I’ll do the talking."

Lan Tian, lying in the wicker chair, was close to falling asleep, but Fourth Grandpa came by again, making an intolerable racket. After listening for a while, not a single word was in her favor; it was all but saying she was a plague star.

"Sister-in-law, my grandsons and granddaughters are all decent, pick one to raise. We’re all family, better to keep wealth within the family than let it go to outsiders. Are you afraid they won’t take care of you in the future? I’ll be the first to hold them accountable."

The same old story, coming to convince Grandma Sun to raise his grandson. Fourth Mo said his piece, but Grandma Sun saw through him long ago and didn’t reply, busying herself with her red shoe sole. Zhao Li, sitting by the side knitting a sweater, rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Lan Tian was not one to respect her elders, especially not someone as undeserving as this man. She walked over to him and glared directly at him.

"I’ve neither eaten your food nor drunk your drink; if I ran off with a human trafficker, that has nothing to do with you. How is your lost face my issue? You’re not my Grandpa, are you? Who asked you to come to our house and blather all day long about letting Grandma take care of your grandchildren? Are your grandkids’ parents all dead? Don’t treat us like fools; you’re just coveting our ancestral house and land. How can you be so shameless? My Grandpa died serving in the army for you, has your conscience been eaten by dogs?"

Lan Tian’s words were sharp, but she spoke the truth. Everyone knew what Fourth Mo was thinking, but with Lan Tian calling him out so directly, even his thick skin couldn’t stand it. His sister-in-law was still alive, yet he coveted his brother’s belongings, the village would surely talk behind his back.

Fourth Mo really disliked the girl from his second sister-in-law’s family, the incident last time was also exposed by her. Enraged, his beard quivering, he pointed at Lan Tian and scolded: "You... really have no upbringing, second sister-in-law, won’t you discipline her? Disrespecting your elders as a child, growing up, you might even kill someone."

Zhao Li was seeing Lan Tian’s fierce side for the first time, but Grandma Sun already knew her granddaughter. Usually, she seemed obedient, just because no one had crossed her. Now, Fourth Mo had stirred a hornet’s nest.

Grandma Sun gave Lan Tian a sidelong look, and gently persuaded Fourth Mo, "Fourth brother, you have the experience of age, don’t be petty with a child. The girl is only six years old, she knows nothing, kids say the darndest things. You mustn’t take it to heart! She’s usually not like this, today she must have eaten gunpowder to be so hot-tempered. Why don’t you go back first?" Grandma Sun hurriedly shooed Fourth Mo away.

Grandma Sun poked Lan Tian’s head, scolding her, "What are you saying? Are those words you should speak? Fourth Grandpa is your elder, even if the elder is in the wrong, you cannot talk back. At most, just ignore him, as if he’s farting. Now, come over here and apologize to your Fourth Grandpa."

Listen, listen to what her aunt said, oh my, she was about to die laughing. Zhao Li couldn’t hold back anymore, her face buried in the yarn, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"I didn’t say anything wrong, why should I apologize?" Lan Tian stubbornly refused to apologize and thought for a moment before chasing down to the courtyard entrance and shouting, "Fourth Grandpa, you can’t just think about my grandma’s house; you should also consider my uncle’s. He said he’s going to build a new house next year. Hurry up and bring your grandchildren over so my uncle can pick one to raise. Otherwise, once the house is mine, you’ll regret it if you miss out!" Her voice was so loud that not only the village heard, but also the workers in the fields outside.

Lan Tian secretly felt pleased and wondered how Fourth Mo would dare to visit again. After her outburst, she ran into the Medicine House and closed the door. Grandma Sun looked helplessly towards the Medicine House, "Look at her, she takes after who knows whom."

Zhao Li almost fell to the ground with laughter, clutching her belly, "Oh my, I’m dying of laughter. Auntie, Tiantian’s tongue is sharper than mine." Zhao Li was quite proud of herself.

Grandma Sun gave her a disdainful look. Having a sharp tongue was no virtue to be proud of. With today’s incident spreading through the village, the girl’s reputation would suffer, and who knows if she would find a family to marry into in the future. "You’re killing me with laughter, but there will be times when you cry later."

"It’s Uncle Four’s fault, he doesn’t do right. His family isn’t struggling, yet he constantly covets your house. Saying the kids aren’t good in front of Tiantian, no wonder she gets angry. Who’s the one lacking upbringing?" Zhao Li spat in the direction of Fourth Grandpa’s retreating figure, unable to stand Uncle Four’s scheming as if everyone else was a fool.

Lan Tian leaned on the window, seeing that grandma didn’t seem angry, she settled down at the table, took out the herbal medicine chart from the drawer, and started memorizing. Half a month of seclusion had set her back; she needed to catch up. She had promised her uncle she would study hard.

In her past life, Lan Tian’s Divine Sense had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, and upon rebirth, her Divine Sense was still at that stage. However, her lack of Qi Cultivation Stage prevented her from using the Divine Sense. Now that she had entered the Qi Cultivation Stage, even if her Cultivation was only at the first level of Qi Cultivation, she could still use her Divine Sense, making things much more convenient.

In the past, Lan Tian used to memorize by rote, mastering the herbal medicine chart, but only a dozen or two dozen varieties. Now, she could directly imprint the herbal medicine chart into her Sea of Consciousness and never forget it—unless she died or became an imbecile.

The pages flipped ’whoosh whoosh’, and soon a tenth of the herbal medicine chart was imprinted. Her Sea of Consciousness felt a slight expansion, and there was a slight pain from the overuse, clearly reaching its limit. Further use of the Divine Sense would damage the Sea of Consciousness. Lan Tian closed her eyes, shut the chart, acknowledging that her Cultivation was still too weak.