At first, he didn't intend to blame Yu Niang, but somehow the words just came out.
He knew Yu Niang felt wronged.
But with the whole family constantly bickering, he was also agitated.
He never expected Yu Niang to run away from home.
Initially, he didn't think much of it, but he didn't expect Yu Niang to disappear without a trace, never to be found.
When Yu Niang was gone, his son and daughter-in-law were actually happy. In a fit of anger, he kicked them all out and went searching for Yu Niang himself, going from street to street.
But months passed, and there was still no news.
He had considered if Yu Niang might have gone to the capital, but he thought it unlikely.
After all, Yu Niang had been timid her whole life; how could she dare to go to the capital alone?
"You don't blame Yu Niang, do you? How can you blame Yu Niang? I'm telling you, Tan Zishi, Yu Niang is not someone you can bully!"
Hearing Tan Zishi's clearly evasive words, Grandma Su became even angrier.
When Grandma Su said this, Tan Zishi suddenly felt a lot more at ease.
Grandma Su saying this meant she was protecting Yu Niang. If she was protecting her so much, she would surely take good care of her.
"You've seen Yu Niang, haven't you? Tell me where Yu Niang is now?"
Tan Zishi became agitated and rushed towards Grandma Su.
The Su brothers were all standing outside the main hall. Seeing Tan Zishi suddenly get agitated, they rushed forward to protect Grandma Su.
"Mr. Tan, what do you intend to do?" Su Shouwen asked coldly.
Tan Zishi was stunned. What did he intend to do?
He didn't intend to do anything.
He just wanted to know where his wife had gone.
With these young men from the Su family standing in front of him, he suddenly didn't know what to say.
"Tan Zishi, I know Yu Niang's whereabouts, but until you sort out these trivial matters at home, I won't tell you where she is!" Grandma Su said with a cold face.
Why was he acting so affectionate now?
If he truly felt affection, what was he doing before?
Allowing his concubine and illegitimate son to bully his legal wife?
"It's all sorted out. I've kicked them out, and we've also published a notice to sever ties," Tan Zishi quickly explained.
Grandma Su was genuinely surprised to hear this.
He actually published a notice to sever ties?
But could his illegitimate son and concubine be content with that?
Grandma Su knew that Tan Zishi still had some valuable possessions, and it was likely that his illegitimate son and concubine were only getting close to him again for his possessions.
She wondered if Tan Zishi had revealed all his assets.
"They were willing to leave, willing to sever ties with you? Even if you sever ties by publishing a notice, if they truly encounter any trouble in the future, can you really remain heartless and not help them?" Su Xiaotian's tender voice suddenly rang out.
Her words made Tan Zishi pause for a moment.
He felt that by kicking those people out and publishing the notice, he had already made his stance clear.
But why did Xiaotian's words make it seem unreliable?
He knew his son and his former woman very well, and he understood what those people were after.
Indeed, they wouldn't give up until they achieved their goals. What should he do then?
"You know Grandma Li's personality better than I do. Can she fight against your wolves and tigers?" Su Xiaotian, seeing that Tan Zishi genuinely wanted to live well with Li Yu Niang, delivered another sharp jab.
Grandma Su greatly admired Su Xiaotian's description of "wolves and tigers," while Tan Zishi remained silent.
Yes, with Yu Niang's timid nature, how could she possibly fight against them?
What if he died prematurely, leaving Yu Niang alone? Wouldn't she be bullied again?
That family would always be a hidden danger to Yu Niang.
The best solution was to let Yu Niang stay far away from them, preferably where they could never find her.
Thinking of this, Tan Zishi suddenly felt that Yu Niang might be better off with the Su family.
Then what about himself? Where should he go?
Tan Zishi fell silent, but Su Xiaotian pressed on, "Can you really not care?"
"I can, and I won't care!" Tan Zishi said through gritted teeth. "Years ago, I gave them what was due, and I owe them nothing."
In this life, he owed nothing to those mothers and sons, only to Yu Niang.
When he was down on his luck, that woman and her children were the ones who kicked him the hardest. If it weren't for their strong support, perhaps his life would have been better!
He had been foolish.
If he had another chance, would he be soft-hearted?
Tan Zishi felt he needed to plan carefully.
Tan Zishi left.
His steps were unsteady.
Grandma Su watched Tan Zishi's retreating figure from the courtyard and said with disappointment, "I'll find someone to help get a temporary residence permit for Li Yu Niang."
Su Xiaotian, however, felt that perhaps things weren't as they thought, and maybe Tan Zishi would make the best choice.
As soon as Tan Zishi left, Su Changjiu arrived.
Su Changjiu visiting on the second day of the Lunar New Year surprised Grandpa Su a little.
After all, Su Changjiu had already paid his respects yesterday.
"Changjiu, you didn't go to your father-in-law's house today?"
Su Changjiu held his pipe, filled it with tobacco, but didn't light it.
"Do you have something on your mind?" Grandpa Su asked.
"I came today to ask you, Grandpa, if you've heard any news from the capital?" Su Changjiu hesitated for a moment before finally asking.
"What news?" Grandpa Su was taken aback.
Su Changjiu lowered his voice and said, "I heard that after the New Year, they're going to implement something called 'household contracting.' Have you heard about it, Grandpa?"
Su Xiaotian, who was sitting nearby reading a book, couldn't help but overhear those few words.
She looked up at Su Changjiu.
She hadn't expected Su Changjiu to have such keen insight.
She wondered where he had heard this news.
According to the development trajectory, this news should not have been released yet; it would be officially announced around February or March.
It would take about another year for them to truly start household contracting.
As someone who had lived through it before, Su Xiaotian knew this information, but she couldn't say it directly.
"Uncle Changjiu, we haven't heard this news in the capital either."
Seeing Grandpa Su looking bewildered, clearly not knowing anything, Su Xiaotian quickly spoke up.
Su Changjiu was a bit disappointed to hear Su Xiaotian say she hadn't heard anything.
His sources for news were very limited, so he had hoped to hear something from Grandpa Su's home in the capital.
Unexpectedly, even they in the capital hadn't heard any news.
"However, Uncle Changjiu, the country doesn't oppose individuals doing business now, and it's actually good for individuals to do a little business."
Su Xiaotian said this simply, and Su Changjiu looked at her expectantly.
"Xiaotian, what do you mean by that?"
"It means that individuals can find ways to buy and sell certain goods!" Su Xiaotian didn't know how else to explain it.