By lunchti, Xiao Yuan leisurely wandered back ho.
Soon, tales of him were spreading throughout the village.
In no ti, the stories got twisted.
Many people said that Xiao Yuan had a ntor who was a top scorer, teaching him incredible skills. They claid he could ride a horse into battle and write earth-shattering essays, adept in both civil and martial disciplines. Unfortunately, his parents were biased, fearing he would overshadow his brother, and stubbornly prevented him from taking the imperial exams. Out of filial piety, he had to waste his talents.
It was further rumored that Mr. Xiao had once cruelly broken Xiao Yuan’s leg to keep him from taking the exams.
Others said Granny Xiao favored the eldest branch and deliberately poisoned Xiao Yuan’s food the night before an exam, making him so ill he nearly died, and he never dared to take the test again.
In just a day, the story morphed into several versions.
Another rumor claid Eldest Son Xiao treated Fifth poorly, and Fifth’s family suffered because of it. Left with no option, Fifth went to Xiao Yuan, crying to borrow money to build a few rooms for separate living, but Xiao Yuan also had no money.
Xiao Yin and a few others were playing outside and overheard several versions. Villagers even called her over to ask: "Yin’er, doesn’t your grandfather like your family?"
Xiao Yin blinked her eyes: "Master, I don’t know. I’m young, and my father never lets us talk about my grandparents. I really don’t know. I only rember when we were in the mansion, the food was always cold. It’s only after coming to the Southern Yi that our family could eat hot als."
So, it was settled that Mr. Xiao was indeed biased.
The villagers, having nothing better to do, gossiped behind his back, saying Mr. Xiao was so heartless to his own son, proving he was a vile person who shouldn’t be interacted with, lest he trick soone.
Others comnted that since he was the Old Duke, well-versed in court politics, he had a shrewd mind far beyond the simple, honest nature of the villagers, suggesting it best to steer clear of him so as not to incur misfortune upon themselves.
Hearing these words, Xiao Yin ran back to tell Xiao Yuan.
"Dad, the villagers say Grandpa is cruel-hearted and toxic, and we shouldn’t interact with him."
Xiao Yuan laughed, then picked up a piece of cured at sent by Zhang San’s house, saying to Xiao Yin, "Co on, let’s take so at to your grandparents."
The father and daughter carried the not-so-large piece of cured at and ambled towards the residence of the eldest branch.
Because Xiao Yin was young, she naturally walked slowly, and Xiao Yuan held her hand, walking slowly, too.
As he walked, when people asked him where he was going, he would say, "Soone sent a piece of cured at, and I thought my parents haven’t had at in a while, so I’m taking it to them."
Xiao Yin held onto Xiao Yuan’s hand, tears in her eyes: "Dad, I want to eat at too. Can you save so for and my brother?"
Xiao Yuan’s face fell: "What are you eating for? Your grandparents haven’t even eaten yet, why should you have any? Little girls don’t need to eat at."
Tears kept streaming down Xiao Yin’s face: "Dad, it’s been so long since I even slled at."
"If you keep crying, go ho."
Xiao Yuan sternly scolded Xiao Yin: "You can’t cry when we get to your grandparents, or I won’t take you."
Xiao Yin quickly stopped her tears: "Dad, I won’t cry. I’ll go with you."
So those who encountered Xiao Yuan privately said, "Xiao Yuan is truly filial. With a small piece of at, he still thinks of sending it to his parents, probably leaving none for his wife and children at ho. That’s a bit too earnest."
Xiao Yuan continued with the small piece of at halfway through the village before reaching the eldest branch’s place.
Upon entering, he greeted Mr. Xiao: "Dad, how is your health lately? Soone gave a piece of at, and I’ve brought it for you. Let my elder sister-in-law cook it for you and mom to nourish yourselves."
Mr. Xiao was in a bad mood and didn’t show any kindness upon seeing Xiao Yuan: "No need. We can’t afford your at. Take it back."
Having heard the village gossip, Mr. Xiao knew his reputation was tarnished by Xiao Yuan, and he was extrely displeased with this son.
Xiao Yuan put down the at: "Dad, did my big brother or second brother upset you again? If you don’t want to stay here, co back with . As long as I have food, you and mom won’t go hungry. Look..."
Enraged, Mr. Xiao grabbed a teacup and threw it at Xiao Yuan: "You ungrateful thing, get out of here, leave..."
"Grandpa, don’t hit my dad."
Xiao Yin quickly rushed over to shield him, and the teacup fell and shattered on the ground.
Xiao Yuan picked up Xiao Yin: "Yin’er, what’s wrong? You look so pale. Wake up, wake up."
Xiao Yin opened her eyes wide, and when she heard Xiao Yuan tell her to wake up, she quickly closed her eyes, pretending to faint.
Xiao Yuan hurriedly carried her out, running and shouting: "Dad, I know you’re mad at , but Yin’er is young, you can’t take it out on her. How could you lay hands on such a small child?"
He ran out the door.
Mr. Xiao, realizing he’d been outsmarted again, wanted to stop Xiao Yuan, but he had already run out of sight.
In fact, Xiao Yin wasn’t hurt; her clothes were just wet, looking soaked.
But Xiao Yuan carried her, running swiftly, calling out: "Yin’er, hang in there! We’re going ho for your mom to get you dicine. You have to hold on, Yin’er, don’t let anything happen to you."
Neighbors living near the eldest branch comnted: "See, it must be Mr. Xiao hitting Xiao Yuan and his daughter again, poor Yin’er, such a young girl getting hit like this."
So won were gathered, gossiping: "I just saw Yin’er’s clothes were wet. Do you think Mr. Xiao scalded her with hot water?"
"Could be..."
After Xiao Yuan brought Xiao Yin back ho, letting her rest comfortably for a few days, people started saying Yin’er must have been severely beaten by her grandfather, unable to leave the house.
Whenever Anning went out, her face was somber, and no matter what people asked, she’d say nothing, fueling the speculations even more.
It further confird the notion that the third branch was mistreated and often abused.
The village chief, having heard the story, went to confront Mr. Xiao.
He talked to Mr. Xiao, saying he shouldn’t be so biased. They are all his sons; both the eldest and the third are legitimate, and the third is clearly more capable and filial. Mr. Xiao would regret it if he continued isolating the third branch.
This situation embarrassed Mr. Xiao greatly, making him even more resentful towards the third branch.
He later told the Old Madam: "The third branch is too sly, they have no regard for us as parents. From now on, we shouldn’t go to their place, no matter what happens. Otherwise, we won’t know how we ended up dead."
The Old Madam agreed, resolving not to interact with the third branch, determined to stay with the eldest until death.
But could the eldest accommodate them?
Xiao Jue could tolerate them, but Mrs. Zhao could not.
The valuable things the Old Madam hid were all in Mrs. Zhao’s possession, leaving the Old Madam with no utility. As the elderly couple frequently fell ill, Mrs. Zhao had to spend money on dicine, good clothes, and als for them.
If this were the Duke Mansion, Mrs. Zhao wouldn’t have minded, but in the countryside, her funds were limited. After building the house, not much was left, and there were many more expenses to co. The money couldn’t keep up with the spending.
Moreover, none of the eldest, second, or fifth branches had any inco, only expenses, which was unsustainable.
Mrs. Zhao, anxious, grew more disdainful of the old couple.
At night, she lay beside Xiao Jue and discussed: "This isn’t working. Even though we’ve beco a separate branch, the old man is still Third’s biological father. It’s not our responsibility to look after them. We paid to bring the old couple to the Southern Yi, and once here, their care should be Third’s responsibility."
Xiao Jue turned over: "You should say this, I can’t."
Mrs. Zhao took out the ledger to show Xiao Jue: "Look at how much money we have left. It can’t support this spending. Would you like to go out and labor for money or farm? If not, we need to think of a way to send the old couple away. Once they’re gone, we can save a lot on expenses."
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