My Lady Always Lacks Ambition
Chapter 169 - 168: Seizing a Glimmer of Opportunity

Chapter 169: Chapter 168: Seizing a Glimmer of Opportunity

"Test, how shall we test?"

When Tian Er walked out of Qingping Temple, he was still somewhat confused, feeling like he was in a dream. The sky had fallen!

But that handsome gentleman’s words echoed endlessly in his mind - everything leaves a trace.

There were three brothers in his family, and he was the second. From childhood, he was neither cherished by his father nor loved by his mother. Whenever there was any good food at home, it was never his turn. His elder and younger brothers would eat it secretly, while all the dirty, tiring jobs were left to him.

Even when it came to getting married, he was the last. His elder brother got married at sixteen, and his younger brother at seventeen. As for him, he was dragged out until his twenties until the elders in the village couldn’t stand it anymore and mentioned it to his parents, beginning to arrange his marriage.

His wife, Hua’er, was from the neighboring Tianjia Village, pretty in appearance, but her reputation was not very good. She was the eldest daughter of a widow, but which rural folk would consider such a thing? Her beauty alone made the line of suitors during her matchmaking very long.

Tian Er didn’t expect to be chosen, but Hua’er resolutely picked him, and when he welcomed his bride through the door, it felt like he was dreaming.

After getting married, his hardship multiplied from one person’s to two. His parents and family treated them like oxen, always assigning them the dirtiest and most exhausting tasks. For this, he often felt sorry for his wife.

The most crucial point was that after marriage, they still had no sons. His parents muttered under their breath incessantly and ordered them around even more harshly.

They were all sons; why was there such a disparity?

At home, their status was even lower than the younger children, just like long-term laborers, except without the wages.

It wasn’t treated as kin, hence the differential treatment, right?

"Wife, what if I’m really not their flesh and blood, where should we go from here?"

Lady Tian countered, "Er, I want to ask you, even if you are their flesh and blood, and if what the master predicted comes true, what will you do?"

Tian Er’s expression became serious, "There’s a saying, ’Clear accounts make good friends,’ and they’re insulting you like this. Even if we are related by blood, if I still endured it, would I even be a man?"

"That settles it then," Lady Tian said. "I’d rather everything the master said was true. What kind of life do we have in the Tian family? We’re like lowest servants where even servants get a monthly salary. What do we have? Even seeing a doctor involves a lot of grudging concessions and nothing more. Are we supposed to serve them like oxen all our lives without seeing a way out?"

"Let’s not discuss the master’s words for now - whether they would do such things. Just adopting children to us, could they truly align with us? Haven’t you seen your nephews, each spoiled like a wolf cub? I would rather rot after death than raise a thankless ingrate."

Tian Er hugged her, "I understand now."

Just do as Master Qian said.

...

"Are you always so upfront with devotees?" Yu Changkong tilted his head and asked Qin Liuxi.

Qin Liuxi replied, "Naturally, take it or leave it."

"So, does everyone get such guidance?"

"Of course not. It depends on fate. I know a bit about face reading too. That man has the looks of a childless widower, doomed to lose his offspring and wife. Yet his Yintang area is wide, showing he is a person of integrity and righteousness. I used the Taisu Pulse to predict his fortune, he will adopt a son who will continue the family lineage. If this son is raised well, he will surely be a man who brings blessings over the lands and waters. His wife, too, embodies latent merit, probably thanks to the good deeds she accrued in the past." Qin Liuxi said, "I hope they can seize a sliver of opportunity. Of course, whether they can truly grasp it depends on their own virtue and merit!"

Merit?

Yu Changkong felt a bit strange inside. Was it that faint, subtle white light emanating from the woman?

Or was it the dazzling golden light circulating around Qin Liuxi?

"What color is merit?"

Qin Liuxi laughed in response, "They talk about Merit Golden Light, which naturally is golden in color. But if it’s not profound, it’s a pale white yellow, very light. And those who possess deep virtue are enveloped in a gentle golden glow; such people are often greatly benevolent."

"Like you."

"Eh?" Qin Liuxi looked over, "What did you say?"

Yu Changkong suppressed that strangeness, clenching his fists, "Nothing."

Strange, he hadn’t seen light on people before, why now?

Could it be because his eyes hadn’t fully recovered?

"You’re not bad either, could you let Uncle Qian set up a plan to help them escape from that sea of suffering?" Qin Liuxi glanced at him, "Is Mr. Changkong upholding the Yu Family principles, rescuing those drowning in the sea of suffering?"

Yu Changkong’s expression softened, "The Yu Family only chooses so-called greater good over smaller loyalties, sacrificing much for the sake of bigger causes. Saying the Yu Family conquers the world is merely overly praising by others, elevating it to an altar."

This—there’s an implied meaning!

"As for me, people say Mr. Changkong is unparalleled in wisdom, but I’d like to say, my body and spirit are not steadfast, what do all living things have to do with me?" Yu Changkong derided himself, "I’m disabled and lack the enormous capability to rescue anyone from perils."

Qin Liuxi chuckled, "There’s a saying quite fitting for your current thoughts."

"Eh?"

"The person is disabled, do not bother Laozi!"

Yu Changkong: "!"

Quite fitting, isn’t it?

His eyes filled with a smile, then he looked down and said, "My desire to help them stems merely from seeing their mutual loyalty, reminding me of my deceased parents. Today I came to light a long-burning lamp for my parents, and having met this couple here, it’s just as you said, fate. I also wish to acquire some yin de for my parents. But I wonder, have they reincarnated already?"

Qin Liuxi fell silent.

"So it is said, although heaven is not fair, it will always leave some leeway, providing a slim chance for redemption, whether one can seize it depends on their own fortune," Qin Liuxi smiled faintly.

Yu Changkong glanced at her, unarguing.

Because he had seized his own slim chance.

Had Tian Er?

Tian Er had awakened from despair, looking at his parents whom he saw as a curse, self-mockingly said, "Some said that my parents aren’t my birth parents, turns out it’s true. Mere thirty taels, and you are unwilling to give it to me."

The Tian elders averted their gaze.

Tian Da jumped in, saying, "Knowing this, shouldn’t you be self-aware? You two offended someone important and dared to ask for money from home to redeem your barren wife, bah! Raised you to this age, not knowing gratitude is one thing, but you even want to drain our family!"

Tian Er stared coldly at their indifferent faces, finally revealed a bitter smile, and said, "Don’t worry, I will not implicate you; from now on, I cannot be part of the Tian Family."

He kowtowed three times to the Tian elders, then stood up, saying, "These three kowtows are to repay your kindness in raising me. Uncle Qian, we’ll sign a servitude contract with you, using the money to repay them."

Uncle Qian watched coldly, nodding haughtily, "Once the contract is signed, you belong to the Qian family, life and death are at the master’s disposal. What do you think?"

The Tian elders had no objections.

However, Tian Da, eyeing an opportunity, said, "They are selling themselves, the money should go to the Tian Family; as for their debts, naturally they will work off those in the future!"