Chapter 12: The Secret Can No Longer Be Kept

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If Old Madam Tong hadn’t been holding little Fei, she would have slapped Tian Zhaodie’s face immediately; how could a mother curse her own son like that? Zou Hongping was stunned as well. She had only thought Tian Zhaodie’s behavior was unusual but never imagined the reason was this.

Tian Zhaodie’s eyes were filled with tears as she choked out, “Mother, please let me take little Fei to see a doctor.”

“How could he have been poisoned out of the blue?” Old Madam Tong couldn’t understand.

Tian Zhaodie offered no explanation, only wept continuously.

It was Tong Qingxiao who questioned suspiciously, “How do you know little Fei was poisoned? Are you hiding something from the family?”

To be fair, after years with his wife, Tong Qingxiao did understand her a little.

Hearing her son’s words, Old Madam Tong fixed Tian Zhaodie with a sharp gaze. “Speak!”

At this point, Tian Zhaodie had no choice but to confess weakly, “Last night, little Fei was the one who stole Xu Jinniang’s silver. He crawled through the dog hole and was cut by the poisonous grass that that damned Tong Chuxue planted.”

The Tong family was shocked by this revelation.

Little Fei was only a few years old—how dare he steal silver from someone’s house at night? As the saying goes, a child who steals needles will grow up to steal silver. Tong Zhifei had not yet grown up but was already stealing money. What would others think if they found out?

Old Madam Tong was so furious she nearly lost her balance. Holding her grandson, she asked, “Dear grandson, did you really go to Xu Jinniang’s house last night?”

Tong Zhifei, exhausted from crying, clung to Old Madam Tong’s neck, hiccuping, “Grandma, it was me. Mother said if I brought Auntie’s silver, I could go to school, hic~”

A child’s innocent words sounded like thunder to the adults’ ears. Tong Qingxiao was enraged to the extreme, grabbing a branch from the ground and striking Tian Zhaodie. “You’re mad! Teaching your son to steal! Are you even human? You don’t deserve to be little Fei’s mother!”

Tian Zhaodie felt deeply regretful, dodging while defending herself, “That Chuxue girl lied to mother and took ten taels of silver. How could I stand by? I didn’t make little Fei steal for myself—I wanted to send him to school.”

Tong Qingxiao didn’t accept this. “If you wanted little Fei to study, why not tell me or your mother? Why make him a thief? Now Chuxue says that grass is poisonous—you’re leading your son to his death!”

Tian Zhaodie knew this too well. After being chased and beaten by Tong Qingxiao for a long time, her hair was disheveled, loose strands sticking to her tear-streaked face like straw. “How was I to know that little harlot was so cunning? I didn’t want this!”

She stumbled and knelt at Old Madam Tong’s feet, looking up, “Mother, I beg you, please let me take little Fei to see a doctor. What if what that girl said is true—that those cut by the poisonous grass die within seven days? Little Fei...”

Old Madam Tong hadn’t left the house all day. She only knew that the village chief had gathered people to discuss catching the thief, unaware of this entire situation.

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“I knew it. Our Tong family got cursed the moment Tong Chuxue was born. She killed her own father and now wants to kill my grandson. I won’t let this go!” Old Madam Tong seethed with hatred.

Tong Laotou, who had been silent for a long time, stepped forward. “Enough, stop the shouting at this late hour. Second son, take little Fei to the town clinic first thing tomorrow morning. That girl said it’s serious, but maybe she’s just trying to scare us. Don’t panic so easily.”

After venting her anger, Old Madam Tong calmed somewhat. “Second son, listen to your father. Take little Fei to town early tomorrow. I’ll come with you. Daughter-in-law, stay home and take care of things. Don’t go anywhere.”

Tian Zhaodie timidly agreed.

After half an hour of turmoil, Old Madam Tong cradled Tong Zhifei, ready to return indoors, when she suddenly remembered something. “Daughter-in-law, bring the silver!”

Tian Zhaodie dared not refuse and fetched the silver little Fei had stolen last night, handing it over to Old Madam Tong.

Old Madam Tong snorted coldly, shot her a sharp glance, swiftly snatched the silver, and stuffed it into her pocket.

At the crow of the rooster the next morning, Tong Qingxiao carried little Fei to the village chief’s house, followed by Old Madam Tong.

The village chief owned the only ox cart in the village. Each ride cost one wen per person, round trip included.

Tong Qingxiao arrived early but was surprised to find others had come before them.

“Good morning, Grandma, Second Uncle,” Tong Chuxue greeted the Tong family with a bright smile.

But no one wanted to acknowledge her now.

Tong Chuxue circled to face Tong Qingxiao, her gaze resting on little Fei. “Isn’t little Fei still sleepy? Are you taking him to town for fun today?”

Though the child looked weak, he was awake. “No, we’re going to see a doctor.”

Before he finished, Old Madam Tong quickly stepped in front of little Fei, her face stern. “My grandson’s affairs are none of your business. Stay away from him!”

Tong Chuxue took a step back as a token gesture. “Little Fei, do you know something big happened at my house yesterday? My mother’s silver was stolen. But it’s okay. Although the silver can’t be found, the thief was hurt by the poisonous grass I planted and will soon die.”

When Tong Chuxue mentioned the missing silver, little Fei’s expression changed. He instinctively buried himself in Tong Qingxiao’s arms. When she said the thief would soon die, little Fei couldn’t hold back and burst into tears. “Father, I don’t want to die!”

More than just the Tong family had come early to take the ox cart—usually the first ten households would be there.

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Little Fei’s cries drew everyone’s attention to their group.

Fear overwhelmed little Fei, and he cried bitterly. “It was my mother who told me to go, not me! I want to return the silver, please. I don’t want to die!”

The villagers’ eyes turned complicated. A mother coaxing her son to be a thief was unheard of. No one had ever seen such a cruel mother.

Even the Tong family was shocked. Any family would discipline someone who caused such trouble.

Moreover, hadn’t Tong Chuxue claimed yesterday that the grass was poisonous? Poor little one, nearly killed by his own mother at such a young age.

Concerned for little Fei, Old Madam Tong refused to let Tong Chuxue slander them. “You little wretch, what lies are you telling? Our little Fei just has a stomach ache. We’re taking him to the town clinic to see a doctor. He didn’t eat all day yesterday and was delirious. Don’t believe his nonsense!”

“I hope little Fei is just delirious from hunger,” Tong Chuxue said coldly. Taking advantage of the Tong family’s distraction, she pulled up little Fei’s pants. On his pale skin were several fresh, congealed blood marks.

“Grandma, if you say little Fei is innocent, then how did these wounds get on his legs? Such a small child—surely you wouldn’t have taken him to the mountains to play?” Tong Chuxue’s sharp gaze challenged them.

The crowd gathered around little Fei. The wounds were fresh and matched those caused by the poisonous grass leaves. Combined with little Fei’s earlier words, everyone was convinced that the silver missing from Xu Jinniang’s house was stolen by little Fei.

Despite Tong Chuxue’s accusations, Old Madam Tong stubbornly refused to admit it. As long as she insisted little Fei wasn’t a thief, it would eventually be forgotten—that a sick child’s ramblings held no weight.

But she had forgotten one thing: they were now at the village chief’s house.

Tong Shan emerged from the house with a cold expression. “Tong Qingxiao, is what Chuxue said true?”

Tong Qingxiao found himself in a dilemma—neither admitting nor denying was easy. But his prolonged silence was seen by all as tacit confirmation.

“It’s actually easy to prove,” Tong Chuxue said to little Fei. “Little Fei, if you tell the truth, I have the antidote in my hand that can save your life. Tell me, did you go to my house that night and take my silver?”

Tong Chuxue deliberately avoided the word “steal,” which might have made little Fei wary, instead using “take.”

After a moment’s thought, little Fei hesitated, then nodded.