Chapter Six: To destroy someone, first make them mad.
Upon hearing this, Madam Song was startled, seemingly realizing her slip of the tongue, but her arrogance prevented her from immediately backing down.
Song Yiqiu looked at her quietly, at this woman who had given birth to her but did not love her.
It turns out that her family knew about her suffering, but they chose not to see it, and it has even become a bargaining chip for them to ridicule her now.
The last bit of warmth in my heart has been completely extinguished.
Song Shen tried to regain her composure and put on a smile again, but her tone was dry and unnatural:
“Yiqiu, your mother is just being too hasty. As the eldest daughter of the Song family, it is only natural for you to contribute to the family and think about your brother’s future.”
"Bird's nest, is it? Okay, I'll have someone send some to your small kitchen tomorrow—no, right now. As long as you're willing to help your older brother..."
Song Yiqiu suddenly smiled, her smile radiant.
She interrupted her mother and replied crisply:
"good."
Song Shen was taken aback, then overjoyed:
"Really? You agreed?"
Song Yiqiu stood up, gesturing to see the guest off, her tone casual, her eyes as deep as an abyss:
"Yes. Don't worry, Mother, I'll go 'find' him tomorrow."
She wasn't looking for the general from her past life, but rather for some real fun for her good older brother.
Satisfied, Madam Song took back the bowl of cold white fungus soup, offered a few more words of feigned concern, and then gracefully departed.
The door closed, and the room returned to silence.
Song Yiqiu walked to the window, watching her mother's disappearing figure, her eyes gradually darkening.
Song Tianhan often bullied his aunt's son by taking advantage of his status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife.
This is the best opportunity to get close to Aunt Yun.
...
The next morning.
As Song Yiqiu stepped into the courtyard of Song Tianhan's Orchid and Bamboo Garden, a large rooster with brightly colored feathers and bared claws flapped its wings and flew straight at her face.
The sharp claws almost scratched her face.
She quickly stepped back to the side, her eyes turning slightly cold as she looked into the courtyard.
The courtyard was filled with smoke and fumes. Four or five young men of similar age to Song Tianhan, dressed in fine clothes, were gathered in a circle. Each of them was holding either a brightly colored rooster or an exquisite cricket jar, shouting and spitting as they spoke.
"Peck it! Yes! Peck its eyes! Good! My 'Invincible General' is indeed powerful!"
Song Tianhan was so excited that his face turned red, and he waved his arms.
"Hey! Brother Han, your 'Black Whirlwind' isn't working! Place your bets now!"
"Damn it, we lost again! Song San! Where the hell are you? Quickly bring that useless spendthrift son back to me!"
A spoiled brat shouted cursingly toward the corner.
Song Yiqiu followed the gaze and saw a small boy, about eleven or twelve years old and thin, chasing after a fleeing rooster in a corner where chickens and dogs were running around.
His clothes were clearly ill-fitting, covered in mud and chicken feathers, and there were several fresh scratches and bruises on his arms and calves.
It was Song Ziyu, the third son of Concubine Yun. He bit his lip and tried hard to catch the chicken, but he seemed powerless.
At this moment, the young men also noticed Song Yiqiu standing at the door.
"Oh? Whose young lady is this? She looks unfamiliar."
A man with slicked-back hair and a face resembling a pig, fanning himself with a folding fan, spoke in a flippant manner.
Another person looked her over with a scrutinizing gaze, yet with a sneer:
"Brother Wang, you're out of the loop! Isn't this the eldest daughter of the Song family, who spent seven years on the frontier before returning?"
"Tsk tsk, weren't you told that being exposed to the wind and sun on the frontier would make you look rough and uncouth? I think you look prettier than your girl."
"What good is Shui Ling? I heard she's really fierce and can kill people! Hahaha!"
"Brother Tianhan, did your mother send your sister again to persuade you to be more ambitious? Haha, if you ask me, your sister is much more capable than you. She's managed to get a minor official position in the army and is now back to inherit her title and be ennobled. Meanwhile, you're still at home fighting cocks!"
These taunts were utterly undisguised, and Song Tianhan's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He slammed the cricket jar he was holding onto the stone table and glared at Song Yiqiu with annoyance:
"Song Yiqiu! What are you doing in my dilapidated courtyard? Are you trying to annoy me? Did Mother send you here again to nag me about becoming an official? Let me tell you, give up on that idea as soon as possible!"
"Those mundane things, I wouldn't stoop to them! The Song family is so wealthy and powerful, do they need my meager salary? Why don't you go ask your second, third, or fourth brothers? Why do you have to keep an eye on me?"
Song Yiqiu showed no anger whatsoever, only politely giving a slight curtsy:
“Brother, you misunderstand. Why would I do such mundane things that would annoy you? I’ve come today to tell you some wonderful news.”
Song Tianhan looked her up and down suspiciously:
"Good news? What good news could you possibly have? If you were even a fraction as well-behaved and sensible as Sang Yu, and knew how to make me happy, I'd have a lot less to worry about!"
As he spoke, he glared disapprovingly at Song Ziyu, who had just caught the chicken and was standing timidly to the side.
"What are you standing there for? Put that 'spendthrift' back in his cage! He's so clumsy!"
Song Ziyu was so frightened that she trembled and quickly ran away with the chicken in her arms.
Song Yiqiu observed all of this, her smile unchanged, but she raised her voice slightly to ensure that all the young masters who were listening intently could hear her:
"I've heard that a new fighting cock called 'Fighting Victory Manor' has opened in the south of the city. It gathers the most beautiful fighting cocks in the world, and they're said to be exceptionally handsome and fierce. I see these in your yard, brother..."
Her gaze swept lightly over the roosters, and she gently shook her head.
"All of them combined probably don't even compare to the most ordinary one from there."
A young master immediately scoffed:
"Pshaw! I thought it was some exclusive news. Who doesn't know Doushengzhuang? The problem is that it's a place where there's no market for anything, and the threshold is very high. Without connections, you can't get in even if you're carrying a fortune, let alone get your hands on some good chickens."
"Miss Song, your news isn't as reliable as Second Miss's. Miss Sangyu just gave Brother Tianhan two top-quality green-headed crickets the other day!"
Song Yiqiu feigned surprise and gently covered her mouth:
"So, Big Brother is only interested in crickets, not in top-quality fighting roosters worth a fortune? Oh well, that's a real shame..."
She sighed, turned around, and made as if to leave.
"I was thinking that the head steward of Dousheng Manor happens to be the father-in-law of one of my deputy generals. If I wanted to pick out a chicken, it shouldn't be too difficult. But since you're not interested, I'll take my leave now."
"etc!"
Song Tianhan rushed forward and grabbed her, his face instantly beaming with a warm smile, and his tone softening.
"Good sister! Do you really mean it? You can really get your hands on chickens from Dousheng Village? As many as you want?"
Song Yiqiu smiled sweetly, but her eyes were devoid of warmth.
"Of course. However..."
She lowered her voice, her eyes gleaming mischievously, "Brother, you must promise me that you will do everything I say, and especially you must not tell Mother. Otherwise, if word gets out, not to mention one, even a hundred or a thousand will be hard to get again."
While Song Tianhan was still hesitating, his cronies couldn't contain themselves any longer and started egging him on:
"Brother Tianhan! What are you still hesitating for!"
"Yes! This is great news! Say yes!"
"Do you think your sister would lie to you? Just agree!"
Encouraged by the crowd, Song Tianhan immediately forgot his mother's instructions and doubts, and gritted his teeth, saying:
"Fine! I promise you! But if you dare to lie to me, I will never forgive you!"
Song Yiqiu nodded confidently and pointed to Song Ziyu, who was huddled in the corner:
"I'm taking him with me."
Song Tianhan frowned:
"What do you need this useless brat for?"
Song Yiqiu's smile was forced and insincere.
"Does my brother not believe me? Let's forget about cockfighting then, lest Mother finds out and scolds me."
Song Tianhan was immersed in the joy of soon obtaining a top-quality fighting rooster, so he couldn't hear these words and waved his hand impatiently:
"Whatever, go away, take it with you! It's an eyesore here!"
Song Ziyu ran over cautiously, her dirty little hands hesitating for a moment before gently taking Song Yiqiu's outstretched hand.
Song Yiqiu turned around, her smile vanishing instantly.
She held his cold little hand tightly, knelt down, and said gently:
"Shall we go find your mistress?"
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