Chapter 91: The Tang Family

On the other side, Tang Qiming sat in the back seat behind Wen Mubai and was jolted so hard he felt his soul leave his body.

It was not until he saw Wen Mubai deliberately ride into a pothole that he finally lost his temper and jumped off the bike.

Wen Mubai squeezed the brake lever and turned back innocently. “Second Brother, what is it?”

Tang Qiming glared at him. “Get off. I’ll ride.”

Wen Mubai hesitated. “Wouldn’t that be bad? Second Brother is still injured. If Banxia finds out, she’ll blame me!”

Tang Qiming had no patience for his nonsense. He yanked him down, mounted the bike, and rode off. Thanks to Wen Mubai’s quick reflexes, he was not left behind.

Tang Qiming snorted coldly.

Once they reached a deserted stretch of road, his cool voice drifted back. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

Of course Wen Mubai knew what he meant. “Banxia never said a word to me. On what grounds would I stop her?”

“Don’t play dumb with me.” Tang Qiming’s voice turned icy. “You can’t possibly fail to see what she’s after.”

Since this fellow knew his mother, he could not possibly be ignorant of how complicated the matter between his parents was. His little sister did not understand such things, but he refused to believe this man did not.

And yet, knowing everything, he still let his little sister go through with it. Tang Qiming found that highly suspicious.

Wen Mubai seemed not to hear the chill in his tone, and let out a soft laugh. “You think you know what Banxia needs?”

Tang Qiming frowned, not understanding.

Wen Mubai said, “She is independent. She is strong. She can take responsibility for the choices she makes. She does not need me standing beside her, telling her what she should do and what she should not.”

Wen Mubai had never dictated anything to Tang Banxia. He respected every decision she made, even if it was the wrong one.

What he had to do was give her his support, and shoulder the burden for her when she could not bear it herself, not guide her step by step into making such choices.

“And besides, even if things go according to Banxia’s wishes, there won’t be any bad outcome, will there?” Wen Mubai asked at last.

Tang Qiming fell silent. If he had not confirmed that this man was his little sister’s partner, he would almost have failed to recognize the person Wen Mubai was describing.

Was his little sister not supposed to be spoiled and fond of tattling, vain and prone to tears, obsessed with looks and hopelessly self-absorbed?

Still, thinking of the bitter herbal decoctions his little sister had to drink, he swallowed the question that had come to his lips.

The two of them spoke no more after that and rode in silence all the way to the county seat.

Tang Qiming went to the post office to send a telegram to Grandfather, while Wen Mubai went to Chen Gang’s workplace to ask a favor and buy a sleeper ticket through a connection.

They agreed to meet at the station.

By noon, Wen Mubai took the sleeper ticket from Chen Gang. “Brother Gang, help me thank your friend. I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”

Chen Gang chuckled heartily. “No hurry. You go on.”

Wen Mubai nodded and rode off. Passing by the state-run restaurant, he went in to buy several meat buns and a portion of sauced pork, then hurried to the station.

Sweeping his eyes around, he found Tang Qiming standing straight as a post and dashed over. “Train ticket. Lunch.”

He shoved the things into Tang Qiming’s arms. “I’m leaving.”

Then he turned without the slightest hesitation, and in the blink of an eye his figure was gone.

Tang Qiming: ...

Was he racing to be reborn?

Still, he took the ticket and looked at it. Cursing under his breath, he no longer had time to care about Wen Mubai. He grabbed his bag and ran toward the train.

That little brat. There were only ten minutes left before departure, and not a word of warning.

In a panic, he boarded the train and, following the ticket, found his own berth in the hard sleeper carriage. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Sitting down and smelling the aroma wafting from the brown paper bag, he opened it and was immediately appeased. Fine, the brat had some conscience after all.

With no one else yet in the carriage, he wolfed down the meal, then leaned back on the berth and dozed with his eyes half-closed.

The train arrived the following afternoon.

He followed the stream of passengers out of the station and took a car back to the Tang family home.

“Grandpa! Grandma!”

“Oh? Our Six has come back?” Old Master Tang was watering the flowers in the yard. Seeing Tang Qiming, he tilted his head and greeted him.

Tang Qiming said, “Grandpa, if nothing else works, calling me Mingzi would be fine too.”

“You little rascal, daring to pick at your own grandfather,” said Old Madam Tang as she came out of the house.

She carried out a bowl of red date tea. “A blood-nourishing tea. Drink it all.”

Tang Qiming, the Sixth Son, ...

He downed it in one gulp and turned the bowl upside down. “It’s empty.”

“Hold out your hand.”

Old Madam Tang always carried the faint bitterness of medicinal herbs on her body. The moment Tang Qiming smelled it, his whole person relaxed. He obediently held out his hand.

Old Madam Tang concentrated on his pulse. “Not bad.”

“That’s right. My sister makes me drink bitter medicine all day long. How could I not be fine?” Tang Qiming said with pride.

Old Madam Tang immediately became interested. “Tell me about that little girl, and about her medical skill. How did it improve so quickly?”

Tang Qiming actually knew this. “Her luck was good. She found a full set of traditional Chinese medicine inheritance at the scrap station. It had everything in it.”

Then he remembered something. “My sister asked me to bring this for you. It’s a gift for Grandma.”

“Really?”

Tang Qiming obediently took out the twelve books. “Please accept them, Grandma.”

The moment Old Madam Tang smelled the scent from the books, she no longer had any thought for her sixth grandson. As though she had found a priceless treasure, she immediately buried herself in the medical formulas to study them.

Old Master Tang was long used to his wife’s ways. “Six, come. Play a game of chess with Grandpa.”

Tang Qiming set down his bag and sat. “Grandpa, Banxia...”

“Focus on the chess.”

Tang Qiming had no choice but to shut up.

Ten minutes later, Old Master Tang’s face darkened as he picked up one piece after another. “No progress at all.”

Tang Qiming scratched his head and smiled. “Grandpa, I never knew how to play chess in the first place.”

“Hmph.”

Old Master Tang let out a cold snort. “All right, then. Tell me about Banxia.”

Only then did Tang Qiming spring back to life. He took the medicine Tang Banxia had given him from his bag. “Banxia said Grandpa should find someone to test this.”

Old Master Tang took it and rubbed it carefully between his fingers. “Banxia is better than you.”

Tang Qiming was not the least bit angry. On the contrary, he was quite pleased.

After that, he recounted Tang Banxia’s experiences in Ginger City. In order to help Old Master Tang judge the situation accurately, he described nearly everything in exhaustive detail.

When he finished, Tang Qiming went back to his room to rest, leaving Old Master Tang standing where he was, a glimmer flashing deep in his eyes.

From that day on, Tang Qiming stayed in the Tang family courtyard.

These past few days, Old Master Tang had been busy testing the medicine’s efficacy, and Old Madam Tang had been busy studying the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance. He alone had nothing to do, spending his days sleeping and eating, with a side hobby of tormenting Old Master Tang’s flowers and plants.

That life continued until, a week later, his eldest cousin, Tang Qicheng, came home.

The eldest cousin was the only member of the Tang family who had remained in the capital, though he held a post in a county below.

After the family incident, Grandfather had never allowed him to come back. So why now?

Though puzzled, Tang Qiming still said, “Big Brother.”

“Six, is your injury better?” Tang Qicheng asked.

Tang Qiming said, “Call me Six again and I’ll beat you!”

Tang Qicheng had been raised by Old Master Tang as his chosen successor and was exactly like him, a smiling fox through and through. “Go ahead and lay a hand on me. I’ll tell Banxia.”

Thinking of his little sister’s repeated warnings before he came back, Tang Qiming said, “Consider yourself狠.”

Tang Qicheng patted his shoulder. “Come on. Grandfather is calling for us.”

Tang Qiming clicked his tongue and followed him into the study.

Inside, Old Master Tang was leisurely brewing tea. Seeing the two grandsons, he said flatly, “Sit.”

Tang Qicheng took off his shoes and knelt to sit opposite him. Breathing in the curling fragrance of tea, he seemed harmonious and serene.

By contrast, Tang Qiming could not sit still, shifting every now and then in his seat.

Seeing the two grandsons’ utterly different bearing, Old Master Tang smiled. “A student who cannot be taught.”