The System Wanted Me to Be a Landlady (GL) - Chapter 26: You’ve Changed

Chapter 26: You’ve Changed

The Song clan lived together in Jinchuan Village, which was in the west of Cixi County, one of the few places in Cixi with fertile land.

The north and northeast of Cixi were mostly coastal saline-alkali land, affected by seawater backflow and soil erosion, making most of the land there barren. That’s why the largest salt field in Mingzhou, Minghe Salt Field, was located there.

Next were Demen Village in the east and Shitai Village in the south, which were mostly hilly areas with many large and small dams and sluices. So, some people liked to develop terraced fields at the foot of the mountains there.

Lastly, there were Jinchuan Village in the west and Xiyu Township in the southeast. Both were flat areas with the Yuyao River and Cixi River winding through them, so water resources were abundant, and the soil was fertile. While other places mainly focused on handicrafts, only these areas could rely on agriculture. In other words, there were many landlords.

Song Bing sent Song Yuyan back to the intersection leading to her original home and said, “I’ll go handle some things first and meet you at the charity hall later.”

Song Yuyan wasn’t a young child anymore, so she naturally wouldn’t cling to Song Bing for everything. After Song Bing left, she relied on her memory to walk toward her original home.

Since the township system was now in place, although some villages still had names, there weren’t many. Most areas used the township as the basic unit. Song Yuyan’s original hometown was Qiuxian Ward in Jinchuan Village. There was no specific limit on the number of households in a ward, but Qiuxian Ward was mostly populated by members of the Song clan.

As Song Yuyan walked, many eyes fell on her. Some even approached and asked, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Song Yuyan thought that since the original owner had only been away for half a year, could the people here have forgotten her?

But it wasn’t surprising that others didn’t recognize her. She now paid attention to her appearance and manners, unlike the original owner, who dressed sloppily and walked in a careless manner.

At that moment, an elderly person approached, looking at her with a complex expression. “Could you be Yao’an’s Yam?”

Song Yao’an was the original owner’s late father. Song Yuyan nodded and said, “It’s me, Fifth Granny.”

The other person recognized her and, thinking of her background, showed some pity in their eyes. But they were also shocked that she had finally tidied herself up and puzzled about why she suddenly returned.

Song Yuyan didn’t explain much. In the original owner’s memories, she didn’t feel kindness from these people, so she didn’t want to interact with them too much for now.

She returned to the original owner’s small courtyard, which looked weathered, covered in dust, and filled with cobwebs. Her heart inexplicably felt sour.

She guessed this was the influence of the original owner’s lingering emotions. After all, for the past month, she had been merging with the original owner’s memories. Some memories about the original owner’s late mother and her background stirred her emotions, and seeing this place made her feel a bit sentimental.

In fact, the original owner’s courtyard was larger than the one she lived in in the county town. This showed that before the original owner’s family property was taken, their foundation was quite good. Although Song Mother worked hard her whole life, she managed the household well. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to afford to send the original owner to study.

Unfortunately, the original owner was only ten when she lost everything, just a child easily manipulated. Five years had passed, and the main culprit, the original owner’s uncle Song Yaokang, had long died. Wu Shi had remarried and disappeared somewhere. For a poor person like her to seek justice was nearly impossible.

Fortunately, she now had a livelihood, so she wasn’t fixated on past grievances.

In a corner of the locked storage room, Song Yuyan found some small knives and tools. Thinking they might be useful, she took them with her and went to see the clan leader first.

Although the clan leader wasn’t from the same branch as her, he had at least protected the original owner and her mother after they lost their husband and father. If not for him, the original owner might not even have this small courtyard.

But she came at a bad time. The clan leader was called away by the ward head to discuss important matters, so she had to go to the charity hall first.

The charity hall was built behind the Song clan ancestral hall, facing south, with a layout of “three entrances, three paths, nine halls, and two side rooms.” It looked solemn and grand.

Song Yuyan estimated that, including the ancestral hall, the total area was over eight thousand square meters, like the ancient buildings she had seen while traveling, solemn, sacred, and rustic, with decorations that dazzled the eyes.

Such a large place was funded and built by the Song clan, showing their strong unity.

There were quite a few clan members like her at the charity hall to collect rations. They entered through the side doors of the east and west wings, passing the study rooms where clan children studied. At that moment, someone quickly ran up and blocked Song Yuyan’s path.

“I thought I saw wrong, but it’s really you, Song Rascal!” The young man had a smile on his face, but his eyes were mocking.

Song Yuyan sighed inwardly. What a small world!

If she remembered correctly, this was the guy who humiliated the original owner last time, causing her to avoid coming for benefits for half a year. He was about the same age as the original owner but taller by a head due to his family’s wealth and good diet, making him one of the taller youths in the clan.

Like bullying in modern schools, the Song clan’s charity school seemed to have similar issues. Since the students were all from the same clan, they competed for resources, often engaging in small schemes behind the scenes.

As for the original owner, it was like the dominant kids in the village bullying the weak. Since she had no elders to back her up, these teenage boys bullied her without restraint.

Song Yuyan didn’t want to waste words with these youngsters and walked around him. Behind her, a group of boys laughed, “Jingde, she’s too noble to bother with you!”

Song Jingde felt insulted and, in anger, chased after her, grabbing her collar to stop her.

Song Yuyan didn’t want trouble, but she wasn’t afraid of it either. Song Jingde’s actions crossed her line. She slapped his hand away without hesitation. “Don’t you think this is beneath a scholar?”

Song Jingde shouted, “Talking about manners with you? You’re a rascal, why should I treat you politely?”

“You keep calling me a rascal. Did I cause trouble at your house? You’re just jealous because I’m better-looking, more educated, and kinder than you. You’ve studied for years, and this is how you treat your own clan? Our grandfathers were brothers. Who are you really shaming with this behavior?” Song Yuyan said.

Song Jingde didn’t expect Song Yuyan, after half a year, to become so sharp-tongued and eloquent… though still as shameless as ever.

Unwilling to be lectured, he said, “You know we’re from the same clan, yet you idle all day, doing things that make us a laughingstock. You’ve disgraced us all, and you dare come back to beg for food?”

Song Yuyan sneered, “The charity hall was set up by our ancestor to unite the clan. The clan leader gives out rations to care for us. In your mind, is this just charity or pity? Are you saying everyone who takes the clan’s rations is begging?”

Her voice was loud, and many heard her. They grew displeased, looking at Song Jingde with dissatisfaction. “What’s wrong with this kid? Just because his family has some money, he openly mocks us for taking rations?”

“You, you—” Song Jingde was furious. He didn’t expect Song Yuyan to twist his words. In front of everyone, he couldn’t admit it, but he couldn’t find words to argue back. He stepped forward, intending to use force.

Two small knives fell from Song Yuyan’s clothes. She picked them up, her fingers rubbing the back of the blade. Song Jingde froze, clearly startled by the knives.

“What are you doing with knives here? Are you trying to hurt me?”

Song Yuyan glanced at him, her eyes like she was looking at trash. “You’re worth how much? Do you think you’re some treasure that I’d break the law for you?”

She put away the knives and pushed past him. “A scholar should first learn to cultivate character. If you don’t know what ‘treating others with courtesy’ means, read more books. The more you read, you’ll eventually understand those four words.”

___

“Pfft—” A man in white standing under the corridor nearby witnessed the argument and was amused by Song Yuyan’s last words.

The man beside the man in white shook his head. “Sorry for the scene, Shichang.”

The man in white waved his plain fan and said, “Young people are hot-blooded; it’s normal for them to argue. But who’s that young man? I’ve been here for half a month and haven’t seen him before!”

The man looked embarrassed because talking about Song Yuyan was somewhat regrettable, and her existence might tarnish the Song clan’s reputation.

After thinking, he said honestly, “His name is Song Yuyan, a member of our clan. He lost his father before he was born. His mother raised him with hardship until he was ten, then died of a serious illness. After that…”

Before the man could mention Song Yuyan’s troublesome deeds, he noticed the man in white’s eyes turning red. He paused, unsure if he should continue.

The man in white came to his senses and apologized, “I thought of some past events and couldn’t help feeling sad. Sorry for the scene, Tongzhi.”

The man then remembered the man in white’s background, which wasn’t much better than Song Yuyan’s…

The man in white was named Du Yan, courtesy name Shichang, from Shanyin, Yuezhou. He lost his father shortly after birth. His mother abandoned him and his two older brothers to remarry when he was young. He and his brothers depended on each other, but as a child, he was often mistreated by them, living a bitter life.

At fifteen, he argued with his brothers and was chased with a sword. With no choice, he sought his remarried mother, but his stepfather refused to take him in, so he wandered.

A wealthy family later noticed him, found him impressive, and married their daughter to him, gradually improving his life. He then resolved to study and succeed, starting to read diligently at eighteen.

Now twenty-nine, he had passed the provincial exam but not the imperial exam, so he decided to travel. Hearing that Mingzhou’s county and state schools were declining but the clan’s charity school was famous, he came to the Song clan’s school.

The man greeting him was Song Zhu, courtesy name Tongzhi, the youngest son of the Song clan leader and brother of Song Fu, who was currently a magistrate in Tingzhou.

Song Zhu, now forty, had also passed the provincial exam but not the imperial one, so he chose to teach at the clan’s charity school. Hearing of Du Yan’s reputation, he befriended him when he visited and invited him to teach at the school for a few days.

Neither expected to witness Song Yuyan’s argument with someone. Hearing her background, Du Yan felt empathy and sympathy for her.

In his eyes, although Song Yuyan’s clothes were somewhat old, her manners were proper. Though she argued, she wasn’t unreasonably ranting but reasoning logically. Despite being looked down on and bullied, she didn’t shrink back or feel ashamed, showing her inner strength.

“This child has limitless potential!” Seeing Song Yuyan was like seeing his younger self. Unaware of the original owner’s past, Du Yan decided to befriend her.

___

“Didn’t expect you to be like this, Little Song!”

After Song Yuyan’s “teaching with words” performance, the system saw her fierce side.

“What did you think I was like?” Song Yuyan asked.

“I thought you were the type who was ‘born with a silver spoon, raised strictly with high expectations from elders, growing up in a high-pressure environment without a happy childhood or close friends, appearing polished but deeply lonely inside, ignoring mockery, never stooping to pointless arguments, always warming others while keeping loneliness to herself, the female supporting character’ route.”

Song Yuyan: “…”

The system was getting more dramatic and silly!

“Thanks for remembering I’m a girl and not saying I’m on the male supporting character route.”

While queuing for rations and being mentally bombarded by the system, Du Yan and Song Zhu approached her.

“Ahem, Yam,” Song Zhu called.

“Thirteenth Uncle,” Song Yuyan addressed him by his clan rank.

“Hmm, getting rations?” Song Zhu tried to ease the mood before getting to the point.

“Yes,” Song Yuyan replied, perceptive enough to not wait for him to introduce Du Yan. She bowed, “Teacher Du.”

Du Yan was slightly surprised. “You know me?”

Song Yuyan said, “On my way here, I heard people mention a scholar from Yuezhou passing through Cixi, surnamed Du, invited by Thirteenth Uncle to teach at the clan school. Seeing you in a scholar’s robe, with an extraordinary demeanor, and walking with Thirteenth Uncle, I boldly guessed you’re that scholar.”

Du Yan’s eyes lit up with delight, nearly blurting out “good eye,” but he restrained himself and praised, “This child has sharp eyes and is exceptionally bright.”

Their backgrounds were equally tragic, their characters equally resilient, and their minds equally sharp. Du Yan felt a sense of kinship.

“You flatter me,” Song Yuyan said, wondering what Song Zhu and Du Yan were up to.

“You’re not my student, so there’s no teacher-student relationship. Just treat me as a friend!” Du Yan laughed heartily. If Song Zhu weren’t there, he’d have grabbed Song Yuyan’s hand and declared her a close friend!

Song Yuyan glanced at Song Zhu. From what she knew, this Thirteenth Uncle was very strict, much like a stern old scholar from later times, so she wasn’t sure if befriending Du Yan would make him think she lacked propriety.

Song Zhu was also observing Song Yuyan. After half a year, he hadn’t realized her speech could change so much. Du Yan wanted to befriend her, but he worried she’d revert to her old ways and embarrass the Song clan in front of Du Yan.

He asked, “What are you doing now? How are Sun’er and Bing’er?”

Before Song Yuyan could answer, Song Bing’s voice cut in, “He’s weaving mats and bamboo baskets, making a living on his own.”

“Twenty-First Uncle, you’re here!”

Song Bing smiled, nodded, and chatted with Song Zhu. Though he was talking to Song Zhu, the topic never strayed from Song Yuyan. His goal was to change the clan’s view of her, making her life in the clan better over time.

Song Bing said, “This child is hardworking and filial. The first mat he wove, he didn’t think of selling but wanted to give it to us to repay us for hiring him.”

Clan members: “???”

Was this the same idle Song Yuyan who hung out with ruffians, stealing chickens and dogs?

Song Bing: “This child is kind and gentle, you could even say refined.”

Clan members: Who was just arguing with Song Jingde and making him furious?

Seeing Song Bing’s enthusiastic expression, those unaware might think Song Yuyan was his son, so eager was he to praise her!

The clan members’ expressions grew odd: Song Bing had no son. Was he planning to adopt Song Yuyan?!

Neither Song Bing nor Song Yuyan knew what the clan was thinking. Song Bing had only known Song Yuyan deeply for a month, but the original owner’s bad behavior left such a poor impression that her “reformation” made her seem perfect in his eyes.

Perhaps it’s as people say: when a bad person does one good deed, people forget their past wrongs and remember the good; when a good person does one bad deed, people forget their past good and remember only the bad.

Song Zhu was also doubting reality, but seeing Du Yan take it seriously, he didn’t bring up the past.

Soon it was Song Yuyan’s turn to get rations. Some students asked Du Yan and Song Zhu questions, so they couldn’t linger and left first.

Before leaving, Du Yan said to Song Yuyan, “I’ll be staying in Jinchuan Village for a while. If you have questions, come find me, and we can discuss them together.”

Song Yuyan agreed. After getting her rations, she left the charity hall with Song Bing.

Song Bing said with relief, “Interacting more with scholars will benefit you greatly.”

“I understand. Thanks to Twenty-First Uncle for speaking well of me today!”

Song Bing waved it off casually. “No need for thanks. I only spoke the truth!”

He and Song Yuyan loaded the rations onto the cart. Then he suddenly remembered something and pulled a set of tool knives from a sack. These weren’t ordinary household knives but files used for carving! Though rusty, they could still be used after polishing.

“Your Aunt Fierce said last time you seemed very interested in these knives, eyes practically glued to them. So she asked me to look for any at home. I had your Sister Yaoyao help search for a while to gather these.”

Song Yuyan was amazed. “How does Twenty-First Uncle’s family have these files? Does Twenty-First Uncle know carving?”

“Me? No way. My late father was a carpenter, sometimes making furniture for others, so he needed these knives for patterns. After he died, no one at home used them, but I couldn’t bear to throw them out, so I kept them in the storage room. Since you want them, they’re yours.”

“Thank you, Twenty-First Uncle!” Song Yuyan said without any hesitation.

Seeing her genuine love for the tool knives, Song Bing asked, “When did you get into carving?”

Song Yuyan paused, answering carefully, “When I went to cut bamboo, I met a craftsman gathering materials. While chatting, he showed me his skill. Watching a plain piece of wood slowly turn into flowers and trees sparked my interest, so I wanted to try carving.”

Song Bing said, “Hmm, it’s fine to play with, but don’t let it distract you from your work.”

Song Yuyan hugged the tool knives and smiled, “It won’t.”

Having finished their business in the clan, they drove the ox cart back to the county under the sunset.

___

Meanwhile, at the Song family courtyard, Song Yuzhuan sat on the doorstep, hands propping up her cheeks, staring at the alley entrance and muttering, “Why hasn’t Big Brother come back so late? I wonder if Big Brother can bring back rations.”

Song Yuban, sitting on the ground, secretly used Song Yuyan’s bamboo strips to weave something. These days, he’d been sneakingly learning from Song Yuyan and felt he’d grasped some skills.

“It’s so late, and he’s not back. He probably didn’t get the rations,” Song Yuban said. “Before, when he was fearless, Song Jingde humiliated him so much he didn’t dare come home. Now that he’s even softer and easier to bully, he probably got scared off by Song Jingde without even getting the rations.”

When Tang Zhi arrived, she overheard the siblings’ conversation and chimed in, “I think she’ll bring the rations back.”

“Sister Tang!” Song Yuzhuan called out. “Why are you here?”

Song Yuban frowned and asked, “Don’t you always dislike him the most? Why do you think he can bring back rations?”

Tang Zhi said, “Because I know Song Dalang, but I don’t know her.”

“What do you mean?” Song Yuban was confused, and Song Yuzhuan was even more clueless.

Tang Zhi didn’t plan to explain. She asked Song Yuzhuan, “Are you hungry?”

“Second Brother cooked porridge, but we have to wait for Big Brother to eat. I’m so hungry now,” Song Yuzhuan said, rubbing her stomach pitifully.

The two little ones were waiting for Song Yuyan to eat dinner? Tang Zhi was slightly surprised but guessed their relationship had improved. She said, “Your Sister Ye’er made wontons. Come eat wontons.”

Song Yuzhuan happily followed Tang Zhi, but Song Yuban stubbornly said, “I’m not hungry. I’m not going!”

“You want to know why I think she can bring back rations? Come with me if you want to know.”

“I don’t want to know,” Song Yuban said, unmoved.

Tang Zhi looked at the bamboo strips in his hands and said mysteriously, “Think carefully. If you miss this chance to understand her, you might never surpass her.”

Having seen the Song siblings’ love-hate dynamic, just as she understood Song Yuyan, she also knew Song Yuban’s nature.

Sure enough, Song Yuban’s expression wavered. Seeing Tang Zhi and Song Yuzhuan leave, he hurriedly dropped his work and followed. “Since you said that, it’d be rude not to go.”

At the Tang house, seeing the steaming wontons, the two little ones were drooling. Song Yuban forgot why he came.

After eating, Song Yuban asked Tang Zhi, “You still haven’t said why you’re sure he can bring back rations.”

Tang Zhi said, “Since it’s rations from your clan, there’s no reason she can’t bring them back, right?”

Song Yuban thought he’d get some insightful answer and was slightly disappointed. “Then you really don’t know him. Half a year ago, he went to get rations, got humiliated, and came back empty-handed. He used to be shameless and carefree, but even he had a breaking point. Now that he’s all about appearances and afraid of losing face, it’s even less likely.”

Tang Zhi paused while clearing the dishes and said lightly, “Even you say she’s different now from before. How can you judge her current actions by her past standards? And you need to know, she doesn’t owe you anything.”

This was the first time Tang Zhi meddled in Song family affairs and spoke so heavily to Song Yuban.

When Song Yuban once called Song Yuyan a jinx who caused their parents’ deaths, Tang Zhi didn’t intervene. Back then, her mother had just died two months prior, and almost everyone thought Song Yuyan was a jinx, so she believed her mother’s death was related to Song Yuyan.

She was only twelve then, and ten-year-old Tang Ye would cry secretly at night, dreaming of their mother returning.

But their mother never came back. Seeing her brother give up studying to support the family pained her. When she saw Song Yuyan acting indifferent, she despised her. Whenever Song Yuyan passed their door, she’d sweep the doorstep clean.

Song Yuyan’s eyes showed hurt, but she deliberately lingered around their house daily, infuriating Tang Zhi so much she’d grab a broom to chase her.

Whenever Song Yuyan saw her get the broom, she’d run off, then lean on her courtyard wall, mocking Tang Zhi’s anger.

Over time, everyone knew they didn’t get along.

Tang Zhi didn’t have time to waste with idle Song Yuyan. Her brother became a clerk, and their parents’ small inheritance wouldn’t support them long. Fortunately, the Tang family had a vegetable garden. To ease her brother’s burden, Tang Zhi focused on it.

Though she’d helped her mother with the garden since childhood, she was young and new to managing it, so many things went wrong.

The first time she sold vegetables alone, a fierce man tried to trick and intimidate her into selling at a price thirty percent below market value. Song Yuyan, wandering the street, saw this and brought a group of ruffians. The man, only bold against a girl like Tang Zhi, got scared and bought all her vegetables at market price.

Tang Zhi suffered no loss, but her feelings were complicated. Her parents taught her to repay kindness. Though she disliked Song Yuyan, she had to repay her help.

But Song Yuyan’s help wasn’t out of kindness. She told the ruffians, “How could I help her? Think about it—if she fails her first time selling vegetables, she’ll lose confidence. All her hard work growing vegetables would be for nothing, and she’d stop. If she stops, where would I steal vegetables from?”

Tang Zhi, overhearing this: “…”

She finally caught the culprit stealing her vegetables!

___

Regardless of her grudges with Song Yuyan, Tang Zhi saw clearly that Song Yuyan never owed the two little ones anything these past two years.

“I don’t like owing others. I agreed to look after you because of her past help,” Tang Zhi said, looking at the two little ones. “The sky doesn’t drop free pies, and I wouldn’t be kind to you for no reason… but she’s the only one who truly cares for you.”

Song Yuzhuan, confused, held Tang Ye’s sleeve silently.

Song Yuban understood, but his heart ached. “I know he doesn’t owe us. I don’t want to owe him either. I’ll repay him.”

With that, he went home.

“Sister…” Tang Ye looked at her sister, at a loss.

“You’ll never repay it,” Tang Zhi thought.

She tried to hold back tears but failed. She turned to wipe her eyes, then said to Tang Ye and Song Yuzhuan, “Go play. I’ll check if your brother’s back.”

“What’s wrong with Sister Tang?” Song Yuzhuan sensed Tang Zhi’s mood change but didn’t understand why.

Tang Ye didn’t get it either. In her memory, her sister rarely showed kindness to Song Yuyan. She herself disliked Song Yuyan, who stole their vegetables and upset her sister.

Though Song Yuyan seemed to have turned over a new leaf this month, Tang Ye, who hadn’t interacted much with her, felt little change. But lately, she’d noticed her sister occasionally seemed distracted or lost.

When her brother asked what was wrong, Tang Zhi only said, “Song Yuyan has changed, and she’ll never go back.”

Her brother laughed, saying, “Isn’t that good? You won’t have to worry about her upsetting you or stealing anymore.”

Then she “smiled” and said, “Right, no one to upset me, I’ll live years longer.”

Tang Ye thought this was good, but she still couldn’t understand why her sister looked sad then.

___

When Tang Zhi stepped out, she saw Song Yuyan leaving her house. The sunset glowed on her, even her forehead’s sweat was golden, her shadow stretching to Tang Zhi’s feet.

“Miss Tang, is Bing’er at your place?” Song Yuyan wiped her sweat with her sleeve.

She didn’t like using clothes to wipe sweat, but lacking a proper cloth, she’d have to wash them thoroughly next time.

“Yes,” Tang Zhi replied.

“Good. I came back and saw no one at home, so I wondered if they went to your place.”

Tang Zhi asked, “Did you see Sun’er? He just went back.”

“I saw him. He didn’t say a word. I don’t know what’s up with him.”

Tang Zhi felt uneasy, worried Song Yuyan would blame her for meddling if she knew why Song Yuban was upset. She regretted speaking about Song Yuban earlier, as she usually stayed out of Song family matters but hadn’t held back this time.

“They were worried you didn’t get the rations since you were so late, so I said a few words to him,” Tang Zhi said, uneasy but honest.

Song Yuyan paused, not fully clear on what they said but getting the gist. She smiled, “I see. Thanks for looking after them today, Miss Tang.”

Tang Zhi looked at Song Yuyan, her heart feeling scratched by a cat, unable to pinpoint why she felt off. She glared at her: It’s your fault. If not for your good temper, my behavior wouldn’t be so strange!

Song Yuyan: “???”

Did she say something wrong again? Why did this fourteen-year-old girl’s face change like the weather in June?

After glaring at Song Yuyan, Tang Zhi suddenly remembered something. Her awkward thoughts vanished, replaced by anger as she dragged Song Yuyan into the Song courtyard.

She whispered, “My vegetables were stolen again!”

Song Yuyan exclaimed, “When were they stolen?”

“Don’t you think I’m implying you’re the thief?” Tang Zhi asked.

Song Yuyan laughed, “If you thought I was the thief, you wouldn’t have pulled me in to whisper.”

Tang Zhi: “…”

Thinking back, whenever she was sure Song Yuyan stole, she’d yell at her from the doorstep, not pull her in to whisper quietly.

Seeing the girl’s expression brewing a storm, Song Yuyan quickly said, “Back to the point. When were the vegetables stolen, and how much was lost?”

“It’s been stolen a few times. The first few times, it was just a little. Last night, a bit more was taken,” Tang Zhi said, looking at Song Yuyan meaningfully. “Just like your old tricks.”

Song Yuyan touched her chin. “I don’t remember taking any apprentices!”

Tang Zhi gritted her teeth. “I’m talking about serious matters!”

Song Yuyan blinked innocently. She was answering seriously.

“Any leads?”

Tang Zhi took a deep breath, calming herself. She said, “This person’s probably new to stealing from my garden, so they didn’t dare take much at first, like someone else. Later, they got bolder. They know my brother’s patrol times, stealing on rainy nights to cover their tracks.”

Song Yuyan pretended not to hear the “someone else” jab. “It didn’t rain last night, right?”

“No rain last night. So, my brother and I think they changed their strategy.”

Tang Zhi’s gaze fell on Song Yuyan.

Song Yuyan instantly understood. “They’re trying to frame me?!”

Tang Zhi asked, “You really didn’t do it?”

When she first noticed the vegetables were stolen, she suspected Song Yuyan had returned to old habits. But observing her, Song Yuyan seemed too busy with weaving to steal at night, so Tang Zhi ruled her out.

“I swear on my family’s rice, I didn’t do it,” Song Yuyan said seriously.

“…Fine, I’ll believe you for now,” Tang Zhi said, turning to leave. Song Yuyan grabbed her. “Miss Tang, we’re not done talking. How can you just leave?”

“What else is there to say?” Tang Zhi asked, confused.

Song Yuyan faltered. Tang Zhi’s words sparked her curiosity about how the Tangs would handle this.

“Little Song, you’ve changed. You’re gossiping. You’ve fallen from the heavens to the mortal world,” the system said dramatically.

Song Yuyan: “…Why not say I went from a pure lotus to a village girl?”

Ignoring the system, she whispered a few words to Tang Zhi.

Tang Zhi’s ears were ticklish, and Song Yuyan’s words felt like a feather brushing her ear. She wanted to shrink back but held firm to maintain her fearless image.

When Song Yuyan finished, half her ear was red and hot, the heat spreading to her face.

“My brother and I thought the same, but we need the right timing. If you’re done, I’m going,” Tang Zhi said.

With that, she quickly left the Song courtyard.

Song Yuyan was used to her fiery demeanor and sighed, “Whether in ancient or modern times, teenage girls’ behaviors are hard to predict.”