Mr. Tian left with a lot of packages but returned empty-handed.

  The Xia siblings were already used to it. Xia Shu was still very attached to his mother and smiled as he followed Tian around.

  Tian's family affectionately pinched Xia Shu's face, then smiled at his eldest son, and immediately his eyes fell on Xia Zhi's face.

  Xia Zhi didn't take the initiative to get closer, and it seemed a bit distant. Tian Shi didn't notice anything unusual.

  "Is there still food?" Tian Shi entered the east room, sat on the kang, and asked Xia Zhi with a smile.

  "Mom, it's so late and you haven't eaten yet?" Xia Zhi remained calm. In front of Tian Shi, Xia Zhi still called her "mom". It wasn't because he was afraid, but rather didn't want the relationship between the two people under the same roof to be too awkward.

  Tian's smile on his face was frozen.

  Xia Zhi saw it and was pleased in her heart. She had asked on purpose. She knew that the Tian family would definitely not have kept Tian Shi for dinner.

  She knows the Tian family too well. Even if Mrs. Tian works hard for them, they still calculate very finely. As the daughter-in-law of the Xia family, she should eat and wear what belongs to the Xia family, and they will definitely save on Mrs. Tian's food if they can.

  If it were usual, Mr. Tian would have gotten angry and scolded Xia Zhi a few times, but this time he didn't.

  "After having lunch, I left your mother's house and met an acquaintance on the way. We chatted for a while, which delayed me." Tian Shi explained nonchalantly, then asked again if there was any food left, her tone light and gentle, with a hint of carefulness, using a consulting tone.

  It's as if she had always been such a kind mother, and the relationship between mother and daughter was very close.

  "It's been a while since the girl left, and it's getting late. If there's no food, the daughter will make some for her mother." There was still a hint of probing in Tian Shi's tone.

  Xia Zhi's heart kept sinking.

  She was also probing. The Tian family's attitude being so good could only indicate one thing.

  Tian's family this time back to his daughter's home, should be finally settled let Xia Zhi marry Tian Da Bao.

  "Mother, I've left some food for you in the kitchen." Xia Qiao hastily said.

  Because Xia Zhi didn't respond and had a stiff face, Tian Shi himself talked loudly for a while before feeling embarrassed.

  Xiaqiao's words resolved her awkwardness.

  "It's still my daughter who loves me." Mrs. Tian said with a smile, and was about to go to the main room to serve the meal herself, this time without calling Xia Zhi.

  "Sit down, daughter." Xia Qiao stopped Tian Shi, while giving Xia Zhi a signal with his eyes.

  Summer solstice threw away the curtain and went to the main hall.

  Xia Qiao followed out and gave Xia Zhi a look, telling her not to show off in front of the Tian family. Meanwhile, she and Xia Zhi carried the dishes into the house together.

  Tian's eyes widened slightly at the sight of leek scrambled eggs.

  Xiaqiao hurriedly explained: "It was I who asked Sixteen to do it. The work in the fields is tiring, and we wanted to eat this. Mother will be tired when she comes back too, and should have something good to eat."

  Tian didn't say anything else and picked up his chopsticks to take his rice bowl.

  Xia Zhi stretched out his hand and moved the rice bowl away from Tian Shi's face.

  Tian raised his head and looked at Xia Zhi in surprise, with a dark cloud already brewing on his face.

  The girl who had been betrothed, was at home just like a half-guest. According to what she and Wang's wife had discussed, they would immediately arrange for Xia Zhi and Da Bao to be engaged, and let Xia Zhi marry him this autumn. Xia Zhi's days at home were numbered. Moreover, giving Xia Zhi to Da Bao was indeed somewhat unfair to Xia Zhi.

  So this time Tian returned with a bit more warmth and tolerance towards Xia Zhi. However, there was still a limit to it.

  "Give you a bit of good face and you're on top of the world!" Tian shouted loudly.

  "Wait..." Xia Qiao saw something was wrong and hastily stepped forward, blocking the space between Xia Zhi and Tian Shi.

  He wants Xia Zhi to calm down a bit and wait for him to slowly tell Tian Shi about this matter.

  Summer solstice didn't bring him this feeling.

  "This time you go back to your mother's house, are you still going to marry me off to Da Bao?" Xia Zhi asked straightforwardly.

  Tian's family slapped the chopsticks down on the table with a loud "pa" sound.

  She intended to tell Xia Zhi about this slowly, so that Xia Zhi could accept it more easily. After all, Tian Dabao was in such a situation.

  "What's wrong, girl? You're in a hurry?" Tian Shi suppressed her anger, with a smile on her face, but it was somewhat forced.

  Xia Zhi became more and more disgusted with Tian Shi. She didn't give Tian Shi any chance to turn around or make excuses: "Just say yes or no."

  "Yes." Tian's plan was completely foiled, and he simply replied.

  "Daughter," Xia Qiao finally found an opportunity to interject, "sixteen is still young. Moreover, Da Bao he..."

  One sentence was like stirring up a hornet's nest, and Tian immediately fired at his eldest son.

  "What's wrong with Dabao?... Isn't he just a bit more honest than other people's children, and thinks things through a bit slower? Just because you old Shas are smart and have good brains, you look down on others like this! Others look down on Dabao and say he's not good enough, but instead of defending him, you join in and bully him. Don't forget, I'm the one who gave birth to all of you. Dabao is my own nephew, your own cousin!"

  "Girl, I'm not...I mean..." Xia Qiao was scolded by Tian Shi in a rapid-fire manner, and instantly became red-faced and tongue-tied.

  If it were in normal times, he would definitely not speak again, and let Ren Tian have his way. But this time, the young man, although embarrassed, still mustered up the courage to express his thoughts. "Mother, I'm saying that Da Bao is not a good match for Liu Shi."

  As soon as Xia Qiao opened his mouth, Xia Zhi knew it was going to be a disaster.

  But she didn't stop Xiaqiao.

  This is Xiaqiao's heart for his sister, even if there was no effect in the end. Whether or not to say it makes a big difference.

  And besides, this poor young man can't be held in thrall by the Tian family forever.

  "After all, you still look down on Dabao and the Lao Tian family!" Tian's anger increased instead of decreasing. "How are Dabao and Xia Zhi not a good match? Xia Zhi is my daughter, and Dabao is my nephew, this is the most suitable match... Is it that our Lao Tian family's bloodline is not worthy of your Lao Xia family's bloodline? Daqiao, you're not just looking down on Dabao, you're actually looking down on me from the bottom of your heart..."

  Tian's words trailed off here, and he burst into loud sobs, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

  Xia Qiao was even more at a loss.

  "Don't bully my big brother who is an honest man. If you're not happy, it's with me, so speak to me directly." Xia Zhi forcefully pulled the young man away and stood in front of Tian Shi himself.

  Tian furrowed his brow and gazed deeply at Xia Zhi.

  But after a day's work, this daughter of hers seemed to have changed into a different person. But no matter how she changes, she is still her own flesh and blood, her own daughter, so she has to listen to her.

  Tian's family wiped away tears and stopped crying. She solemnly told Xia Zhi: "This matter, I have discussed with your grandparents. Your grandparents are fond of you, and your aunt has also taken a liking to you... Compared to marrying into a family with unknown roots, going to your grandparents' house as a daughter-in-law is just like being at home. What's not to be happy about?"

  "Don't worry on the summer solstice. Your mother won't treat you unfairly, and your maternal grandparents' family won't either. Your grandmother told me..."

  "You're going to marry Xia Zhi off to a fool and still say you're not mistreating her? Tian Laiji, don't you feel guilty?" Little Black Fish's voice suddenly sounded from outside the window.

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