Chapter 12: You Must Not Tell Her!

Song Tiancheng shook his head with a wry smile. After a moment, recalling what his mother said yesterday, he asked, "Mother, you mentioned yesterday about registering Huan’er’s household status. Is she still considered a slave now?"

His mother nodded and sighed softly, "Alas! Such a fine girl, yet she’s been so mistreated."

Hearing this, Song Tiancheng lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment before saying, "In that case, why not erase her slave status and register her as an adopted daughter in our household? What do you think?"

"What if she runs away?" his mother replied. "I’m not heartless—she really is a good girl. But Chengzi, I bought her to take care of you. If she runs off, wouldn’t we lose both the woman and the investment?"

"You’re quite right," Song Tiancheng said softly. "We’re just ordinary folk. If word gets out that Huan’er’s status isn’t properly handled, it won’t reflect well on us."

At these words, his mother’s expression darkened instantly.

The Song family’s reputation in Apricot Blossom Village was far from good—not because she and her son had done anything truly wrong, but simply due to the petty jealousy of fools.

"If it weren’t for those busybodies, how could your leg have been injured..."

"Mother," Song Tiancheng interrupted, shaking his head, "let’s not dwell on the past. I’m fine now, aren’t I?"

Fine? Not really.

His mother glanced at his leg but couldn’t bring herself to say more.

She turned slightly and said, "I never intended to treat Huan’er as a slave anyway. But as you said, once her slave status is erased, you can’t let her know—at least not until she earns back those two taels of silver herself."

She couldn’t bear being cruel, but she wasn’t a saint either. After all, they had spent money on her; it was only fair she contributed somehow.

"I promise, I won’t make her serve as a slave," she added quietly to herself, "Who lets a slave sleep in the main room?"

Song Tiancheng heard her mutter and felt a wave of relief.

"Auntie, the pancakes are ready!" Huan’er’s voice came from outside.

His mother replied, "Alright, I heard you." Then she looked back at Song Tiancheng. "Smell that? It’s delicious. Wait, I’ll bring some to you!"

She hurried out, and soon returned carrying a steaming bowl of cabbage soup.

Holding two pancakes, she placed them on the small table by the kang bed. "Try these quickly!"

Song Tiancheng pushed aside his worries, picked up a pancake, and took a bite. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

Seeing his expression, his mother smiled even more warmly.

"How is it? Tastes good, doesn’t it?"

He nodded, "The cooking is quite good. Almost like yours, Mother."

"You sure know how to flatter me!" she said, but the smile on her face betrayed no falsehood.

Watching her son eat with such satisfaction, she made up her mind. "You’re right. Huan’er shouldn’t be registered as a slave. I’ll take her to the fields later, then to town, and get that slave status removed. We’ll register her under our household."

"As for her identity, adopted daughter will do—maybe register her as a distant relative from afar. What do you think, Chengzi?"

Song Tiancheng swallowed his bite and nodded. "You’ve thought this through well, Mother."

His mother’s smile grew even brighter. "It means another mouth to feed in our home. By the way, Chengzi, if anyone asks, don’t let it slip, alright?"

She paused, then added thoughtfully, "Just say she’s a relative from your father’s side, with no family left, who came here to seek refuge. Nothing else, understand?"

Song Tiancheng nodded, "I remember, Mother."

"Good. Now eat up. I need to talk to Huan’er, make sure she doesn’t let anything slip!"

"Alright."