Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s

Chapter 69 - 068 Mother's Madness

The middle-aged woman named Xiuying swiftly walked over, shaking a palm fan, and was startled by the scene: "What's going on here? Why are you crying like this? This morning, I think I saw Tian Tian heading to your house."

Tian Sangsang felt like she had been struck by lightning and asked urgently, "Did she take my son with her?!"

Xiuying shook her head: "I only saw her in passing. I don't know what happened afterward."

Both women had been mothers themselves, and this made them empathetic. They tried to comfort Tian Sangsang continuously. "Don't worry, just search again. All of us will help you look."

"No, it's Tian Tian. It must be Tian Tian and the matchmaker!" Tian Sangsang blinked frantically, muttering under her breath.

She recalled Tian Tian's strange behavior from a few days ago, the inexplicable things she had said, and the matchmaker showing up out of nowhere to suggest a marriage proposal. It was definitely all connected.

Tian Tian's cryptic and evasive demeanor made Tian Sangsang grind her teeth in frustration. And besides, she had come to her house today. There's no way she would believe it had nothing to do with her.

How could she have been so careless? So completely unprepared?

"Oh no, Sangsang—" Xiuying couldn't stop Sangsang as she ran off and, puzzled, turned to the other side to ask, "How is this related to the matchmaker? What in the world has happened?"

Another woman thought for a moment and said, "Now that you mention it, I do recall. The matchmaker came to the village a few days ago to propose a marriage. Was it for Tian Sangsang?"

"Who did she propose for?"

"It was that Biao Ge!"

"What! That thug leader! But how is this connected to Tian Family's Tian Tian?"

"Who knows! Let's go check it out."

Xiuying and the others followed behind. Along the way, curious villagers asked what was going on, and they explained the situation. Everyone was shocked when they heard it. This was serious—Tian Tian's family had been nothing but chaos lately. It was such a pity someone as decent and kind-hearted as Tian Tian was caught in the middle and struggling.

Tian Sangsang didn't care about anything anymore. Her mind was consumed by the endless string of news headlines from the future that she had seen: "A certain three-year-old child goes missing, only to be found days later as a corpse in the river, or in a pile of grass," and on and on. In most cases, when these missing children are found, the results are tragic. Those who return alive are considered extraordinarily fortunate. Large teardrops rolled down her face as she ran, until she spotted Tian Tian not far ahead.

"Tian Tian!" Tian Sangsang rushed over immediately, her appearance frenzied as she grabbed Tian Tian's clothes and roared, "Where's Yanyan? My son! Where is he? Where have you hidden him? Say it now!"

Tian Tian had been watering vegetables, and the basin in her hands fell to the ground due to Sangsang's violent action. Tears slowly filled her eyes, and she looked utterly startled, as if she had been deeply frightened: "What Yanyan? I don't know what you're talking about. Can you let go of me? Your son is missing, but what does that have to do with me?"

"Stop pretending!" Tian Sangsang stared directly into her eyes, feeling as if her heart had been carved out: "I'll ask you one last time—did you or didn't you hide my son?!"

Her grip on Tian Tian's collar was tight, causing Tian Tian to tremble all over. She bit her lip weakly: "I really don't know what you're talking about."

"What's Tian Sangsang doing?"

"Why would she act like this?"

"How could losing her child be Tian Tian's fault?"

"Exactly, it's not fair to blame Tian Tian."

"..."

The villagers initially sympathized with Sangsang since her son had gone missing, but now, seeing her barge into someone else's home, seemingly bullying Tian Tian by yanking her clothes and accusing her outright, they were appalled. Couldn't she see how weak and pitiful Tian Tian looked?

"Tian Tian, my dear granddaughter!" Grandma Tian stormed out of the house, her voice shrill as she shouted curses, "Tian Sangsang, you heartless wretch! Let go of Tian Tian right this instant!"

"I know it's definitely you." Tian Sangsang let go coldly, tossing Tian Tian to the ground.

Today, Tian Tian wore a white dress. When she fell, her thin frame landed in the vegetable patch, smudging the clean white fabric with dirt. The vegetables beneath her were crushed and leaning at odd angles.

Using both hands, she prepared to climb back up, but her hands pressed into the soil, black and gritty, making her feel nauseous.

"Grandma..." Tian Tian looked up weakly, her black hair disheveled, and her water-like eyes inadvertently swept over the villagers. They saw her teary expression clearly. Then she softly cried toward Grandma Tian, "Cousin Sangsang is speaking nonsense. Grandma, you must stand up for me."

"My dear granddaughter, everything will be fine, everything will be fine." Grandma Tian didn't even waste time scolding Sangsang and immediately started helping Tian Tian to her feet.

"Everyone, take a look at this! Tian Sangsang is simply out of control." Chen Guilan grabbed a broom and, visibly enraged, turned toward Tian Sangsang: "Your son going missing has nothing to do with our Tian Tian! Last time, Tian Tian got slapped in the face by you, and now you've pushed her into the vegetable patch. Tian Sangsang, today I won't hold back. You'll learn your lesson."

Tian Sangsang stared icily at Chen Guilan and caught the broom that swung her way with one hand. Her voice sharp and venomous, she said, "Listen carefully: if anything happens to my son, I'll make your son pay with his life!"

"Sangsang, what nonsense are you talking about? That's your cousin! How can you be so ruthless?!" Uncle Three harshly frowned beside her.

Tian Sangsang didn't even glance at him. What uncle? He was merely a distant relative who felt more like a stranger. Her eyes red, she stepped toward the door and said coldly, "Try stopping me, I dare you."

But the Tian Family stayed silent and didn't try to block her path. If it were any other day, they would've stopped her; today, however...

Tian Tian glanced toward the direction of the door, her expression soft and watery, yet a subtle, inexplicable glint of light flickered in her eyes.

Tian Sangsang nearly turned Tian Tian's home upside down—searching cabinets, under the bed, even inspecting for secret rooms, tunnels, basements—yet she found no trace of Meng Shuyan. No, something felt off. This didn't prove Meng Shuyan's disappearance was unrelated to them. If they had hidden Meng Shuyan, they certainly wouldn't have hidden him inside their own house; they must've stashed him somewhere else.

Tian Tian's voice drifted in just at the right moment: "Cousin, did you find anything? I've already said he isn't here. We didn't hide your son. You should focus on how exactly Yanyan went missing."

Tian Sangsang walked back into the yard and glared at Tian Tian's seemingly gentle, but secretly mocking gaze, struggling to contain her rage. Her voice was resolute: "I know it's you. It must be you."

"It's not," Tian Tian replied lightly, walking over to Sangsang's side. Her tone lowered so only the two of them could hear: "If you're willing to marry Biao Ge, then we'll—"

"Slap!" "Slap!" "Slap!"

There's no mercy for shameless people.

The crisp sound of three slaps echoed in the air, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

"Tiantian! Tian Sangsang, you little wretch! What are you doing? Are you trying to kill Tiantian?"

Grandma Tian, Chen Guilan, and two of Tian Family's uncles all moved toward her, eager to stop Sangsang. Only Tian Family's second aunt stood still in place. Hmph. In her opinion, Tian Tian was nothing but a hypocrite; the sooner she was beaten, the better.