Mo Tiange kept her head bowed, enduring the scrutiny of the sharp-faced woman seated in the rattan chair.
This was Madam Zheng, the clan leader's wife and Mo Tiange's nominal grandmother. However, from childhood until now, apart from the annual festival meals, she had rarely seen her grandmother.
After a long while, Madam Zheng finally snorted and said to a maidservant beside her, "Auntie Lin, clean out the room next to the kitchen for her to live in. Take her out and have her help with the cleaning."
The stout middle-aged woman acknowledged the order, her expression cold as she said to Tian Ge, "Come with me."
Mo Tiange still kept her head down and followed Auntie Lin out of the room.
In the entire Mo Village, there were five or six households with such comfortable means. The clan leader's family could be considered local gentry, owning over a hundred *mu* of good farmland, a large compound, and several servants for menial work. The young masters of the Mo family moved out after marrying, leaving only the eldest young master to inherit the family business.
The room next to the kitchen was originally a storage room. Mo Tiange followed Auntie Lin in moving out the clutter and sweeping it clean. She didn't know where Auntie Lin found several pieces of semi-old, semi-new furniture, which she placed in the room for her. Then, without a word, she fetched bedding and bed curtains from somewhere, tossed them onto the bed, and left.
Mo Tiange sat blankly in the room for a while before finally taking stock of her new quarters. This room had long served as a storage space and had never been repaired. There were several cracks in the walls, the air was damp, and moss grew in the corners. Although Auntie Lin had swept the floor, dust still lingered everywhere, making the place look particularly old and worn.
She got up to fetch water from the courtyard, intending to clean the room and furniture.
Being small and weak, she could only carry a half-bucket of water. She went to the kitchen to ask Auntie Lin, who was cooking, for a rag and began slowly wiping things down.
As she wiped, tears began to fall. Her mother was gone. She knew no one would care for her anymore. This compound had few occupants and plenty of empty rooms, yet they had given her this one to live in.
"Tian Ge! Tian Ge!"
A voice called from outside. Mo Tiange hurriedly wiped away her tears. Before she could respond, Mo Tianqiao rushed in from outside.
Seeing her wiping the bed boards, Mo Tianqiao said, "Why are you cleaning this yourself? Where's Auntie Lin?" She made as if to go outside and call for her.
Mo Tiange quickly stopped her. "It's fine. Auntie Lin already swept it once. I just thought it wasn't clean enough."
"Then have her wipe it until it is..."
"Tian Qiao!" Mo Tiange interrupted her. Hesitating for a moment, she changed the subject. "What did you need me for?"
Mo Tianqiao, simple-minded, was immediately distracted. She sat on the only clean chair and said, "I came to see you! Now that we'll be living in the same compound, it'll be easier to come play with you."
Mo Tiange didn't reply. She threw the rag into the bucket and began making the bed.
Seeing her struggle, Mo Tianqiao jumped off the chair. "Let me help you!"
The two little girls, lacking strength and not very skilled at such tasks, simply spread out the bedding haphazardly and considered the bed made. The bed curtains were beyond them, so Mo Tianqiao ran out to call for Auntie Lin.
Auntie Lin came in, muttering a few words of discontent before hanging the curtains. Before leaving, she said to Tian Qiao, "Young Miss, it's almost time for dinner. You should go to the dining hall. If the Young Mistress finds out you're doing this sort of work, she'll scold me."
Mo Tiange had nothing to say, but Mo Tianqiao was furious. "This Auntie Lin! Who does she think she's giving that look to? So many complaints just for hanging some curtains!"
Of course, she wouldn't complain about hanging curtains for the masters. But what kind of master was *she*? After these past few days, Mo Tiange understood that in this household, apart from Tian Qiao, no one would treat her as anything significant. So she pretended not to hear. Moreover, the woman had reminded her that having Tian Qiao help would anger her aunt. She said, "You go ahead and eat. Everything's done here. I'll just put away my things."
But Mo Tianqiao said matter-of-factly, "Of course we eat together! Don't bother with that now. You can do it later!"
"Well..." Mo Tiange hesitated. She wasn't sure if she was allowed to eat in the dining hall. She knew perfectly well that her grandmother didn't consider her family. Who knew if they intended for her to eat in the kitchen by herself?
"No 'well' about it! Come on!" Tian Qiao grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the dining hall.
The two of them clattered into the dining hall, only to find the Old Master and Madam Zheng already inside. Mo Tiange quickly let go of Tian Qiao's hand, lowered her head, and stood to the side.
Madam Zheng indeed frowned. "What kind of behavior is this for a girl, so reckless and flustered!"
Mo Tiange didn't dare reply, but Mo Tianqiao made a face. "Grandmother, I'm hungry!"
Madam Zheng shot her a look, a half-smile appearing on her face. "Alright, alright. Sit down properly."
Mo Tianqiao beamed and sat in her usual seat. Turning back and seeing Mo Tiange still standing there, she waved. "Tian Ge, come here!"
But Mo Tiange didn't move. There was no place set for her here.
Madam Zheng swept a cold glance over her and said to the side, "Auntie Lin, bring another stool."
Auntie Lin acknowledged the order and finally brought a stool, placing it next to Tian Qiao.
Mo Tiange breathed a sigh of relief, carefully went over to sit down, and softly called out, "Grandfather, Grandmother."
The Old Master nodded slightly, then continued resting with his eyes closed. Madam Zheng turned away. "Auntie Lin, where are the others?"
Mo Tiange had long understood the situation and didn't feel particularly disappointed. She just lowered her head, reminding herself not to mind her grandmother's attitude.
Auntie Lin said, "The eldest young master will be here shortly. Uncle He has already gone to fetch the young master."
As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps were heard from outside. The Mo family's eldest young master and the Young Mistress entered with Mo Tianjun.
"Grandfather! Grandmother!" Before his parents could offer their greetings, Mo Tianjun shouted first, running between the two elders. He chattered and joked, immediately earning their doting affection as their precious treasure. Madam Zheng, who had maintained a cold face toward Mo Tiange, now wore a kindly, smiling expression. She kissed Mo Tianjun several times before telling him to sit down and eat.
Before Mo Tiange could process anything, Mo Tianjun saw her and immediately widened his eyes. "What are you doing here? This is *my* house!"
Before she could answer, Mo Tianqiao spoke up. "Tian Ge is going to live with us from now on. Don't you bully her, or I'll..." She was about to say she'd tell her father, but remembering he was right there, she changed it to, "...or I'll make you sorry!"
Mo Tianjun immediately protested. "Hey, Mo Tianqiao! I haven't even said anything, and you're already threatening me! I'm your brother, you know! Why are you so chummy with an outsider?"
"What do you mean 'outsider'? Tian Ge is clearly part of our family. If you don't acknowledge her, I do. Anyway, I've warned you, so you'd better watch it!" Mo Tianqiao didn't back down at all. Though Tian Jun was the family's precious grandson, she was the precious granddaughter too.
Though Mo Tianjun was a little troublemaker, he was helpless against his own sister. Now, threatened by her and seeing the adults had no intention of intervening, he could only sulk and pretend he hadn't heard.
His expression, however, drew a laugh from the adults. Madam Zheng, smiling, instructed, "Let's begin the meal."
For this entire meal, Mo Tiange kept her head down.
She felt it clearly: they were the real family.
They served each other dishes, chatted about trivial matters. She couldn't blend in at all.
She thought of the small courtyard in the east of the village, the simple dining table, her mother serving her food, listening to her talk about her insignificant worries.
That was her home.