BXBX NOVEL Chapter 166 - 166 The Problem Arises
“You just said you’d do anything I asked you to,” Tong Tiehu sternly reminded.
Tong Sanlang looked him straight in the eye, “I wasn’t referring to marriage, Grandpa, you knew that.”
In the past, he spent his days engrossed in reading, practicing martial arts, running through the account books at Jiwei Residence, and occasionally following Tong Tiehu to the Capital City or other places; his life was busy and fulfilling.
Marriage was something he never considered.
But now, Qiao Xiaomai had appeared, cloaked in the disguise of a country girl, while inside…
He couldn’t find the right words to describe Qiao Xiaomai right now.
Even a noble lady from the households of distinguished officials in the Capital City couldn’t compare to her mysterious allure.
He could see through other girls at first glance, but Qiao Xiaomai’s country girl’s outfit obscured his vision.
Because he couldn’t see clearly, it was always on his mind.
Hmm…
Perhaps there was another layer of competitiveness at play: Qiao Xiaomai didn’t think much of him, yet he insisted on lingering around her.
In conclusion, he started caring about a matter of marriage he previously didn’t care about.
“But if you’re going to do that, then 1 must be the one to decide your marriage,” Tong Tiehu said.
“What do you propose, Grandpa? Would you choose a girl for me from the surrounding villages? Are you sure you can find one better than her?” Tong Sanlang calmly retorted.
Tong Tiehu was rendered speechless.
“Or do you plan to wait until my affair is settled, then choose a noble girl for me?” Tong Sanlang asked again, “But when will it be settled? You’ve been waiting a lifetime.”
“Given Daqi’s current situation, who knows how many years or months we’ll have to wait. Are you sure you want me to remain unmarried?”
Tong Tiehu was again speechless.
Gazing at Tong Sanlang’s calm demeanor, he took a deep breath before picking up the account books on the table and rolling them up, hurling them at Tong Sanlang, “You little brat, always bringing up sore subjects, surely to jab at my heart?! Even your foolish father wasn’t this disrespectful!”
Tong Sanlang nimbly sidestepped, avoiding Tong Tiehu’s attack. He stood a meter away, an innocent look on his face, “Grandpa, what did I say that was wrong?”
Such a simple phrase calmed Tong Tiehu’s anger.
Tong Tiehu looked taken aback, an air of defeat washing over him. After a while, he stood up from his chair and walked into the house.
His hunched back looked rather lonely.
Tong Sanlang pursed his lips slightly, regretting his words.
Although everything he said was true, they were daggers to Tong Tiehu.
In his current position, having worked a lifetime for an elusive goal, he now found his goal farther and farther away as he got older.
After some thought, he went over to apologize.
Hearing footsteps, Tong Tiehu said, “Go back and read in your room, 1’11 stay here alone for a while.”
His hoarse voice revealed exhaustion and pain.
Tong Sanlang stopped in his tracks and lowered his gaze.
The mission Tong Tiehu could not complete eventually fell to him. He was already seventeen. It was time to seriously consider this matter.
Qiao Family’s house.
Unaware of the secrets of Tong Family, Qiao Xiaomai went up the mountain to collect firewood, burned the sanitary napkins she had just changed, and then leisurely descended the mountain.
After a lunch of succulent fried baby fish and pig heart soup, she took her medicine, then began making tofu skin.
To make disposable sanitary napkins from silk, she had to earn money quickly.
With such a serious issue related to her personal comfort at stake, Qiao Xiaomai ignored the slight discomfort of her period and labored with determination.
During this time, neither Tong Sanlang nor Gao Xiaomei came to bother her. She enjoyed her freedom, hanging tofu skins all over her courtyard.
Within a few short days, the Tomb-Sweeping Festival arrived..