Chapter 148 - 148: He Thinks She is Quite Stupid
As a result, Qiao Xiaomai finally left Zuixian Building with three taels of silver and a hundred copper coins, thrilled. Qiao Changshun was quite pleased, too.
One tael of silver for one pound!
“Xiaomai, let me take over making the dried tofu in the future?” he asked, rubbing his large hands excitedly.
Whether he was out collecting wood or weeding the fields, his legs were always a burden. Making the dried tofu required only watching over the stove, which was quite easy for him.
“Alright.” Qiao Xiaomai nodded.
She hoped to make as much silver as possible from the dried tofu before Zuixian Building could figure out how to make it themselves.
The family of three returned home, where it was not yet noon.
They still had a few dozen pounds of bean sprouts left at home which they could sell in the village. She filled a basket with two pounds and started heading towards the Tong Family.
When she arrived, Tong Tiehu, Tong Sanlang, Tong Xingda, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Qian, Tong Erlang and Zhu Hongyun were all there. Mr. and Mrs. Tong Xingda generally lived in town, but due to the matter between Tong Sanlang and Qiao Xiaomai, they had chosen to stay this time.
Even though Tong Tiehu had explicitly stated that Tong Sanlang and Qiao Xiaomai were not to be matched, Tong Xingda, being the sole child of Tong Tiehu, had no fear of his father’s anger. After all, he was the one Tong Tiehu would live with regardless of what happened with the family.
For the past few days, he has been trying to manipulate Tong Tiehu: Qiao Xiaomai can make money, big money. In however many decades he had lived, this was the first time he’d come across a girl who knew how to make money.
And she was slow.
It was foolish of her to trade the recipes for such scant returns. Tong Xingda suspected Qiao Xiaomai was slow-witted.
But it was easier to control her because of her slowness.
Even though she was a bit volatile, how far could she really go?
She’s only a girl, after all. She couldn’t shake the heavens, could she?
With these thoughts in mind, he kept whispering in Tong Tiehu’s ear, suggesting he let Tong Sanlang marry Qiao Xiaomai. Naturally, Tong Tiehu didn’t agree.
He didn’t tell Tong Xingda about the peculiarities Qiao Xiaomai was displaying. Only he and Tong Sanlang knew.
How could you let a man marry a girl of mysterious origins and abilities?
It was not okay, absolutely not okay.
Tong Sanlang acted oblivious to his father’s thoughts. Each day consisted of studying, going up the mountain, and thinking on how to approach Qiao Xiaomai for information.
And today, while he was considering whether to visit the Qiao Family tomorrow to renegotiate the birthday banquet menu, Qiao Xiaomai showed up without warning.
His handsome face broke out into a mild smile; neither excessively enthusiastic nor too indifferent, “Miss Qiao, what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to deliver the bean sprouts. I hope Master Tong could help spread the word around the village.” Qiao Xiaomai handed the basket in her hand a little further forward.
“Okay.” Tong Sanlang accepted the bean sprouts without hesitation, planning to turn away.
A hearty voice rang out from behind him, “Oh, isn’t this the oldest daughter of the Changshun family? Please come in, come in.”
Tong Sanlang paused in his steps, a little helpless.
Qiao Xiaomai was also taken aback. She was unfamiliar with Tong Xingda as he rarely stayed in the village. Sometimes she wouldn’t see him for a whole year. Moreover, she was often too shy to look up. So her memory of Tong Xingda was a bit fuzzy.
Currently, looking at an overly enthusiastic Tong Xingda, she turned towards Tong Sanlang uncertainly. What was happening?
Tong Sanlang just stood there as Qiao Xiaomai looked at him, unsure of how to explain.
Tong Xingda completely disregarded his reaction, stepping aside and inviting Qiao Xiaomai into the courtyard, “Please, come have a seat.”
Qiao Xiaomai’s face broke into an awkward smile.
At the same time, she could feel a sharp pain in her lower abdomen..