Chapter 207 - 207: Heart-Wrenching
Sun Family’s matron was taken aback as she looked at the amused and eerily cold Tong Sanlang, feeling a sudden shiver run through her.
However, she was already in too deep to back out now.
The reason she was able to come here and make a fuss today was because of Sun Junyan’s dramatic threat of suicide at home, forcing Qiao Qinghe to refrain from intervening in this matter.
If she didn’t succeed today, she might as well say goodbye to any chance of mending her relationship with Qiao Qinghe.
Moreover, Qiao Meipan would find it difficult to get married in the future because of this incident.
This scheme of hers gambles on her standing in the family and on her daughter’s future!
Failure is simply not an option!
With this thought, the matron, initially timid, became firm again. She shouted loudly, “Why would 1 be afraid?! Today you must take responsibility for Meipan!”
“Alright.” Tong Sanlang chuckled, looking at the crowd around him. “Can someone please fetch Doctor Wu? Thank you.”
“I’ll go!” A boy, around seven or eight years old, volunteered and began running towards Doctor Wu’s house.
Tong Sanlang smiled as he watched the little boy, then turned his gaze back to the gathering villagers. About to invite them into the Courtyard, Qiao Xiaomai interrupted him from the Donkey Cart, “Wait.”
“What’s the matter?” Tong Sanlang asked her.
All eyes in the crowd turned to her.
Wearing a puzzled expression, Qiao Xiaomai asked, “I don’t understand. What is she supposed to find in your room?”
“She’s holding a pair of underpants, apparently stolen from some random man, and wants to search your room. What does she mean by that?”
“She probably thinks I have two pairs of such underpants. Now she has one pair, so if she finds another pair in my room, she can frame me.” Tong Sanlang explained.
Not only did he answer Qiao Xiaomai’s question, he also clarified the situation to everyone else.
The gathered villagers were, until now, also puzzled by the matron’s intent to search Tong Sanlang’s room.
“I get it now.” Qiao Xiaomai nodded, feeling reassured by Tong Sanlang’s confident demeanor, and refrained from asking him further.
If Tong Sanlang couldn’t handle such a minor issue, he would indeed be rather foolish.
Then Tong Sanlang said, “In order to prove my innocence, I welcome you all to come in and see.”
“Of course. We need to prevent the matron from pulling another pair of stolen underpants from her own bag and falsely claiming them to be yours.” Qiao Xiaomai hopped off the Donkey Cart as she spoke.
Tong Sanlang found himself pleasantly surprised by her response.
Her words were so fitting, so considerate.
How could there be such an endearing girl in this world?
Unfortunately, he still felt like he didn’t quite measure up to her.
Even with his status as the young master of Tingfeng Pavilion, he found himself in an awkward and humbling position now.
He sighed quietly and ushered the onlookers into the Courtyard.
Tong Tiehu and Qian Family’s matron led the way for the crowd.
He was the last to enter, walking beside Qiao Xiaomai, “Thanks, Miss Qiao.”
“Why thank me? I’m not helping you, I’m helping myself. The matron has been trying to tarnish my reputation.” Qiao Xiaomai gestured for Qiao Dami and Changsun to stay in the Donkey Cart and wait, speaking casually.
Tong Sanlang”…”
Even though he anticipated this response, hearing it hurt in an odd way.
He put his hand over his heart and managed a bitter smile, “Let’s go in.”
The courtyard of the Tong Family was similar to that of the Qiao Family. The main hall was a large blue-brick building where Tong Tiehu, Qian Family’s matron, Tong Xingda and Zhang Family’s matron resided. There were two tile-roofed houses on each side. The house on the eastern side was inhabited by Tong Erlang and Zhu Hongyun, while Tong Sanlang resided on the western side..