Chapter 438: Leave if You Don’t Want to Stay
Tong Xingda was initially asleep but woke up due to Tong Tiehu’s shouting. Upon hearing the situation, he promptly kicked Mrs. Zhang awake and ordered her to go make food.
Mrs. Zhang had spent the entirety of last night worrying about the future, only falling asleep at dawn. After eventually managing to fall asleep, she experienced a nightmare, which left her in a bad mood, worsened by being kicked awake.
Havng been rudely awakened from a nightmare, her mood was naturally terrible, and she immediately got into an argument with Tong Xingda.
In contrast to Tong Tiehu’s cold and steadfast seriousness, Tong Xingda’s attitude towards Mrs. Zhang was far simpler and crude. After a few slaps, Mrs. Zhang quietened down.
However, now that Mrs. Zhang was a grandmother, she saw that Zhu Hongyun and Li Rou, her two daughters-in-law, were acting was just another day. Without further ado, she took out her frustrations on them, giving each of them a slap and driving them to the kitchen to make food.
The usually harmonious Tong Family had become a scene of two physical confrontations that morning. Tong Tiehu watched it all coldly, his feelings of guilt slowly dissipating.
His approach to matters had always been straightforward and serious. His nature was not one for patience, never resorting to gentle persuasions or consolations. Such behavior was uncharacteristic of him.
That being said, his gentle words last night had been quite rare.
But what about these people?
None of them considered his predicament.
Did they think he wanted this?
He was only ten when he inherited his father’s aspirations.
Did they think he was living an easy life?
Did they think he had deliberately deceived them because he was a terrible person?
How is that possible?
He felt bitter inside.
His conscience was also tormented.
When he was overwhelmed with guilt for almost involving these people in his problems, he realized he had done wrong. Latest content published on noᴠelfire.net
But he had already explained himself nicely last night. After a whole night has passed, their anger should have abated, right?
Even if their resentment was still there, that was fine – after all, such a monumental event was not easy to digest instantly.
But refusing to take responsibility and even considering striking-not even planning to cook food.
What were they trying to do?
Was there really a need for such chaos?
What made their actions any different from those of the shrew from Sun Family?
He had probably spoiled these people too much so far, letting them take those better days for granted.
He would show them what the reality of a farmer’s life is.
The Qiao Family had put up with such repression before, this problem in his family was nothing compared to that.
On hearing Tong Tiehu’s instructions, Tong Sanlang replied, “Alright.”
Seeing this, Zhu Hongyun couldn’t help but speak up, “Grandpa, Sanlang is so capable and so good at hunting, let him hunt more. We should buy another courtyard in town and continue running our shop.”
What kind of farming?
Running a business and starting a shop was the way to make money.
“I think all of you have forgotten your roots. Did you think the past was just taken for granted? All of you go back to farming.” Tong Tiehu said with a gloomy expression.
“Feel like you were tricked before? Think you can find a better household than the Tong Family? After enjoying the good life, do you feel unhappy thinking you were tricked? Do you think the past several years- decades even, of good days, were fake?”
Because he had rebelled against his family, Tong Tiehu never sought out ‘high gates’, and Qian Family, Zhang Family, Zhu Hongyun, Li Rou all came from less affluent backgrounds than Tong Family.
Now they felt they had been tricked; after enjoying a good life for so long they felt they had been fooled. Did they seriously think they could find a better family than the Tongs?
He would show them that if they were to choose again, they would still choose Tong Family.
“None of you have hit rock bottom like Qiao Changshun yet; everyone has some private money stashed away. Now when things got rough, what are you all upset about? You’ve gotten too used to the good life, now haven’t you?”
“I told you last night, I gave you those past good days. From now on, if you want to live well, earn it yourself! If you don’t want to earn, then leave! If you want to return to your maternal home, then return. If you want to divide the family, then divide it!”