Chapter 734: Chapter 734: Her Mother is Lying in the Medical Clinic
Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang rented a horse-drawn carriage. After five days of bumpy travel, they finally arrived in Bailu Town.
The celebratory announcement from the government office was delivered by the post station and had arrived in Huai’an County before them.
The Huai’an County Government Office had already sent someone to relay the news to Anping Village. So, when the two of them arrived in Bailu Town, Tong Xingda and the Zhang family were waiting for them at the town entrance.
As soon as she got off the carriage and saw the people she didn’t want to see, Qiao Xiaomai crossed her arms, expressionless, and coldly watched Tong Xingda dash over. He slapped Tong Sanlang’s shoulder heartily, exuberantly praising him for bringing honor to his ancestors.
Zhang’s wife was also grinning from ear to ear, standing on the other side of Tong Sanlang, repeatedly calling out, “my son, my good son”.
Tong Sanlang was somewhat surprised, “Father, Mother, why are you two here?”
“You passed the imperial examination! Your father and I came here to bring you home!” Zhang’s wife said cheerfully.
“Exactly. The messengers from the county office came to announce the good news the day before yesterday. Your mother and I have been waiting for you here since yesterday.” Tong Xingda was still heavily patting Tong Sanlang’s shoulder, his laughter vibrating the air, “Your grandfather also wants to celebrate. Later we’ll buy some liquor and food from Jimei Restaurant and head home, not stopping till we’re drunk.”
“Sanlang, you go home. I’ll find a bullock cart to get back.” Qiao Xiaomai spoke up when she saw this.
She didn’t recognize the Tong family and naturally wouldn’t go and celebrate with Tong Sanlang.
“Shall we go home together?” Tong Sanlang furrowed his brow slightly.
Couldn’t they even share a carriage?
“What do you mean by going back together!” Zhang’s wife misunderstood Sanlang’s meaning. She thought he was inviting Qiao Xiaomai back to their new house. She immediately objected, “She doesn’t have the time to go home with us. Her mother, who ran away with a strange man, is lying in the medical clinic right now!”
Qiao Xiaomai raised her eyebrows at the news.
Tong Sanlang was startled and hurriedly asked, “Mother, what happened?”
“What else? She’s disgraced herself and committed suicide out of shame!” Zhang’s wife said with a hint of schadenfreude, looking excited. Qiao Xiaomai had been domineering for so long. It was about time she suffered!
Seeing her delight in the situation, Qiao Xiaomai frowned slightly and turned to Tong Sanlang. “I’ll go to the medical clinic to see.”
“Stand still!” Both Tong Xingda and Zhang’s wife gripped an arm of Tong Sanlang each, not allowing him to follow. Zhang’s wife even spat on the ground, “You’ve just become a scholar, it’s your time to shine. Don’t let her bad luck affect you.”
As Zhang’s wife spoke, her face shifted from delight at the misfortune to dread, her tone full of regret, “My dear son! What awful luck you’ve had to end up with such a mother-in-law. It was all my fault. I was bewitched and insisted you marry her!”
“Having such a mother-in-law is a stain on your reputation!”
Upon hearing this, Tong Sanlang furrowed his brows, yanked his arms from their grip, and moved to Qiao Xiaomai’s side. “Let’s go together.”
He knew he wouldn’t get any information from Zhang’s wife given her attitude.
In that case, he would take Qiao Xiaomai to the medical clinic himself.
“Father, Mother, you two go back first with the luggage!”
Having said that, he had already disappeared from sight, his arm wrapped around Qiao Xiaomai’s waist. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
Zhang’s wife was left dumbfounded. She stomped her foot, “Such a fool! All that studying has made him stupid!”