Chapter 488: 488: Let Them Start a Small Business

Deep at night, Tong Sanlang went to find Qiao Xiaomai.

He relayed the conversation from dinner to Qiao Xiaomai.

His tone was no different than usual, but Qiao Xiaomai knew he was unhappy.

She took out the small seven-inch cake from the last time he hadn’t finished from her space, “Here, eat this.”

Tong Sanlang shook his head, “Not hungry.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“You should eat. If you feel bitter inside, you should taste something sweet.” Qiao Xiaomai dug out a spoonful of cream and held it out to him.

He stared at Qiao Xiaomai’s face for a while, then opened his mouth to take the spoonful.

Qiao Xiaomai smiled, touched the tip of his nose with her free hand, “Feeling miserable, isn’t it?”

Tong Sanlang only hummed in response.

The cream in his mouth was so sweet it was almost suffocating…

“Give me some water,” he requested.

Qiao Xiaomai handed him a cup, “I understand how you feel.”

She’s been fighting with her stepfather and stepmother since the age of ten, so she knows too well the feeling of helplessness when dealing with elders.

“We don’t get to choose our parents, we’re stuck with them from the moment we’re born.”

The Sun Family was her grandmother, so she could cut ties because they were a generation removed, and because they were indeed overbearing.

But Tong Sanlang couldn’t.

While the Zhang Family didn’t mistreat Tong Sanlang, they were just prejudiced against her.

Tong Sanlang was caught in the middle, facing difficult choices.

“As we said before, let’s just see how things go after your exam.” she advised.

“Hmm?” Tong Sanlang put the cup down, “Will my mother arrange another girl for me once I pass the exam?”

The Zhang family wanted to marry Qiao Xiaomai because they wanted to return to the good old days.

But once he passed the exam and his value increased, his mother might want to find another girl.

“Just because you’ve become a little scholar, do you think a really rich family would look at you?” Qiao Xiaomai asked.

“A merchant family might. Plus, look at my qualifications.” Tong Sanlang said with a confident smirk.

Qiao Xiaomai laughed, “Careful there, don’t get too big headed.”

Seeing this, Tong Sanlang hurriedly put down his cup, grabbing her hand, “I hope you’ll forever only have eyes for me.”

Qiao Xiaomai hummed, “Depends on how you behave.”

“I’ll be completely true and sincere, ready to follow you through life and death.” Tong Sanlang gripped her hand tighter.

Qiao Xiaomai smiled, she pulled her hand free and scooped up another spoonful of cream, “You sure know how to sweet talk.”

Tong Sanlang gulped down the cream, nodding strongly, “I learned from the best.”

Qiao Xiaomai blinked, “I’ve just remembered something.”

“What?” Tong Sanlang asked, trying to ignore the overwhelmingly sweet taste.

“I can make malt candy, would you like me to teach you?”

Tong Sanlang “…”

The conversation had taken quite a turn.

He paused for a moment before asking, “Why did you think of this.”

“You called me sweet, so I thought of candy.”

“Then why teach me?”

“Your family’s vinegar business is not very profitable. If you also sold malt candy, you could make a bit more.”

“And then?”

“Then if your eldest brother made vinegar and your second brother made malt candy, if everyone had a little business to run, they wouldn’t rely solely on you.”

Would they agree to divide the family if they learned how to make money for themselves?

“If all else fails, I can teach your mother how to make cold skin noodles. She wouldn’t need to rely on you if she had her own business.”

“But that would expose our relationship, only you know how to make cold skin noodles.”

Qiao Xiaomai frowned lightly, pondering before asking, “What about making dried sweet potatoes?”

“Dried sweet potatoes?”