Chapter 550: 550: She Likes Tong Sanlang

No wonder Qiao Changshun was so hesitant, it was mainly because the Zhang Family’s last intimidating visit left him with too many shadows.

His Xiaomai is not worried about finding a husband.

Upon hearing this, Tong Tiehu stood up from his stool, then knelt down in front of Qiao Changshun with sincerity, saying, “My mother cannot wait. Please, Uncle Changshun, make a decision soon. I, Tiehu, genuinely want to marry Xiaomai. I swear I will love and protect her and will not let her suffer any grievances.”

“If I can’t do this, I’m willing to accept Uncle Changshun’s punishment.”

“Eh? What’s this, child, get up!” Surprised that Tong Tiehu would kneel, Qiao Changshun quickly reached out to help him up.

“This kneeling is necessary, to reassure Uncle Changshun to entrust Xiaomai to me.” Tiehu added.

“Ah, let me and Xiaomai think a little more, we will give you an answer tonight.” Recalling all the help Tong Tiehu had given these past few months, Qiao Changshun’s doubts towards Tong Tiehu slightly tipped the balance in his favour.

Watching Tiehu, Qiao Xiaomai, with her peach blossomy eyes, also said, “You get up, come over again tonight.”

Really now, it was all just a play, but he was just so into it!

Having received an annoyed look from Qiao Xiaomai, Tong Tiehu took a deep look at her, then stood up.

“Then I’ll come again tonight.” After that, he bid farewell and left.

After his tall figure disappeared from the doorway, Qiao Changshun sighed, “Ah, what’s going on? Such a good lad, why does he have such a mother!”

Coming for meals, accusing Xiaomai of clinging to other nobles.

That day, standing at the entrance of the village with her hands on her hips, quarrelling with the Sun Family, she was just another Sun Family.

“Father, back at the threshing field that day, Brother Sanlang risked his life to save me. He was willing to give up his life for me. He should be able to withstand his mother…” Qiao Xiaomai started, with a look of hesitation on her face.

“What’s the use of risking his life? That woman is his own mother.” Qiao Changshun sighed.

No one understood better than him the complexity and bitterness in this.

Hearing this, Qiao Xiaomai raised an eyebrow, “If worse comes to worst, I can come back home. By then, Mother will also be back, and we will still be a family of four.”

“There’s a big difference between being a daughter and a daughter-in-law, you can’t easily run back home whenever you want.”

“If I want to go back, I’ll go back, who can stop me? Filial piety? This term is too broad. Life is for people to live by themselves. It’s just Tiehu’s mother, what’s there to fear?” Qiao Xiaomai snorted.

Let her be unfilial. If Zhang Family can go to the County Town to sue her, then see if they dare!

With Tong Tiehu and the County Magistrate present, if Zhang Family can win the lawsuit, then the sun must rise from the west.

“You want to get married?” Qiao Changshun asked.

“His mother is dying. She insists I marry him out of gratitude for the help the Tong family lent me in the past. If I don’t marry him, and his mother really dies, will the Tong Family hold me responsible for Zhang Family’s death?” Qiao Xiaomai asked.

“They wouldn’t dare!” Upon hearing this, Qiao Changshun was immediately angry.

“Regardless whether they dare or not, the fact is already on this stage. Dad, you don’t want me to marry and go far away, then Third Brother Tong Tiehu is the best destination. And if I marry Tiehu, that’s me marrying beneath my station. If I encounter any grievances, I can make a fuss.”

She actually understood Qiao Changshun’s thoughts.

Marrying into a high rank means marrying up, if she suffered any grievances, there would be no one to stand for her, and she might have to endure it.

But the Tong Family was different, just an average rural household, any grievance reported to Yang Ye would be considered minor for him, easily resolved with a wave of his hand.

The most important thing is, she liked Tong Tiehu.

Just this reason alone is enough for her to happily get married.