Chapter 588: From Now on, She No Longer Exists in the Tong Family

“Mom’s illness hasn’t improved, so we can’t split the family as planned. Therefore, I hope grandpa can step in and reason with mom. Yang Ye is still in town.”

She used the incident with Zhu Hongyun to threaten the Zhangs, hoping they would speed up their recovery and split up the family.

If not, she might start a fight with Yang Ye instead.

She is indeed narrow-minded.

“Agreed.” Tong Sanlang had no objections.

The two of them then headed home in a bullock cart after a day’s work forced by Tong Tiehu on the Tong family. Today, Tong Tiehu let them rest due to his change of heart.

When Qiao Xiaomai got back home, she hopped off the bullock cart and glanced at Tong Tiehu’s room, calling out, “Grandpa? Where’s grandpa?”

“He is at the new house.” Li Rou, who was in a good mood, answered from inside her room.

The shop there only earned a few copper coins a day. Aside from Tong Tiehu who occasionally visits, no one else seemed to bother.

“Sanlang, go bring Grandpa back,” Qiao Xiaomai said to Tong Sanlang.

Tong Sanlang grunted in agreement,s didn’t get off the cart. He put down the basket of ingredients for Buddha’s Temptation and drove the bullock cart to the new house.

Li Rou noticed an unusual edge in Qiao Xiaomai’s voice, so she stepped out of her room and asked at the doorway, “Xiaomai, what’s wrong?”

“Sanlang and I went to town and, by chance, saw Zhu Hongyun selling the recipe for braised pork at the kitchen in the Zuixian Building. But instead, Zhu Hongyun accused Sanlang and me of treating her like a thief. She’s gone home now, and I need to have Grandpa settle the matter,” Qiao Xiaomai explained the situation.

Li Rou was shocked upon hearing this.

Truth be told, while she wanted to take advantage of Qiao Xiaomai and fill her own pockets as much as possible…

She’d never do something like selling a recipe that Qiao Xiaomai had taught her only in the morning.

And then she accused Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang of bullying others?

At that moment, Li Rou realized she had underestimated her second sister-in-law. Very well, that’s a strong argument.

“It’s so irresponsible for Hongyun to do such a thing. Wait until Grandpa comes back. He will support you,” she said to Qiao Xiaomai.

“And where’s my second brother?” asked Qiao Xiaomai.

When she and Tong Sanlang had left for town earlier, Tong Er’lang and Zhu Hongyun were at home.

“He’s gone up the mountain to gather firewood.

“Then I’ll wait for Grandpa to return,” Qiao Xiaomai said as she moved towards the kitchen, washing and soaking whatever necessary.

Whatever Zhu Hongyun was up to, it wouldn’t affect her mood for Buddha’s Temptation.

Soon, Tong Tiehu came back with a sullen expression. Once he returned home and saw Qiao Xiaomai busily working, he looked remorseful. “I’m sorry, Xiaomai.”

It was disappointing that such a troublesome thing happened just three days after they got married.

“As long as Grandpa doesn’t think that I’m the one bullying Zhu Hongyun, then I’ll feel better,” said Qiao Xiaomai.

“She’s an ignorant and stupid woman. Don’t stoop to her level. Now that she’s gone home, let her stay there. From now on, the Tong family won’t have anything to do with her,” said Tong Tiehu, “We can’t let one bad apple spoil the whole barrel.”

Hearing this, Qiao Xiaomai nodded and looked towards Tong Sanlang.

Tong Sanlang gave her an imperceptible nod, implying that he had told Tong Tiehu his side of the story. Tong Tiehu will talk to the Zhang family about this.

Upon seeing this, Qiao Xiaomai refrained from speaking any further.

It seems that the Buddha’s Temptation couldn’t be made today. However, yesterday Tong Sanlang had bought a hind leg of pork, intended for making bacon. She decided to cook it now instead.