"Big brother."
When Tong Yibin saw Tong Aning, his expression softened, and he asked gently, " Aning, what are you doing here?"
"I've come to have dinner with Heir Xue."
Tong Yibin then noticed Xue Lin behind Tong Aning. Xue Lin nodded to him and also called him "Big Brother".
For some reason, Tong Yibin suddenly felt a sense of reality that he had a brother-in-law, and his face darkened again.
Tong Aning: "..."
Tong Aning pulled Tong Yibin aside and whispered, "Big brother, why did you get into a fight with someone?"
Tong Yibin pursed his lips and said, "It's nothing."
[This is nothing? I've never seen my brother like this before.]
Hearing Tong Aning's thoughts, Tong Yibin's heart stirred, but not wanting Tong Aning Tong Aning worry, he decided not to tell her.
Tong Yibin said, "Let's go back."
When Tong Yibin gets serious, he's exactly like Tong Aobai, making people afraid to disobey him.
Tong Aning: "Okay, but big brother..."
She glanced at the people who had just been arguing with her older brother. "Have you finished taking care of your business?"
Is it really okay to walk out midway through an argument?
"Um."
Tong Yibin stepped forward and said firmly, "Farewell."
Those people dared not speak out in anger and could only bow their heads in submission.
[One or two, and they're quite polite.]
Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, Tong Aning immediately recounted how her elder brother had engaged in a heated debate with a group of scholars outside.
Tong Siyan exclaimed in surprise, "Big brother? Debating with a group of scholars?"
How did the word "elder brother" come to be associated with this? Tong Siyan couldn't help but glance at the composed Tong Yibin behind Tong Aning.
Tong Aning: "Of course, Second Sister, you didn't see that scene..."
Tong Aning began to tell the story vividly, and just as the group was listening with great interest, Tong Yibin coughed lightly.
Tong Aning immediately shut up.
After a while, she asked again, still not giving up, "Big brother, why did you argue with them?"
What exactly did they do to offend Big Brother?
Tong Yibin: "..."
Su Zhouyue couldn't help but worry. After all, her eldest son had never argued with anyone before. She asked, "What exactly happened?"
Tong Yibin said, "They say that everyone in our Marquis's family has risen to prominence, and that I will be promoted soon."
Su Zhouyue: "... Just because of this?"
Tong Yibin nodded.
Su Zhouyue said, "Ever since your sister got engaged to Heir Xue, there have been some unpleasant things being said."
Tong Aning finally realized what was happening.
[They mocked my older brother's family, whom he cares about most, and even criticized his professional abilities. No wonder he was so angry.]
Oh, my dearest family.
Several people turned to look at Tong Yibin.
Tong Yibin: "..."
Su Zhouyue stood up and patted Tong Yibin on the shoulder, "Don't take these words to heart. Those people are just sour grapes."
Upon hearing this, Tong Yi'an took a pair of scissors, cut a bunch of grapes from the grape trellis, and forced one into Tong Yibin's mouth.
She looked up at him and said, "Big brother, our grapes aren't sour."
Tong Yibin chuckled.
Tong Yi'an gave each of the three girls, Su Zhouyue and the others, a grape Su Zhouyue, holding the grape, asked, " An'an, did you wash these grapes?"
"No, but my older brother ate it."
Tong Yibin's expression was strange, and the others burst into laughter.
Tong Yibin watched this scene and thought, "Yes, no matter what nonsense those people talk, as long as my family is alright, that's all that matters."
Tong Aning ate some washed grapes and murmured, "Why hasn't Sister Mu Yao come back yet?"
Tong Siyan: " Danqing accompanied her to the market to pick out writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. She said she wanted to paint a portrait of each of us."
Tong Aning's eyes crinkled with anticipation. "That's great! I'll go pick her up."
[I want Sister Mu Yao to draw me first!!!]
After saying that, Tong Aning got up and left, her shawl fluttering away like a wisp of green smoke.
The few people left in the courtyard looked at each other, none of them arguing with Tong Aning, and they didn't know why she ran so fast.
Yingtao and A Shu accompanied Tong Aning out.
Mu Yao often went to the First Studio, where the writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, pigments, and Xuan paper were all of the highest quality.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the First Studio. Yingtao helped Tong Aning down from the carriage. Just as the two were about to go inside, they met Mu Yao and Danqing coming out.
Danqing said happily, "Miss, it's Miss Aning."
Mu Yao, who had been looking down, looked up and smiled.
Just as Mu Yao and Tong Aning were about to get together, a woman stepped between them.
Mu Yao and Tong Aning paused simultaneously, and Yingtao and Danqing shielded the two young ladies.
Seeing this, A Shu, who was originally in the carriage, also rushed over.
Yingtao frowned and asked, "Madam, what are you doing?"
The woman said fiercely, "What's it to you? I've taken a liking to this young lady."
She was referring to Mu Yao, Mu Yao eyes widened in alarm, and she took a step back.
Tong Aning walked past the woman and took Mu Yao's hand, "What do you see in my sister?"
The woman asked suspiciously, "Are you sisters?"
"Genuine or genuine."
The woman examined them closely. At first, she thought the two didn't look alike, only that their overall demeanor was similar. But now, she felt that their eyes and brows were somewhat similar.
The woman smiled broadly, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! It's like the flood washed away the Dragon King's temple; we're family members who don't recognize each other."
Tong Aning: "Who's family with you?"
The woman said, "Your sister, to tell you the truth, I've taken a liking to your sister."
All five of them doubted their ears.
Is it really this extreme now? Just because someone falls for you doesn't mean you're family!
Tong Aning spread her arms wide, shielding Mu Yao tightly behind her.
The woman said softly, "Young lady, you don't need to be so wary of me. I guarantee my son-in-law is a good man."
"Wait, wait, wait..."
Tong Aning's mind went blank. "Your son-in-law?"
The woman replied calmly, "Yes, my son-in-law."
"So you've taken a liking to my sister because you want her to be your son-in-law's wife?"
Where did her daughter go?
Tong Aning found it unbelievable, but the next moment, Tong Aning confusion was resolved.
"It's not about being a wife," the woman said seriously. "He's already my son-in-law, so the wife must be my daughter. Your sister is going to be a concubine."
In the end, she seemed rather smug, as if she had accomplished something incredibly wonderful.
Danqing was furious. "You old witch! You're blind as a bat! You actually want our young lady to be a concubine? Are you out of your mind?"
Despite being scolded so harshly, the woman wasn't angry. She just looked at Mu Yao with a serious expression and said, "You're no good maid. Sell her off after you come into the manor."
Danqing was about to faint from anger, and Yingtao quickly supported her.
Yingtao sneered, "It's not even a done deal yet, and you've already become a mother-in-law. Anyone who didn't know better would think your son-in-law is your own son! You're actually taking a concubine for your own daughter!"
The woman muttered, "I wish my son-in-law were my own son, but how could I possibly have given birth to such a good son?"
Yingtao rolled her eyes; she looked like she was about to collapse.
"Mother, what are you doing here? Excuse me, ladies, has my mother offended you?"
This person must be the woman's daughter. She was poised and respectful, neither servile nor arrogant, and her apology was sincere. Tong Aning and Mu Yao had no intention of holding a grudge against her.
The two said they were alright and were about to leave.
The woman, however, forbade it. Pointing at her daughter's head, she scolded, "What are you doing? You're getting anxious now that I'm going to help your husband take a concubine? What did I tell you? The most important thing for a wife is to be magnanimous and to always think of her husband. This is just the beginning. Which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Are you going to make a fuss about every single one of them?"
Tong T Aning really wanted to cover her ears.
[Her words were so awful... How can she be so fond of her son-in-law? Her daughter is her own flesh and blood!]
Tong Aning really didn't understand.
[Host, she genuinely likes her son-in-law, but knows she's not good enough for him. So she's trying to matchmake her daughter and son-in-law so she can see him every day and live with him.]
Several people were completely stunned, especially Danqing, who was already furious, and this only made things worse... Why did she bother arguing with such an extraordinary person?
Yingtao whispered, "Miss, let's go back quickly."
She got goosebumps all over her body.
When the woman's daughter heard Tong Aning's thoughts, she was struck dumb as if by lightning.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she was crying and laughing at the same time, as if she had gone mad. "No wonder, no wonder, you always rushed to wash his clothes but picked out mine. I told you that these things could be done by servants, but you insisted on doing them yourself. So that's why, that's why."
The daughter stumbled and blurted out the whole thing, leaving the woman utterly humiliated. She yelled, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
The daughter decided to stop enduring it. She shook off her mother's hand, "I'm going back to divorce him. There's no longer any obstacle between you two. Just be together!"
"You brat, come back here right now!"
The daughter turned and ran away, covering her face. The woman stomped her feet and chased after her, gritting her teeth.
Mu Yao lowered the carriage curtain and sighed, "That young lady was truly a pitiful person."
How could parents be so twisted? If they had known it would turn out this way, they would have been better off not having had this daughter. What a blow this must have been to her.
"Yes," Tong Aning took Mu Yao's hand, "Sister Mu Yao, were you scared?"
Mu Yao smiled and said, "You're all protecting me, how could I be scared?"
Instead, she felt a warm glow inside.
Danqing weakly raised her hand, "I was so scared, waaaaaah!"
Mu Yao quickly patted Danqing's hair, Tong Aning said, "When we go back today, I'll give you and A Shu a chicken leg each."
Danqing's eyes gleamed with golden light, and he perked up again.
"Come, come, come!" Outside, drums and gongs were banging, creating quite a commotion. "We're selling husbands! The starting price is one hundred taels! Everyone can participate, come and see!"