What shocked Tong Aning even more was that, after being addressed like that, the man actually blushed and said, "Wife."
Tong Aning: "???"
The woman put the stall owner down with satisfaction. Looking back at the man, who still seemed worried, she went over to him, leaned close, and promised, "I won't do it again next time."
The man stammered, "Then you... you can't..."
The woman raised her chin and asked, "What can't I do?"
"I..."
"Who was it that threw a tantrum and said they wouldn't be with me?"
The man was embarrassed and said, "Stop, stop talking."
The woman took his hand, looked at the stall owner, and said fiercely, "I'll let you off this time."
The stall owner, in a fit of anger, snapped.
Instead, Tong Aning rolled up her sleeves, pointed at the two of them, and said seriously, "What you're doing is wrong."
The woman looked at Tong Aning's youthful face and laughed twice, leaving Tong Aning bewildered. She turned to look at Xue Lin and quietly asked, "Does she look down on me?"
Xue Lin: "... It shouldn't be."
The woman chimed in, "Indeed not. But young lady, don't meddle in other people's business. My brother is my childhood sweetheart, raised by my family. It's only natural for us to be together."
Tong Aning stared wide-eyed as they walked away into the distance.
Tong Aning murmured, "Such a thing actually happened?"
Xue Lin said, "This has been the case since ancient times."
Tong Aning frowned, muttering something to herself. Xue Lin leaned closer to hear her clearly, "Is it too late for me to raise her now?"
Xue Lin: "..."
He said expressionlessly, "It's too late."
Tong Aning didn't hear this carefully. To thank them, the stall owner brought over two more bowls of wontons and placed them between the two of them. The steaming hot wontons warmed their eyes and brows, and made Xue Lin's fair face blush slightly.
Tong Aning was too embarrassed to look any longer, so she went to get a spoon and mumbled something unintelligible.
A short while later, he said, "What should I do? I don't think I can finish eating."
Xue Lin peeked into Tong Aning's bowl and saw that there were still a few pieces left. He pursed his lips and said, "Then I..."
Before she could even speak, Tong Aning lifted her skirt with one hand and carried a bowl in the other, walking to the roadside.
The stall owner had placed a large bowl there, Tong Aning poured the remaining wontons into it. Not long after, a large white dog peeked out from under the table and came over.
It wagged its tail happily, showing great affection for Tong Aning.
Tong Aning stroked its head and said softly, "Eat, eat."
The stall owner remarked, "That woman is truly kind-hearted."
Tong Aning stood up and said, "Stop lying to people."
The stall owner couldn't help but defend himself. "I didn't lie."
"You..."
The stall owner puffed out his chest and raised his head, "Madam, just watch."
Tong Aning: "..."
She and Xue Lin went back and happened to see Tong Siyan getting off the carriage.
Tong Aning ran to Tong Siyan's side in a few steps, took Tong Siyan's hand, and said affectionately, "Second Sister~"
Tong Siyan looked at her, then at Xue Lin, nodded to Xue Lin, and then asked, "Where did you go?"
"Just taking a stroll... Where 'Yi'an?"
"She ordered a model of a large ship from a general store, and I had A Shu go with her to pick it up."
Tong Aning nodded, then turned and asked, "Would Heir Xue like to come in and sit for a while?"
"Alright."
Xue Lin had become familiar with the Tong family in recent days, and he accepted Tong Aning's invitation without hesitation.
The three of them ascended the steps in unison when a voice suddenly came from behind them, "Greetings, sir."
[Where did this gentleman in ancient style come from?]
Tong Aning went to see him; the man was dressed in fine clothes and looked like a noble young master from some family.
Tong Siyan, "It's the landlord's young master."
Tong Aning asked, "Then what's wrong with him?"
Tong Siyan didn't really want to talk about it, Tong Aning didn't ask any further.
Seeing that none of the three intended to pay him any attention, Ma Yan grew anxious. "Hey, hey, hey, would you mind inviting me in for a seat?"
Tong Aning glanced at Tong Siyan, then decisively shook her head, "We don't have any extra chairs at home."
Ma Yan: "?"
He conceded, "It wouldn't be so bad if I sat on the rock."
Tong Aning continued to lie through her teeth, "The stones in our family are all for my little sister to play with."
Ma Yan: "..."
He finally understood the underlying refusal in Tong Aning's words, and cupped his hands in farewell, saying, "Then I'll take my leave."
Tong Aning thought that the matter was over, but three days later, when she went to the shop to find Tong Siyan, she saw Ma Yan again.
Tong Aning asked in a low voice, "Second sister, what is he here for?"
Ma Yan, who hadn't even left the shop yet, overheard this and said, waving his folding fan, "I've come to deliver an invitation."
Tong Aning: "..."
[It's almost winter, isn't he cold fanning himself?]
Ma Yan almost stumbled.
Watching Ma Yan walk away, Tong Aning asked curiously, "Second Sister, what invitation?"
Tong Siyan handed the invitation Ma Yan had given her to Tong Aning. Tong Aning opened it, glanced at it, and said, "Do auctions now require invitations?"
He said it was an internal auction for the Ma Clan.
"Then why are we inviting you, Second Sister?" Tong Aning asked, turning the invitation around in confusion.
Tong Siyan paused slightly while working on the abacus. "I don't know."
[Tsk, is Ma Yan trying to scheme against my second sister?]
Tong Siyan had the same guess in her mind, but she didn't take it to heart. Instead, she was extremely annoyed by Ma Yan.
"What about Yi'an?"
As they were talking, Tong Aning had already slipped into the backyard and caught Tong Yi'an, who was playing shuttlecock in the yard.
Tong Yi'an and Suanpan stared at each other, "Fourth Sister, what's up?"
Tong Aning, resting her chin on her hand, said, "Can you show me your abacus?"
Tong Yi'an: "..."
"No way, Fifth Sister, you don't like your Fourth Sister that much now? You won't even do abacus work..."
This approach might not work on Tong Siyan, but it's more than enough to deal with Tong Yi'an.
Tong Yi'an lifted her hand, Tong Aning stopped speaking. Tong Yi'an raised her little face and said, "Fourth sister, I'll show you now."
"Um."
Tong Aning nodded with great anticipation.
Tong Siyan, with the help of her two younger sisters, placed the still-unorganized account book in front of Tong Yi'an, looking at them with gentle eyes.
Tong Yi'an was quite skilled; her little hands moved quickly across the abacus, and the entire calculation process was completed smoothly without a single stumble.
Tong Yi'an bit her lip and asked, "Second sister, am I right?"
Tong Siyan smiled and pinched Tong Yi'an's cheek. "Oh, right."
Having received affirmation, Tong Yi'an went to see Tong Aning again.
"Wow, Yi'an is so great!"
"Snort."
Tong Yi'an put aside her calculations and asked, "Can I go play shuttlecock now?"
"Go, go."
Tong Yi'an left in a flash.
Customers came into the shop, Tong Aning recognized them; they were the two young ladies from the household of the Minister of Ministry of Revenue.
Nie Jun, the Minister of Ministry of Revenue, was recommended by Tong Aobai. Nie Jun was grateful and would always send gifts during festivals.
Moreover, his second daughter was studying at the Imperial Academy Girls' School, the same school as Tong Aning.
"What do you want?" Tong Aning blinked.
" Aning," Nie Huailan said, pleased to see Tong Aning, "This is my older sister, Nie Huaiyu."
Tong Aning: "This is my second older sister, Tong Siyan."
Tong Siyan smiled and said, "I've long heard of Miss Nie's and Second Miss Nie's beautiful reputations."
Nie Huaiyu said embarrassedly, "My sister and I are not worthy of such a compliment."
While the two women exchanged pleasantries, Nie Huailan had already started to stir things up.
She exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, come quick! Here's a beaded flower just like the one you're wearing!"
"Yeah?"
Nie Huaiyu walked to Nie Huailan's side, Nie Huaiyu eyes lighting up. "They really are exactly the same."
Why do I feel like there's some story behind this?
Nie Huaiyu asked, "Miss Tong, whose design was this?"
Tong Siyan, "This was prepared by a young lady and brought over."
"Girl?" Nie Huaiyu murmured, "I haven't heard that Minglang has any brothers or sisters."
Nie Huailan said, "Maybe it's a neighbor."
"Yes, yes, I need to find him, I need to ask him."
Nie Huaiyu made up her mind.
[It turns out that Nie Huaiyu went to a temple to pray for blessings half a month ago and unexpectedly fell in love at first sight with a young man. However, the young man refused to tell Nie Huaiyu Nie Huaiyu his home address or come to her house to propose marriage.]
Nie Huaiyu hadn't expected this to be exposed. After explaining the whole story, she said with some distress, "I'm completely baffled. He clearly likes me."
She could see the love Minglang had for her in Minglang eyes, and their marriage was a natural progression. Why wouldn't Minglang want to get married?
Nie Huailan comforted her, "Sister, perhaps he's having some difficulties."
"I thought so too, but by the time I wanted to see him and explain things to him, he had already vanished without a trace."
Tears streamed down Nie Huaiyu's face.
Tong Aning and Tong Siyan exchanged a glance.
Tong Aning mumbled, "It might really be inconvenient, Sister Yu. You should just forget about him."
Nie Huaiyu was heartbroken. She looked at Tong Aning and asked, "Why... why do you say that too?"
She had heard from her father that Fourth Miss Tong was incredibly knowledgeable, from astronomy to geography, and that she could see through anyone's secrets when they came into her presence; she was practically a celestial being descended to earth.
Now that Tong Aning has said this, does it mean that she and Minglang are completely destined to be apart?
Nie Huaiyu wiped away tears frequently.
"Oh dear, don't cry."
Tong Aning was flustered, wiping away Nie Huaiyu's tears and comforting Nie Huaiyu.
Seeing her sister cry, Nie Huailan felt very sad too. "That Minglang, he made my sister so heartbroken. If he shows up again, I'll make him pay."
Why did they have to come now of all times?!
Tong Aning's regretful words reached their ears, and they all looked towards the door at the same time.
When Nie Huaiyu met the eyes of the person who came up to her, her pupils contracted.
" Minglang."
She stepped forward and grabbed Minglang's sleeve, but her eyes widened when she saw Minglang's attire clearly.
"You, you, you..."
[Sigh, Minglang is actually a girl.]