Chapter 431: Chapter 431: Actually, Life is Still Bearable

“I’ve had my meal.” Tong Sanlang was saying as he pointed to Qiao Xiaomai. “I’m looking for Xiaomai.”

“Do you have something to discuss with her?” Qiao Changshun quickly called out to Qiao Dami who was playing under a tree. “Dami, start the fire.”

The situation had changed; the retired emperor had left, so had Princes Yang Ye and Yang Wang.

The matter of his daughter’s marriage could finally be brought to the table.

Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang left the Qiao home. There were some things that couldn’t be discussed in front of Qiao Changshun and Qiao Dami.

Both of them ended up by the small river.

They found a rock to sit on, and Qiao Xiaomai asked, “How are things at your place now?”

With a bitter smile, Tong Sanlang recounted the argument that had just happened at home. After a pause, he asked, “Your father… he doesn’t seem to mind it at all.”

It was strange. His whole family’s property had just been confiscated, but Qiao Changshun’s treatment of him had not changed.

At his words, Qiao Xiaomai raised an eyebrow and instead of replying, she asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Since there had been a dispute, he definitely hadn’t had dinner.

Tong Sanlang gave a smile, and casually replied, “Something sweet would be nice.”

When the heart is bitter, one should eat something sweet.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Xiaomai promptly took out a seven-inch fruit cake from her space, “Here, definitely sweet from start to finish.”

The sweet aroma immediately overwhelmed them. Tong Sanlang took a deep breath, accepted the cake and spoon, and began to eat heartily.

Under the moonlight, Qiao Xiaomai observed his expression. She fetched a bowl of clean water from her space and said, “Don’t choke.”

Tong Sanlang nodded and took a sip from the bowl.

The buttercream is so oily…

So sweet it almost choked him.

Upon seeing this, Qiao Xiaomai couldn’t help but laugh. She explained, “I had a talk with my father. I told him that your family is just an ordinary one now. The retired emperor is noble and won’t hold grudges against you. My father takes things simply. What I say goes, that’s why his attitude towards you hasn’t changed.”

“That’s good,” Tong Sanlang said, draining the bowl of water in one go, envious of Qiao Changshun’s simplicity.

How nice it would be if his family were as simple as Qiao Changshun.

“As for your family’s situation, it’s not really a big deal. When your family had silver, everyone loved each other. Why don’t you just try to restore your family’s financial situation to its previous state?” Qiao Xiaomai offered her solution.

“But for now, let’s wait until this storm blows over before we talk about it. Just bear with it for now.”

Upon hearing this, Tong Sanlang couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Do you think it’s meaningful to maintain harmony in the family with silver?”

He had never experienced an incident like this before.

He had always thought his family was great.

Although there were occasional discrepancies in comments and actions, generally speaking, his family was great and there was no conflict at all.

But now, this incident had brutally shattered his impression.

Without silver, his family was just like the Qiao family, fighting over their own interests. There was no sign of solidarity in the face of difficulties.

His family had only had most of their property confiscated. They still had their house, their livestock, their vinegar-making techniques, enough food to last till next year, and he could hunt.

And his grandfather was still the village chief.

Adding all this up, his family was definitely better off than most families in the village.

Why did they have to be so calculative? They were family after all.

What happened before was wrong of his grandfather, but he didn’t intentionally deceive them.

And after living a well-off life for so long, it’s okay to lower their living standard a bit. Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?