Chapter 485 - 425: Worry
Chapter 485: Chapter 425: Worry
Yang Liu’er brought up Tang Yaxuan. "How dare she use your name to go around swindling people. If she hadn’t run off so fast, I would’ve beaten her up! You need to be on your guard. With how thick-skinned and shameless she is, she might try to play the victim again and weasel her way back into being the Tang family’s adopted daughter."
"That won’t happen," Xiao Man said. "My grandma loves what’s right and hates what’s wrong. She can’t even stand Wu Xiaowen, so how could she possibly let Tang Yaxuan into the Tang family? My whole family knows just how awful and manipulative Tang Yaxuan is. Now, even Tang Qingyun despises her and can’t stand the sight of her. And he was the one who used to treasure her like the apple of his eye."
Yang Liu’er gave Xiao Man a sympathetic look and nodded. "That’s true. Last... I mean, a long time ago, Tang Qingyun really doted on Tang Yaxuan. And so did Tang Qingshan. Even though he wasn’t happy about her marrying into the Bai Family, he gave her a massive dowry. You see, the family’s assets were divided before Grandpa Tang passed away. Apparently, Uncle Tang and Wu Xiaowen didn’t get along, and in her will, Old Mrs. Tang left all of her personal dowry jewelry to Uncle Tang. Since he never married, he gave it all to Tang Yaxuan on her wedding day. It was also Uncle Tang’s connections that got her a government position at such a young age. He gave her anything she asked for. The poor guys... they had no idea she was a fake!"
’Uncle Tang truly hadn’t known,’ Xiao Man thought silently, ’but Tang Qingyun had known the truth all along. Yet, he never told his older brother.’
’In her past life, Xiao Man had ended up disfigured, deprived of her right to an education, and enslaved in a secluded village for over twenty years. When they met again, her dazed, foolish appearance was a world away from the glamorous and thriving Tang Yaxuan. Forget the vain and image-obsessed Wu Xiaowen—even Tang Qingyun hadn’t been willing to take her back.’
’So, the couple had only watched her from a distance for a moment. Before Xiao Man could even react, Wu Xiaowen was already helping Tang Qingyun hurry away.’
A derisive smile touched Xiao Man’s lips. ’Yang Liu’er had said Tang Qingyun’s health was always poor in their past life, and it seemed she was right. Back then, Tang Qingyun had looked frail and old, his legs seemingly unsteady. Even so, they had fled as if she were the plague itself. They’d rounded a corner, and when a crying Xiao Man ran after them, wanting just one more look, the long hallway was completely empty. Not a single shadow remained.’
’So much for familial bonds. They were severed, clean and complete.’
After dropping Yang Liu’er off at the Lu Family’s estate, Xiao Man moved to the passenger seat. She chatted about lighthearted topics with Zheng Shaojin, and her mood brightened considerably.
As the car pulled into the courtyard of the Tang Mansion, Tang Haocheng ran out and opened the door for Xiao Man. He grinned at Zheng Shaojin and said, "Brother Shaojin, don’t head back yet! Grandma said my sister definitely didn’t get enough to eat while she was out, and she’s making wontons right now. Several different fillings!"
Zheng Shaojin hadn’t eaten his fill at the Sun Family’s home, either. The moment he heard "wontons," he quickly killed the engine, hopped out of the car, and decided to stay the night at the Tang Mansion.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Xiao Man, her grandmother, and their housekeeper began preparing food for the New Year. With a flurry of frying, steaming, and boiling, the aroma of food filled the entire house and drifted out into the courtyard. By this point, Tang Haocheng had completely transformed into a foodie, and he was always the first to taste every fresh delicacy. While Tang Qingyun was advising his son not to eat too much lest he upset his stomach, he couldn’t stop himself from digging in with gusto.
Seeing her youngest son and eldest grandson eating so happily made Grandma Tang’s heart swell with joy. Beaming, she pointed things out to Tang Qingyun. "This one’s delicious! And that one is so flaky and crisp, it melts in your mouth. Try them all! You don’t often get to eat the snacks Manman makes, so have some more today. Who cares if you get stuffed? Our Manman’s Digestive Tea works wonders. One bowl and you’ll be right as rain!"
With that, she turned and shouted to Grandpa Tang, "Old man, where did you put the Digestive Tea? Hurry up and use that little red clay stove of yours to brew a pot for our son."
Grandpa Tang had been in his upstairs study but was lured down by the rich aromas. He was now sitting on the sofa, savoring a piece of Nine-layer Cake that Xiao Man had brought especially for him. At his wife’s words, he glanced up at Tang Qingyun. "What’s that? Me, his father, brewing tea for my son? Would you even dare to drink it?"
Tang Qingyun quickly replied, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! Father, just tell me where the tea is, and I’ll brew it myself."
Grandpa Tang told Tang Qingyun where to find the Digestive Tea and sent him to fetch it. Then he turned to Grandma Tang to complain, "Just look at how you play favorites. When he was a child, you spoiled him rotten, always making Qingshan do everything for him. Now you’re even trying to order me, his father, around! You know what they say, a doting mother spoils the child. Qingyun turned out the way he did because you coddled him too much!"
"How am I playing favorites? Didn’t I carry both Qingshan and Qingyun in my own womb? I love them both the same!" Grandma Tang retorted stubbornly.
Grandpa Tang turned to Tang Haocheng, who was sitting on the other sofa. "You be the judge. Does your grandma play favorites or not?"
With his mouth full, Tang Haocheng didn’t speak, but he nodded vigorously. Grandma Tang was stunned. "What? You little rascal! I’ve doted on you and only you since you were born!"
Tang Haocheng pointed toward the kitchen. "Now all your favoritism is for *her*," he mumbled around his food, "and it’s completely off the charts. I don’t mind, though. I’m not jealous. I want to spoil her, too! But she won’t let me. Instead, she’s always treating me like a little kid and picking on me. She’s only happy when I’m covered in dirt! I remember Dad said Uncle Tang loved to bully him when they were kids. How did my sister get the same mean streak?"
As he spoke, Tang Haocheng threw up his hands and gave a very deliberate, foreign-style shrug, a look of complete resignation on his face. Grandpa and Grandma Tang looked at each other, then burst out laughing.
The living room was filled with lively chatter and laughter. The housekeeper heard it all and, finding it delightful, suggested Xiao Man go out and join the fun for a bit. But Xiao Man just smiled and shook her head. She wasn’t really in high spirits today and just wanted some quiet.
Before the winter break, she had received a letter from Gu Shaojun, delivered by Zhou Hui Lan herself. Zhou Hui Lan had also whispered to her that as soon as Gu Shaojun completed his mission, he would be home before the New Year.
’Today is the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, and the day is more than half over, yet there’s still no sign of Gu Shaojun. Could something have gone wrong during his mission?’
’Gu Shaojun hadn’t specified what he was doing in his letter, only that the Amulet she had given him had vanished!’
’The Amulet would only be nullified if it countered a major, life-threatening situation. That meant Gu Shaojun had faced another brush with death, and it was no ordinary danger!’
’The letter had been sent from overseas, but the mission Zhou Hui Lan spoke of was domestic. That meant he was already back in the country. What kind of mission could it be? How dangerous was it? Gu Shaojun had a Mutated Spiritual Root; he was a cultivation genius. Plus, with the support of her pocket dimension, she had supplied him with more than enough supplementary elixirs. His cultivation level should have had a breakthrough in the last two years; it shouldn’t be low. But even at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he couldn’t stop a hail of bullets, landmines, and artillery!’
’He was a decorated veteran with a First-Class Merit, a young officer the country had formally sent abroad for advanced studies. He was the cream of the military crop. What kind of top-secret mission would require someone like him?’
’It was bound to be incredibly arduous and fraught with peril. At any time, a cruel and irreversible outcome was possible.’
’If so, without an Amulet to protect him, Xiao Man was truly, deeply worried.’