“Third Sister, what are you doing?
If there’s something going on, let’s talk about it when we get back.”
“I won’t leave.
Unless that little brat comes out, I’m not leaving.”
Even Mrs.
Xiao’s second brother felt his sister was embarrassing herself, so he covered his face and started walking out.
As he walked, he said, “Third Sister, you might not feel embarrassed, but I do.
Acting like this, if word gets out, it won’t be good for A sheng and A yue either.” Having such a notorious aunt would also affect her nephews and nieces.
In ancient times, reputation was everything.
Once someone’s reputation was tarnished, even matchmakers would avoid them.
“I don’t care.
Da Ni is my daughter, and if she’s been wronged, I’m the only one who can bring her justice.
If you want to leave, go ahead.
I won’t acknowledge you as my big brother or second brother anymore.”
“Waaah!” After saying this, Mrs.
Xiao started crying.
“Third Sister!”
“Third Sister, what are you trying to do?”
…
The two brothers were also at a loss seeing their sister like this.
“Unless you get her to open the door, I’ll visit our parents’ graves every day, crying and telling them you’re ignoring me.”
“If something happens to Da Ni, I won’t live either.
Even in death, I’ll drag her along with me.” Mrs.
Xiao pointed at Tang Wanwan with a look of disdain on her face.
Originally intending to leave, the two men had no choice but to come back, step by step approaching Tang Wanwan.
Knowing she had something in her hand, they were cautious, planning to flank her from the left and right.
“Girl, it’s not that we’re being unreasonable, we just have no other choice.
Let us take your brother away.”
“Yes, if your brother hasn’t done anything, we’ll take him for a confrontation, and if he’s really innocent, he’ll be brought back.”
Tang Wanwan knew these people couldn’t be trusted, especially Mrs.
Xiao, who had often bullied her and her siblings.
If Xiao Yi were taken away, there was no telling how they would mistreat him.
She stood her ground with a stick in hand.
If they moved forward, she’d have to fight them off.
“Stop right there.
Back off now, or don’t blame me for being rude.”
“Girl, you see it’s not that we’re being unreasonable, but rather we have no options left.”
“Exactly, you say your brother is innocent, then let him come out and let us ask him some questions, okay?”
…
“My brother didn’t do anything, why should he be falsely accused by you?
If you want to come in, you’ll have to get past me first.” With that, Tang Wanwan got into a stance, ready to fight.
Mrs.
Xiao’s two brothers exchanged glances, finding this girl hard to deal with.
But their sister was making a scene, leaving them no choice but to advance.
The two brothers acted in concert, nodding at each other before surrounding Tang Wanwan.
Tang Wanwan immediately swung the stick in her hand with a whoosh…
One of them ducked while the other reached to grab the stick from Tang Wanwan’s hand.
…
Tang Wanwan wasn’t going to let them catch her stick.
She twisted her body, moving to the side, quickly turning to face the two men and swinging the stick again in a sweeping motion.
Seeing the stick about to strike them, they would surely be hit if they didn’t back off.
“Stop, this is a misunderstanding.
Everyone, let’s not fight.”
Seeing the person who had caught her stick, Tang Wanwan couldn’t help but be startled.
It was Xu Xiao You, whom she hadn’t seen in a long while.
“Young Master Xu, why is it you?” Moreover, his movements were so fast that she hadn’t even seen him move before he was in front of her.
“A wan, you’re being distant now.
Didn’t you always call me Brother Xiao You when you were little?
Why so formal now?” Xu Xiao You smiled at Tang Wanwan.
He was wearing a long gown that made him look exceptionally tall and straight.
Looking at the handsome man before her, Tang Wanwan’s eyes wavered.
He had truly transformed since boyhood.
In the original’s memories, Xu Xiao You had been dark and skinny, but now he was so tall and sturdy.
Xu Xiao You often visited Tang Family Village as a child and knew all of Tang siblings.
His family ran the well-known Pengyuan Hall in town.
Xu Xiao You’s grandfather was once a barefoot doctor, but as his reputation grew for his medical skill, he opened a medicine hall.
Under Xu Xiao You’s father’s management, the small medicine hall became Pengyuan Hall, with several stores throughout the Qilian Mountain and Qinling areas.
Xu Xiao You’s father often came to Tang Family Village to see the clan leader, elders, and their families, so Xu Xiao You often accompanied him on such medical visits and got to know them.
Mrs.
Xiao also recognized the person as today’s match for Tang Ruyi, Young Master Xu from Pengyuan Hall.
She immediately jumped to her feet, wiped her tears, and grabbed his sleeve, saying, “Young Master Xu, you’re here just in time.
You have to stand up for me.
My Da Ni was frightened out of nowhere by Tang Xiao Yi.
If anything happens to her, how will I live the rest of my life?” She said, shedding a few more tears.
“Auntie, you can rest assured.
I’ve already checked on Da Ni.
She’s just a bit frightened.
I’ve prescribed her some calming soup, and she’ll be fine after taking it for a few days.”
Mrs.
Xiao saw that it was Xu Xiao You who personally came to see her daughter’s illness, and she immediately had a few more smiles on her face.
She quickly said, “Then it’s too much trouble for you, I’ll entrust my family’s eldest girl’s illness to you.”
Xu Xiao You had been practicing medicine with his father since childhood, so he was quite knowledgeable and could handle ordinary illnesses.
However, he was still studying at Penglai Academy.
After school, he would also help out at the pharmacy when it was busy.
For such a talented young man with such a family background, it was no wonder Mrs.
Wang wouldn’t let Tang Wanwan get involved, fearing that her daughter would not be chosen and lose a good son-in-law.
As they were talking, someone else came in.
It turned out to be Gu Yunzhi, who had returned.
Tang Wanwan didn’t know what kind of trick he was playing.
She turned her face away, pretending not to recognize him.
Instead, she looked at Xu Xiao You and said, “Young Master Xu, you mentioned earlier that it was a misunderstanding.
What exactly is going on?”
Gu Mingyuan saw that Tang Wanwan was pretending not to know him, as if they were strangers.
He suddenly jumped in front of her and said, “Wow, so you’re Tang Wanwan, the Third Miss of the Tang Family.
I’ve heard your reputation precedes you.
Today, I’ve finally experienced it firsthand.”
Tang Wanwan couldn’t help but glare at him, full of disdain.
“I don’t know you, don’t try to get close to me.”
Didn’t we just break up?
How could you not recognize me anymore?”
Tang Wanwan’s face darkened, wishing she could seal this person’s mouth.
She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath.
“If you don’t speak, no one will mistake you for a mute.”
Hearing the two of them muttering over there, not only did Mrs.
Xiao look bewildered, but Xu Xiao You also glanced over at them.
Mrs.
Xiao suddenly walked up to Gu Mingyuan, wearing a smile as she said, “What this young man said is so true, our Tang Family indeed only has Tang Wanwan as an oddball, with a bad temper and a penchant for hitting people.
Just look at this, she nearly poked a hole in me earlier.”
Gu Mingyuan, not sharing Xu Xiao You’s good temper, saw Mrs.
Xiao’s fake smile trying to get close to him and immediately looked disdainful.
“Auntie, who are you?
I’m talking to A wan, when is it your turn to interrupt.”
“And about that scary mask thing, I did it.
If you want to find someone, just find me.
This is my compensation for the medical fees, so stop blaming good people.”
As Gu Mingyuan spoke, he tossed a small silver ingot into Mrs.
Xiao’s hand.
Staring at the silver ingot in her hand, Mrs.
Xiao’s eyes went straight—surely this must be five or six taels.
Wow, rich people are really generous.
Seeing the young man’s age, not too old, she wondered if he was married.
Just as she got the silver, Mrs.
Xiao’s mind spun several times, and after a long while, she awkwardly laughed, “Oh, it turns out it’s a misunderstanding.
How should I address this young man?
You really know how to joke.
Why did you run to the woods to scare people?”
“It wasn’t intentional, it was your daughter who ran up to me.
I hadn’t even spoken to her when she just fainted on her own.
Who can you blame for that?”
“Alright, Min….” Xu Xiao You was about to call Gu Mingyuan’s name, but his hand was pinched hard, so he quickly changed the topic, “Now that the misunderstanding is cleared and the eldest girl is fine, I think you can go back.”
“May I know how to address this young man?
I think it was my family’s eldest girl who got it wrong.
I’ll ask her to apologize to you later.”
“No need for that, we still have things to do, you should leave first.”
Tang Wanwan was about to throw up, seeing Mrs.
Xiao’s money-grubbing sycophantic face, she couldn’t stand it any longer.
She turned and went inside, but just as she was about to close the door, there were two door gods outside.
One was Xu Xiao You, the other was Gu Mingyuan.
They both stood on either side, smiling at her.
Tang Wanwan didn’t want them to come in and see her family’s embarrassing situation.
Also, she wanted to consider her brother’s feelings.
Seeing people of their age looking so dashing, and then looking at herself, there was no way she was letting them in.
“We helped you out, and you’re not inviting us in to catch up?”
“Did you help me out?
If you hadn’t come, I could have solved it myself.”
Xu Xiao You looked worriedly at Tang Wanwan and said, “A wan, did something happen?
Why didn’t I see you and your siblings coming to dine at the front today?”
“I appreciate your concern, Young Master Xu, but my family matters are for us to handle.
If there’s nothing else, please leave.”
With that, Tang Wanwan unceremoniously closed the door, leaving the two outside, once again shut out.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Gu Mingyuan looked dumbfounded at Xu Xiao You and said, “Aren’t you familiar with her?
If you don’t know the reason, how could I?”
“Could it be that I met Ruyi’s sister but didn’t see her, and she got mad?”
“That could be it, isn’t it common for women to get jealous?
Now that you’ve been introduced to Tang Ruyi, you might have offended her.”
“So, does that mean A wan has an interest in me too?” Xu Xiao You found it hard to believe, she always seemed so aloof to everyone.