655: Chapter 655: The Calculations of the Tong Family (4)_1 655: Chapter 655: The Calculations of the Tong Family (4)_1 Tong Lingling didnât find out anything and was suddenly somewhat depressed, but she couldnât dwell on it at the moment; she had to deal with Guan Qingshu first.
âFather, Mother, I fancy my cousin; I wonât marry anyone but him,â Tong Lingling blurted out as soon as she saw Tong Gang and his wife.
âWhat kind of talk is that for a young lady?â Tong Gang glared at his daughter.
âMomâŠâ Tong Lingling immediately went over to Tong Liushi to act coquettishly.
âAlright,â Tong Liushi patted her daughterâs hand, then turned to Tong Gang, âI told you to set the marriage between the two kids early on.
You said your nephew wouldnât be a problem, but now?
It seems the Guan Family couple might be thinking of going back on their wordsâŠâ
âWasnât it because Qingshu and the Yang Family had a verbal marriage agreement at that time?â Tong Gang frowned.
âWho would have knownâŠâ
âAnd now?â Tong Liushi pursed her lips.
âQingshu has become a Scholar, and even the top one; becoming a successful candidate in the imperial examinations will surely be no problem.
Later on, heâll be a magistrate.
If we donât firm things up quickly, Iâm afraid⊠â
Tong Gang waved his hand dismissively, then glanced at his daughter.
âYou rushed back home in such a hurry, did something happen?â
Tong Lingling recounted what had happened to Yang Rusong.
âIâm afraid that cousin might be coveted by someone else.
Besides, cousin is going to town to study, and then he wonât be with our family anymoreâŠâ
âEnough, youâve just returned, go freshen up in your room,â Tong Gang waved his hand again.
Tong Lingling then left reluctantly.
âGang,â Tong Liushi suddenly revealed a cunning smile.
âSince your sister and brother-in-law have shown no kindness, then we can afford to be unrighteous too, right?â She was somewhat annoyed by the Guan Family coupleâs ambiguous attitude.
Their own daughter was framed, but she didnât lose her virtue, and yet they displayed a disdainful attitude.
What kind of thing was that?
You look down on my daughter?
I will make your son marry her.
âWhat do you mean?â Tong Gang frowned.
âWe could do this and thatâŠâ Tong Liushi leaned in and whispered into Tong Gangâs ear.
âThisâŠâ Tong Gang frowned even more, clearly disapproving.
âIsnât that inappropriate?â
âWhatâs wrong with it?â Tong Liushi scoffed, âHow much have we invested in Qingshu over the years?
More than his own parents have.
Now they want to turn their backs on us, why should they?â
Tong Gang fell silent.
âBesides, the two kids grew up together like siblings; it wouldnât be bad if they really got togetherâŠâ Tong Liushi looked sideways at Tong Gang, âDonât you think?â
âIâm afraid Qingshu will hate usâŠâ
âOnce theyâre married, whatâs there to hate?â Tong Liushi, sensing a change in her husbandâs tone, smiled immediately.
âWho knows, he might even thank us laterâŠâ
âDo as you please,â Tong Gang suddenly felt irritated and got up to leave, without agreeing or disagreeing.
Tong Liushi smiled; she knew her husbandâs temper.
This was, in fact, tacit approval.
Leaving aside Tong Gang and his wifeâs scheming over Guan Qingshu for a moment, in the Yang Familyâs courtyard, Liu Guang had visited again after a long absence, motivated by the imminent grand birthday of the Fang Family patriarch at the end of the month; naturally, Fang Tianze could not miss it and had to go back home to help with the preparations.
In reality, the old Fang was only fifty-nine this year, but the custom here was to celebrate a full yearâs birthday ahead of time, so this year, they were preparing for a grand sixtieth birthday celebration.
In an era when living to seventy was rare, a sixtieth birthday was an exceedingly grand affair.