Chapter 209
After coming out, Tao Tao did not immediately return to her room. She stood by the corridor, her gaze unfocused as she looked outside through the raindrops falling from the eaves, her ears filled with the sound of raindrops pattering down.
"What do you think she was trying to do just now?"
Her voice was so soft that it would almost dissipate with a gust of wind.
Leng Qiao glanced at her sideways, "Perhaps she wants to bury something."
"What should we bury then? She's not even as strong as me, and she's so timid. We can't possibly bury a corpse, can we?" She turned her head, a faint doubt in her eyes.
Leng Qiao pondered for a while before tentatively saying, "It might be something bad."
"She didn't even have a chance to make a move. When I held her hand just now, her fingers were clean. If we're talking about bad things, would a paper doll count?"
She shook her head: "This subordinate does not know."
After a moment of silence, Tao Tao asked again, "When you went to see Duan Gan, did he say anything?"
"No, I just nodded and didn't say anything."
Tao Tao pouted, "Okay, nothing better. Let's go change our clothes first; who knows when this rain will stop."
The two entered the room, and she took out clothes from the wooden box for herself and Leng Qiao to change into. Afterward, they returned to the front hall and sat down to wait for the rain to stop.
When they arrived, Tao's mother had already changed and was sitting there. When she saw them arrive, she just smiled gently, acting as if nothing had happened, and did not take what had just happened to heart at all.
Rong'er went to the kitchen to boil some water and poured a cup of water for each of them using a teapot.
"Rong'er, go change your clothes." Tao Tao pointed to the clothes she had brought over and placed on the stool.
Rong'er followed the gaze, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes, and curtsied, "Yes, Princess."
Tao Tao opened the empty teacup, rinsed it with hot water, and then poured the tea from the teapot and handed it to Leng Qiao, who was standing behind her.
When Leng Qiao saw the steaming teacup appear before her eyes, she was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, reached out and took it, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a slight smile.
"If Mother has something to say, why come in this heavy rain? Wouldn't it have been easier to just send a servant?"
Her tone was indifferent, as if she were just asking casually.
Tao's mother picked up the teacup with both hands, took a small sip, and said, "I was just bored at home and never expected that it would start raining here."
"Mother, after finding him, do you still plan to continue your relationship with him?"
Upon hearing this, she fell silent for a moment, pursed her lips, sighed, looked at the drizzling rain outside the door, her face full of melancholy, "Liang'er will always need a father."
Tao Tao asked, puzzled, "Why do we need a father? Even if he's morally corrupt, idle, doesn't love his wife and children, only shirks responsibility when problems arise, and even... hits people..."
"Are you comfortable letting Liang'er be with someone like that? Won't she raise another scumbag?"
Tao's mother's expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with disapproval. She said, "Tao'er, he is your father. How could you say such disrespectful things?"
“He is your father who gave you life and raised you. Even if he has done something wrong, you have no right to say such things.”
"Then make him come back and fulfill his responsibilities, instead of hiding outside like a coward and having a good time!"
With a loud bang, Tao Tao, her face cold, slammed the teacup she was holding onto the table.
Tao's mother's pupils dilated in shock as she stared in astonishment at her daughter, who was throwing a tantrum at her.
"As a husband and a father, how has he done well? He probably isn't much of a son either, leaving us with a mess. If I had known he was this kind of father, I would rather have never been born."
"you!"
She suddenly stood up, raised her hand and slapped Tao Tao across the face, but Leng Qiao, who was standing next to her, reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Rong'er, who had just changed her clothes, came out and suddenly saw this tense scene. Her eyes widened, she covered her mouth, and dared not even breathe loudly.
Tao Tao glanced sideways at the slap coming towards her, frowned and looked at her coldly, her expression indifferent, as if she were looking at a stranger.
Tao's mother followed her gaze and looked on in shock, as if she was also surprised that she would do such a thing.
Just then, the rain stopped, and the whole world seemed to fall silent, leaving only the two people facing each other.
She turned her gaze outside and said calmly, "The rain has stopped. If Mother hasn't finished dealing with things here, then I'll leave the carriage with you."
After saying that, she turned and left.
"Tao'er! Mother didn't mean it..."
Tao's mother looked flustered and hurriedly chased after her, but because she was walking too fast, she couldn't keep up.
Her eyes instantly reddened, and she stood there blankly watching their departing figures, her heart filled with sorrow, on the verge of tears.
After instructing the groom, Tao Tao told Rong'er to go back first.
She stood with Leng Qiao at the corner, waiting quietly. Although Leng Qiao was puzzled, she didn't ask.
Tao's mother wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, and then turned around, picked up the shovel, and resolutely walked towards the big banyan tree.
She lowered her head, her eyes filled with tears, looking at the exposed corner of her clothes, and choked out, "Every time it rains, you have to come out and cause trouble. Why can't you just stay down here? You always have to come and disturb our peaceful lives."
With each question she uttered, she slammed the shovel heavily against the ground. Then she went to a corner, dug up some soil, and poured it onto the ground where the rain had washed away the pits.
They used all their strength to bury and beat the area until the area under the banyan tree was completely leveled before they stopped.
She was so tired that she couldn't straighten up. She leaned against the wooden stick of the shovel, panting, her hands covered in mud.
She had just patted the well to check its sturdiness, so her hands inevitably got dirty. After washing them clean by the well, she tidied herself up and turned to leave.
The coachman, who was parked at the alley entrance, saw Tao's mother approaching and quickly got out of the carriage. He looked at the gentle-faced woman in front of him and said respectfully, "Madam, it was Miss who left to escort you home."
She smiled gently and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Now you can go."
Tao Tao and Leng Qiao, who were standing on the roof, witnessed the whole process. The whole scene was so outrageous that even Leng Qiao was extremely surprised.
In her memory, Tao's mother had always been a very gentle woman, to the point of being somewhat timid. Apart from getting angry at Tao Tao, she had never seen her get angry at anyone else.
Seeing this scene now truly shocked her.
The two came down from the roof. Tao Tao stood under the big banyan tree, watching quietly. Suddenly she laughed out loud. This used to be her favorite place, lying in a rocking chair, enjoying the sun.
It's unbelievable that she's been stepping on her father's grave all along; what a cruel joke.
Leng Qiao turned to look at her with a puzzled expression, then suddenly felt a little worried, wondering if it was because she was too sad that she was behaving abnormally.
"Miss, why don't we dig it out and confirm? Maybe it's not..."
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