"What? Marrying into the family?"
Tong Xiaohuai suddenly raised her voice and asked a question, startling her mother and assistant.
“Xiao Huai… your father…” Tong’s mother reached out and tugged at Tong Xiao Huai’s arm, trying to soothe her emotions.
Tong Xiaohuai forcefully shook off her hand and stared at Tong's mother in a low voice.
"Mom, how could you do this? Don't you know very well what kind of background Yanbo's family has? How could his family allow him to marry into our family? What you're doing is forcing him to sever ties with his family!"
Tong's mother looked troubled. "Of course I know that. I've talked to your father about it, but he said that none of us can make this decision. It has to be decided by Xiao Yan herself."
Tong Xiaohuai grabbed her mother's hand, "Mom, let's go!"
Tong's mother immediately understood her intention, "Xiao Huai, do you want to go find your dad and the others now?"
Tong Xiaohuai called out to her assistant, who had tactfully walked away and was standing at a distance, "Ms. Chen, could you please tell Ms. Zhao that we have urgent business to attend to and must leave first? We can reschedule the measurement appointment for another day."
After saying that, he grabbed Tong's mother and left the studio without looking back.
The driver, who was waiting in the car, quickly got out to greet the owner when he saw them come out.
"Madam, Miss, so fast?"
"Brother Yang, do you know where my dad and the others are eating?" Tong Xiaohuai asked as she walked toward the car without stopping.
Brother Yang followed closely behind and opened the car door for them. "Yes, I know. It's at the Dajiale Farm in the northern suburbs."
"Take us there!"
After giving his instructions, Tong Xiaohuai got into the car and slammed the door shut.
Yang had been the Tong family's driver for many years, and he had rarely seen the young lady so angry.
Without daring to ask any further questions, I readily agreed, started the car, made a U-turn at the intersection, and headed towards the northern suburbs.
After the car had passed several intersections, Tong's mother, who had been carefully observing her daughter's expression, finally spoke up to offer advice.
"Xiao Huai, you need to understand that your father is doing this for your own good!"
Tong Xiaohuai's expression changed slightly, and he growled in a low voice.
"What do you mean by 'for my own good'? If it were for my own good, you should have just dumped this burden on someone else instead of putting it on my shoulders! What is this all about? You think you can win Yan Bo over just because he's easy to talk to, and make him take on the burden of the Tong family too?"
Tong's mother was speechless after being choked by Tong Xiaohuai's words. After a long silence, she finally stammered, "Xiaohuai, it's all my fault..."
Tong Xiaohuai was also stunned for a moment, staring blankly at Tong's mother for a while, then sighed and put her arm around her shoulder.
“Mom, I don’t mean to blame you! What I mean is, since Dad has been grooming me as his successor since I was ten, and I accepted that decision back then, no matter how difficult or painful it is, I will carry this burden. Yanbo is my boyfriend, and in the future, he will be my husband, but the burden of the Tong family should not be his. Yanhuang is a key enterprise strongly supported by the government, with a bright future. His energy should be focused on Yanhuang, not the Tong family!”
Tong Xiaohuai was well aware that if Yan Bo extended his reach even a little bit into the Tong family, his hard-earned business would be criticized as being built on the Tong family's wealth.
Of course, Yanbo might not mind, but she does.
She wanted to help him maintain both his career and his self-esteem!
Tong Xiaohuai's words made Tong's mother think deeply.
After a long while, she reached out and gently patted Tong Xiaohuai's hand. "Xiaohuai, Mom knows how you feel. I'll try to persuade your dad later."
Tong Xiaohuai leaned closer, rubbed his face against hers, and said apologetically.
"Mom, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you just now."
Tong's mother stroked her head and said, "Silly girl, we were in the wrong in this matter, it's normal for you to be angry."
More than an hour later, the car drove into the farm's parking lot.
Led by the manager, Tong Xiaohuai and the others pushed open the door to the private room.
Inside the private room, a dozen or so men were gathered around a large round table, noisily toasting and jostling each other, completely unaware of Tong Xiaohuai and her group's arrival.
"Dad!" Tong Xiaohuai's clear shout successfully drowned out the shouts of more than a dozen rough men, and in an instant, all of them turned their heads.
"Xiao Huai? Sister-in-law? What brings you here?"
Everyone put down their glasses and gathered around.
Yan Bo, who had been by Tong Laoda's side the whole time, also put down his wine glass and came over.
"Aunt Tong, Xiao Huai, what brings you here? Weren't you supposed to be taking measurements?"
Yan Bo reached out and took Tong Xiaohuai's hand, subconsciously checking its temperature.
He frowned slightly when he felt that her hands were a little cold.
Tong Xiaohuai ignored the inquiries from her other uncles and elders, letting Yan Bo hold her hand while his probing gaze quickly swept over her face.
Then, she pulled him aside and whispered, "My dad didn't say anything offensive to you, did he?"
Yan Bo looked completely bewildered. "What did you say? No, Uncle Tong just introduced me to all the uncles and elders one by one, and then everyone started drinking. They were toasting Uncle Tong just now, didn't you see?"
Tong Xiaohuai was skeptical and asked again, "Didn't he mention our engagement?"
Yan Bo nodded. "I did mention it, but it was just a casual remark. After all, I haven't proposed yet! This isn't something Uncle Tong and I can decide; it's up to you!"
As Yanbo spoke, he wrapped his hands around hers and gently rubbed them together.
Tong Xiaohuai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Remember, no matter what my dad says to you, don't agree to it! If anything happens, you must tell me first."
Yanbo was good to her, and also to her parents.
Therefore, she was almost certain that if her father really made such an excessive request, Yan Bo would not refuse outright.
Yan Bo looked confused, but still nodded.
"Okay, I understand."
Tong Xiaohuai was relieved after receiving Yan Bo's assurance.
He pulled Yanbo back to the table, raised his glass, and said something to the uncles and elders at the table.
"Dear uncles and elders, I apologize for borrowing Yanbo's name just now. These few drinks are my punishment for my abruptness and disrespect."
As Tong Xiaohuai spoke, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.
After finishing her drink, she gestured for Yanbo to refill her cup, and then drank two more cups before finally putting down her cup after being urged to stop by her uncles.
After finishing three cups of wine, Tong Xiaohuai sat down directly next to Yan Bo, wary that his father might say something offensive to Yan Bo.
Meanwhile, Tong's mother kept a close eye on Tong Laoda.
Perhaps because Tong's mother and Tong Xiaohuai were present, none of the uncles dared to be too unruly.
Finally, the banquet ended, and Boss Tong didn't say anything strange.
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