"Are you calling me?" Tang Meixia paused, slowly turned around, and asked with a puzzled look.
Hong Xiaoduo nodded and continued forward, wanting to get closer to the other person before speaking, but she saw the other person warily back away.
"Don't be afraid, I mean you no harm," Hong Xiaoduo said, stopping in her tracks.
Tian Shu, who had already reached Hong Xiaoduo's side, was also puzzled. He couldn't understand why she had called her to stop! Surely she wasn't really planning to ask her if she had willingly become someone's concubine?
She has never liked to talk much, and when she encounters injustice, she would rather take action than waste words.
Why is her temper and patience unusually good now? Why is she so serious about gossip she's heard, insisting on getting to the bottom of it?
Look at how much she values something that even Pang Yong himself doesn't care about!
Tang Meixia glanced at her own courtyard gate not far away, then at the familiar faces of the women and old folks gathered in front of her, basking in the sun. Finally, she looked at the half-grown child beside Hong Xiaoduo and felt a little more at ease.
Seeing that she didn't intend to ask any more questions, Hong Xiaoduo went straight to the point: "I won't beat around the bush, I just want to ask you, did you go to the Pang family to become a concubine voluntarily? Are you really willing to give up Pang Yong?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Meixia subconsciously looked at the women and old folks who were all looking in this direction not far away, and her brows furrowed.
“It has nothing to do with them. I heard about you and Pang Yong when I was in town,” Hong Xiaoduo said, looking into the other person’s eyes.
Hearing what Hong Xiaoduo said, Tang Meixia's disgust and disdain for those women and old women turned to the little girl in front of her who looked younger than herself.
Although her attire was not that of a lady from a wealthy family and looked quite simple, the quality of her robes and boots was better than that of the women from wealthy families in town.
He looked like a stranger; I was sure I'd never seen him before: "What's your relationship with him?"
Hong Xiaoduo shook her head: "We are from out of town and didn't know Pang Yong before. We met by chance in this town yesterday. You don't need to guess. The reason I came here is because I'm the kind of person who likes to help others and meddle in other people's business. I heard about your story from other people and thought that if you two were being separated, I would help you and make sure you can be together in the end."
To be honest, I asked Pang Dayong himself, but he seemed unwilling to say more.
There was no other way, so I came directly to ask you, young lady. Of course, if you feel it's unnecessary to deal with me and don't want to talk, I'll leave immediately and won't bother you at all.
Tian Shu, standing to the side, thought to himself, "Well, so you know you're meddling in other people's business! You deliberately spoke first to avoid being ridiculed by the other party!"
After hearing this, Tang Meixia couldn't help but take another look at the girl in front of her, who was much prettier than herself.
It is said that women who travel are straightforward and unpretentious.
Logically speaking, at this point she could have easily scolded or ridiculed the other person for meddling in her business.
However, Tang Meixia didn't know why she didn't want to say that.
After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Alright, I'll tell you. Going to the Pang family as a concubine was my own choice. I also truly trusted Dayong; he is indeed a good person, kind-hearted and honest."
If it's just that his uncle's family is unwilling to pay the dowry for him to marry me, I will still marry him even if my parents disagree.
However, there was another reason why I changed my mind and became his cousin's concubine. It was because Dayong himself was neither a simpleton nor a fool. His maternal grandfather and uncles did not like him, but he did not try to improve his relationship with them. Instead, he did things that they disliked.
It's one thing if he doesn't know how to back down and admit defeat, but I've advised him several times to go find his mother. She's his biological mother. Even if it's inconvenient to bring him to live with her, his stepfather's family is so well-off. It wouldn't be difficult for them to give him some money and settle him elsewhere.
But instead of listening to my good advice, he yelled at me after I said it several times, saying that I didn't understand him, didn't comprehend him, and wasn't considering his situation.
Girl, you be the judge. Why did I advise him? Wasn't it for his own good, for the sake of our future?
What about him? Not only did he not go looking for his own mother, but when she returned, he went out and avoided seeing her.
My maternal grandparents' family, instead of trying to improve their relationship, treated a crazy old man with whom they had no blood relation in every way. On the Qixi Festival, they only gave me a silver hairpin that was so thin it felt like it would break if I used too much force, but they were willing to use the money they earned from odd jobs and chopping wood to buy clothes and meat for that crazy scholar.
He himself is in such a bad situation, what kind of kindness is he showing? Just because that crazy scholar taught him for a few days when he was young, is this how he repays him?
I don't necessarily want to live that life of luxury, but his actions chilled me to the bone. If he wanted to, all of this could be changed, but he simply didn't want to change anything. He even thought he was very principled and proud. Moreover, in his mind, that crazy scholar was more important than me.
I'm not afraid of marrying him and living a hard life, but the thought of having to serve that crazy scholar like his own father after I marry him terrifies me.
This is the truth you want to know. I don't care if others say I'm heartless or that I'm still greedy for a life of wealth and luxury. Is it wrong for me to want a peaceful and stable life?
"So what if I'm a concubine? At least as long as I behave myself after I leave, I shouldn't have any worries about food and clothing. With such a generous dowry, my parents and elders won't be unfriendly when I return."
After saying so much in one go, Tang Meixia felt a little more relaxed, both physically and mentally.
These words have been bottled up inside me for a long time, but I have nowhere to say them, which is very painful.
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