Free Web NovelChapter 72: Chapter 72: Mrs. Tang
Su Li took the bedding and began to make the bed. Duvet covers in this era weren’t like the ones from the future that had a zipper you could just stuff the comforter into; they were made by sewing two separate fabric covers together.
The inner lining was white, while the outer cover was satin, usually in a vibrant color. It was a standard item in a woman’s dowry.
Su Li had noticed when she took the bedding that it had the most common type of bright red cover, but she hadn’t expected to find the words "May you soon have a precious son" and a design of a chubby baby in the center.
The corner of Su Li’s mouth twitched as she shook her head.
After seeing the quilt, Su Li picked up a pillow. When she saw the pattern of mandarin ducks playing in the water, she felt completely unfazed.
’Bedding from this era was all pretty much like this. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it.’
Su Li finished making the bed, and Tang Yuanxiao returned, carrying a hammer and a lock.
"Here’s the key. It’s for the outer lock. The one on the inside is still just a slide bolt. I replaced it with an iron one to make it sturdier."
With some hammering and banging, Tang Yuanxiao installed the lock for Su Li.
As the sky gradually darkened, Su Li sat to one side, quietly watching Tang Yuanxiao.
Tang Yuanxiao felt a little uneasy. It seemed that ever since Su Li had asked that strange question—"Why do you believe me?"—the way she looked at him had grown odd.
"Are you still thinking about the question you asked me earlier?" Tang Yuanxiao asked, glancing at Su Li.
"What?" Su Li paused for a moment before it clicked. She shook her head. "No."
Tang Yuanxiao said no more. A few moments later, the lock was installed. He tested it, and felt relieved seeing how sturdy it was.
"You get some rest. I’m going to pick up Momo."
Tang Yuanxiao said, picking up the hammer. He moved to close the door for Su Li.
"Oh, right. Little Mo... where did you leave him?" Su Li’s mind had been in such turmoil that she hadn’t even thought of Little Tang Mo.
"An acquaintance is watching him, so don’t worry. I’m going to get him right now."
"Mm," Su Li nodded. She was so thankful that Little Tang Mo hadn’t been there earlier.
Tang Yuanxiao walked out. Su Li watched his retreating figure, then glanced at the new lock and slowly uttered two words: "A waste."
’I’m leaving soon. It doesn’t matter how sturdy the lock is; it’s still just a waste.’
Su Li glanced down at the dirty clothes she was still wearing and sighed. Resigned to her fate, she took off her outer layer and got up to wash it.
Su Li had just finished washing her face and hands when Tang Yuanxiao returned, carrying Little Tang Mo in his arms.
Mrs. Tang followed behind them, head bowed. Her face was a mask of self-pity and guilt as she quietly tried to explain herself to Tang Yuanxiao.
"Tangyuan, Mom really didn’t mean to do it today..."
She hadn’t dared to return on her own. She had hoped Tang Yuanxiao would come get her, giving her a graceful way to de-escalate the situation, but he was nowhere to be found.
Fortunately, she spotted Little Tang Mo. Breathing a sigh of relief, she latched onto the boy and refused to let go. When Tang Yuanxiao came to pick him up, she simply tagged along.
"With the way things were, I had no choice..."
Her explanation came to an abrupt halt when she saw Su Li walk out of the kitchen. She flinched. "Su... Su Li..."
Su Li regarded her with a cool indifference. There was no anger, no sense of being wronged. Her expression was exactly the same as before.
Mrs. Tang breathed a sigh of relief, but upon seeing this, Tang Yuanxiao’s heart sank.
"Mom..." He turned his head, about to speak, but Mrs. Tang had already rushed forward to grab Su Li’s hand.
"Su Li, I was wrong today. I’m so sorry. I blamed you wrongly again..."
Her face was full of remorse as she apologized with the same apparent sincerity as she had not long ago.
Su Li glanced at the hand gripping her own, let out an indifferent "Oh," and then slowly but firmly pulled her hand away.
"I’ve heard these words before. There’s no point in hearing them again. I’m going to go rest."
’It’s the same thing, again and again. What’s the point?’
Su Li had already seen, with perfect clarity, what kind of person her mother-in-law was.
After speaking in that same detached tone, Su Li looked past her mother-in-law to Little Tang Mo, who had been watching her with a worried expression.
"Little Mo."
The moment she said his name, Little Tang Mo dashed over and threw his arms around Su Li. "Mama."
"You were scared, weren’t you? It’s okay. Just get a good night’s sleep, and everything will be all better in the morning."
Su Li said softly, stroking his head.
Little Tang Mo didn’t know what had happened. He had sensed something was wrong and tried to run over, but he’d been held back. The ruckus from the Tang and Qin families, the shrill wailing—it had all left him feeling deeply unsettled.
Seeing Su Li again, safe and sound, Little Tang Mo could finally let out a breath of relief.
Now that he saw Su Li, the fear and anxiety in Little Tang Mo’s heart finally had an outlet.
"I was scared, Mama."
"It’s okay. Just get a good night’s sleep, and things will be better tomorrow," Su Li said, patting Little Tang Mo on the back.
Hearing Su Li’s voice and smelling her familiar scent, Little Tang Mo’s heart slowly began to settle. He nodded vigorously. "Mm."
He glanced up at Mrs. Tang and Tang Yuanxiao, his expression hesitant.
Hearing Mrs. Tang’s apology, Little Tang Mo was instantly reminded of the incident not long ago, when the villagers had falsely accused Su Li of trying to sell him. Mrs. Tang had apologized in the exact same way back then. The memory was vivid.
’Grandma... did she make Mama upset again?’
As he hesitated over the thought, the look in his eyes shifted.
"Momo..." Mrs. Tang saw his expression, then saw how attached he was to Su Li. Already feeling sorry for herself, she now felt even more aggrieved.
"Momo, why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t do it on purpose... I didn’t mean to falsely accuse your mother..." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Tears started rolling down her cheeks. Weeping, she turned to look at Tang Yuanxiao.
"Grandma..." Little Tang Mo murmured, his grip on Su Li’s hand tightening.
Su Li squeezed her eyes shut. Just as she was about to speak, Tang Yuanxiao cut in.
"That’s enough." His voice was as cold as ice shards. "Mom, stop talking for a minute."
He looked at Mrs. Tang, his gaze allowing no room for refusal. "Go wait for me in the kitchen. We need to talk."
Mrs. Tang was stunned by his tone. She stared at him in disbelief, so full of self-pity that she opened her mouth to wail, but when she met his eyes, no sound came out.
Tang Yuanxiao ignored her, squatting down to pick up Little Tang Mo. He said to Su Li,
"You go rest. I’ll take care of Momo."
Su Li watched him silently for a moment before slowly nodding. "Okay."
She gave Little Tang Mo a weak, reassuring smile, then entered the side room. Closing her eyes, she leaned limply against the door.
Just as she was about to exhale in relief, Su Li heard Tang Yuanxiao’s voice call out, "Su Li, bolt the door."
Su Li froze for a second. "Oh."
After acknowledging him, she quickly slid the bolt into place and collapsed onto the bed.
Outside, Tang Yuanxiao only turned to carry Little Tang Mo back to his room after hearing the bolt slide home, completely ignoring his mother, who stood awkwardly to one side.
Mrs. Tang grew truly anxious. "Tangyuan..."
"Momo’s sleeping with me tonight," Tang Yuanxiao replied without looking back.
Mrs. Tang waited in the kitchen for what felt like an eternity, a stew of anger, self-pity, and apprehension brewing inside her. When Tang Yuanxiao finally appeared, his expression was even darker than before.
He had no experience comforting children. After hemming and hawing through an explanation for a long time, it took a Herculean effort to finally get Little Tang Mo to fall asleep.
Tang Yuanxiao was still trying to get his own emotions in check when, the moment Mrs. Tang saw him, she began to wail her complaints.
"Tangyuan, how could you scold me for Su Li’s sake? You’ve chosen your wife over your own mother..."
Tang Yuanxiao’s expression turned thunderous.
That night, no one knew what Tang Yuanxiao said to his mother. But her shouts and sobs were loud, and they continued late into the night.
