Chapter 491: 491: It's Not Her Fault

Qiao Xiaomai quickly thought of an idea, “Just say I heard from Tingfeng Pavilion about her whereabouts.”

“Then how did you learn about Tingfeng Pavilion?”

“I learned of it from the lips of nobles who saw your impressive martial arts and asked you to make inquiries.”

“Okay.” Tong Sanlang nodded, agreeing with the story.

“However, have you really thought this through? If she comes back, you won’t be as free as you are now in this home, and we won’t be able to meet like this at night.”

Although Zhuang Luhe was not clever, she was much smarter than the father and son duo – Qiao Changshun and Qiao Dami.

She would surely discover his trysts with Qiao Xiaomai in the courtyard every night.

“We’ll have to behave ourselves for now. As for the house, it’s okay. The wall of the manor is almost repaired. I’ll have Master Miao start building a house there tomorrow, and I’ll move there then.”

“Huh?” Tong Sanlang looked surprised. “Where are you planning to move?”

“I’ll start with the story of Tingfeng Pavilion tomorrow, and then say I’m having you make some inquiries. It is estimated that it will take a month back and forth. Once I really bring her back, we’ll need a few days of adjustment, and it will be time for the autumn harvest.”

“During the autumn harvest, someone will have to move there.”

Tong Sanlang ran through that timeline, nodding, “Alright, let’s do as you say.”

The two discussed a few more details, and Qiao Xiaomai’s emotions steadily settled. Tong Sanlang stayed with her, chatting about lighter matters until she was nearly asleep, before he left.

Qiao Xiaomai woke up after only two hours of sleep, had breakfast, and then took the ox cart to town.

After passing along the chili pepper skins and chili oil method to Yang Ye’s guard, she bought some groceries and then drove the ox cart back to the village.

At noon, after lunch, when Qiao Dami was taking a nap, she sat in the courtyard with Qiao Changshun and started talking, “Dad, I heard about Tingfeng Pavilion by accident.”

“What’s that for?” asked Qiao Changshun.

“It’s for gathering information. As long as you’re willing to provide silver, they can find out anything. So I thought, why don’t we have Tingfeng Pavilion look into mom’s whereabouts?”

Qiao Changshun was silent…

He was stupefied, then nodded in agreement, “Alright.”

When Hua Xiaofeng came on that day, Qiao Xiaomai made a promise to find Zhuang Luhe.

He had also been thinking about it these few days, noticing that Qiao Xiaomai was not taking action, he was thinking of asking her about it. Now she had brought it up on her own.

He rubbed his hands together, then added, “Let’s do it. Dami has been calling for her in his sleep many times.”

“What about you, Dad? If Mom comes back, will you blame her?” Qiao Xiaomai asked.

“No, I won’t blame her at all. I’m the one who has failed her these years.”

As a man, he failed to protect his wife and children. He had no right to blame Zhuang Luhe.

“Our lives have improved, let’s bring her back, so she can also enjoy some good days.” After pausing, Qiao Changshun looked at Qiao Xiaomai, his eyes reddening, “Don’t blame her either. She’s always loved you very much.”

People in the village put boys over girls. He and Zhuang Luhe only had Qiao Dami seven years after Qiao Xiaomai was born. During those seven years, Zhuang Luhe was often bullied by the Sun family and her sisters-in-law because she couldn’t have a son.

Yet Zhuang Luhe never took her anger out on Qiao Xiaomai, she loved her very much. After Qiao Dami was born, this love for her did not change.

“I know, I can tell from the situation with Zhaodi and Yindi,” Qiao Xiaomai nodded.

The only mistake Zhuang Luhe made was eloping with another man. Her past actions far outweigh this mistake.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Changshun was relieved, “Then go ahead and do it.”

There’s hope for better days ahead…