Chapter 744: She Has a Name, I Have an Identity

Upon hearing Mrs. Zhang’s words, Tong Sanlang’s face remained unchanged. He continued to eat his food heartily and answered while chewing, “It doesn’t matter where I live, after all, everyone in the village knows about our situation.”

“What do they know? It’s precisely because they know that you should be living back in the village!” Tong Xingda also put down his chopsticks and decided to have a serious conversation with Tong Sanlang.

“Previously, our family was left destitute when the former emperor seized all our properties. The family’s current business is also in decline. If it weren’t for your grandfather still being the Village Chief, who knows what insults our family would be subjected to.”

“Now you’ve become a Scholar, a Scholar Lord!” When Tong Xingda mentioned “Scholar Lord”, he slapped the table hard with a look of pride, “In an instant, our family not only reclaimed our former status, but we’ve also taken a big step forward!”

“Let me tell you, son. Now you are not only the face of the Tong family but also the face of the whole village. You said you just have to live in the wilderness, can you bear the burden of ‘face’?”

By the time he finished speaking, Tong Xingda had thought about the stiflingly frustrating circumstances of the past few days, his voice had risen significantly, and his face seemed somewhat agitated.

Tong Sanlang, with his head down, continued to eat non-stop. Taking an occasional break to chew, he replied,”Gu Dean is the gem of our Huai’an County, but he didn’t move to the county. Which of the two unimportant matters does not affect us? After all, people from other villages dare not bully our people.”

Since Anping Village was large and populated, no one dared to provoke it in the first place.

Now that he had become a Scholar, no one dared to initiate any trouble.

“How arrogant of you to compare yourself to Gu Dean!” Upon hearing his words, Tong Xingda couldn’t resist slamming the table again, his face darkening.

At Tong Sanlang’s words, he swallowed the food in his mouth, and while reaching for the bowl with his chopsticks, he said, “It’s not a wasteland, the royal family will soon send people to protect that land.”

“Because the crops grown there are remarkable, they will become a royal privilege next year.”

“I am a Scholar, and Xiaomai is doing business with the royal family. Her reputation echoes throughout the Capital City, and in the future, it will echo throughout Daqi. In this manner, both of us are truly a match. I think this situation is quite good.”

Having said that, he paid no mind to the astounded people at the table, and instead continued to eat heartily.

He was really hungry as he had to go to the town later to pick up Qiao Xiaomai, so he needed to fill his stomach.

“What? The crops that Xiaomai planted this year caught the eye of the royal family?” Tong Tiehu, who had been silent all this time, asked in surprise.

Tong Sanlang merely grunted in agreement, unclearly saying while chewing, “She has the reputation, I have the status, it’s perfect.”

They were indeed a match made in heaven.

“Her fame is her fame. Here she is, a woman, yet her fame completely overshadows yours. Do you still have any dignity?” Tong Xingda was outraged by the seemingly cheerful tone of Tong Sanlang’s comment.

“Yes, I do. She’s so capable, yet she is my wife. Of course, I have prestige.”

He had no qualms about Qiao Xiaomai; the glory Qiao Xiaomai received was also his glory.

Qiao Xiaomai’s fame was his fame.

“You!” Tong Xingda was furious.

By this time, Tong Sanlang had eaten quite a lot. Seeing Tong Xingda panting with anger, he picked up a ladle from the soup bowl, scooped up a bowl of chicken soup, and finished it quickly since it had gone cold.