Chapter 44: Planting the Blame

Old man Tong was still half-asleep, his mind in a haze. "Huh?"

In contrast, old lady Tong was bright-eyed and full of energy. "Where did you put the box, old man?"

Old man Tong thought for a long time, finally recalling the box old lady Tong had been yearning for. He slapped his forehead. "That box was just for storing the land deeds; there are no secret recipes inside it."

However, old lady Tong had already convinced herself that an important secret must be hidden inside the box and refused to drop the matter. With no other choice, old man Tong had to go and dig the box out.

From the moment old man Tong brought out the box, old lady Tong's gaze never once left the object in his hands.

"Let me see. There has to be something else in here besides the land deeds." Old lady Tong cradled the box in her arms and searched through it, but indeed, there was nothing inside other than the land deeds.

"It must have been that little vixen who took it!" old lady Tong said viciously.

Sitting on the bed, old man Tong cast a sidelong glance at old lady Tong and couldn't be bothered to speak.

By this time, old lady Tong was thoroughly convinced that the family's "secret recipe" had been stolen by Tong Chuxue. She hurriedly woke up her two daughters-in-law, and after a hasty breakfast, the group of three made their way straight to Tong Chuxue's home.

Tong Chuxue had been busy all day yesterday, and even though the newly bought rooster in the backyard had crowed several times, she still refused to get out of bed. Xu Niangniang knew how tired she was and let her sleep.

"Tong Chuxue, get out here!"

Shouts suddenly rang out from outside the door. Tong Chuxue did not want to pay attention; she pulled the quilt over her head and went back to sleep.

The heavy wooden crossbar on the family's front gate was still slotted in place, so they couldn't get in anyway.

Yet the people outside kept badgering, shouting her name incessantly. In the end, Xu Niangniang could no longer bear it. Although they had already separated from the Tong family, leaving visitors locked outside like this violated proper etiquette.

Hearing the commotion outside die down, Tong Chuxue thought she could finally have some peace and quiet to catch up on her sleep. Who would have guessed that the next moment, angry voices would erupt right outside her bedroom door?

"Tong Chuxue, I know you're in there, stop pretending you're not home!"

It was Zou Hongping's voice.

"Chuxue is still sleeping inside. Eldest sister-in-law, is there anything that can't wait until later?"

"Wait? No way! Xu Niangniang, look at the fine daughter you've raised—instead of learning anything proper, she's gone and become a thief!"

"Eldest sister-in-law, how can you say such things about Chuxue? When has she ever stolen anything? She is still an unmarried young woman, you cannot ruin her reputation like this!"

With such a fierce argument raging outside, Tong Chuxue could no longer stay out of it. She had no choice but to climb out of bed, pour herself a cup of water to moisten her throat, and then push open her bedroom door.

"Auntie, what kind of wind blew you here so early in the morning?"

Tong Chuxue swept her gaze across the room. "Oh, Grandma and second aunt are here too. If you have anything to say, come inside and talk. Why are you all just standing by the door?"

Old lady Tong and Zou Hongping shot Tong Chuxue a glare, then walked over and seated themselves uninvited at the table.

Zou Hongping took the lead in attacking Tong Chuxue. "Tong Chuxue, right here in front of Mother, tell us the honest truth: did you steal something from the family?"

This unprovoked slander made Tong Chuxue's small frame stiffen. To have such a dramatic scene thrust upon her before she was even fully awake in the early morning made Tong Chuxue yawn. "What evidence does Auntie have to claim I stole something from the Tong family?"

"Evidence?" Zou Hongping had no idea what evidence there was. Old lady Tong had woken them up that morning, claiming she was going to settle accounts with Tong Chuxue, so she had simply tagged along. Come to think of it, the whole affair had been started by Tian Zhaodi in the first place. Zou Hongping nudged Tian Zhaodi with her elbow. "You tell them."

Abruptly pushed to the forefront, Tian Zhaodi had no idea what to say either, but she braced herself and spoke up, "Xue-丫头, actually we just wanted to ask you what this money-making business of yours is. You might not tell outsiders, but can't you be straight with your own family?"

Tong Chuxue didn't even lift her eyelids as she coldly dropped two words, "No way."

Upon hearing this, old lady Tong slammed her hand down on the table and raged, "Have you lost your mind? How dare you speak to your elders like that!"

Elders? Tong Chuxue found it utterly laughable. "The kind of elders Grandma speaks of are those who open their mouths only to slander their juniors? I'm sorry, but I want no part of such elders."

"Wretched girl, how are you talking!" Zou Hongping barked harshly.

"Isn't that the truth? The few of you rushed over to my place at the crack of dawn, opening your mouths to accuse me of stealing from the Tong family and sullying my innocence," Tong Chuxue stated flatly.

"You did steal from the Tong family, and now you won't even let people talk about it!" Zou Hongping put on an aggressive, righteous air.

"Since Auntie is so certain I committed theft, then I must ask: exactly what is it that I supposedly stole?" Tong Chuxue countered.

"That money-making recipe of yours belongs to the Tong family," old lady Tong concluded with finality.

Tong Chuxue was almost shocked by the shamelessness of these people. Just what kind of twisted logic did the Tong family operate on to reach such a conclusion? Surely, after living in the Tong house for so many years, they knew perfectly well whether or not the family possessed any money-making recipe.

"Grandma, this method of making money has nothing to do with the Tong family at all. You are mistaken," Tong Chuxue said.

Unfortunately, old lady Tong refused to listen to a word of it. "Nothing to do with us? Something is clearly missing from my box, and you dare say you didn't take it!"

Faced with such unreasonable and preposterous behavior, Tong Chuxue's expression also turned frosty. "I have never done such a thing, and I will never admit to it."

Xu Niangniang chimed in from the side to explain, growing more anxious by the second. "Chuxue is not that kind of person, and besides, that recipe doesn't belong to Chuxue in the first place."

"If it doesn't belong to her, whose is it? Xu Niangniang, don't lie and deceive us right in front of Mother just to cover for your daughter," Zou Hongping retorted.

"I am telling the truth! I've been married into the Tong family for all these years, and I've never once heard of any family secret recipe. There must be some mistake," Xu Niangniang desperately defended Tong Chuxue.

"Xu Niangniang," old lady Tong fixed her with a hawk-like gaze, "I know your temperament better than anyone. You regard this daughter of yours like the apple of your eye, so of course you'll go to any lengths to absolve her."

Tong Chuxue walked over, sat down beside Xu Niangniang, and said, "Mother, no matter what we say, those who refuse to believe will still refuse. I think we should just call the village head to settle this fair and square."

"No!" Xu Niangniang rejected the idea without a second thought. "If we make a scene in front of the village head, even if it's not true, there's no guarantee it won't be twisted into something scandalous. You're still young; you don't understand that everyone in this world has a tongue, and gossip can drown a person."

Tong Chuxue persuaded her, "Justice dwells in people's hearts. I won't confess to something I never did."

"Have the two of you finished discussing? In any case, if you don't return the Tong family's property today, this old woman is not leaving!" Old lady Tong slammed her teacup down heavily onto the table, splashing some of the tea outward.

Looking as though she had made a difficult resolve, Xu Niangniang spoke up, "Mother, let me tell you the truth..."

A bad feeling stirred in Tong Chuxue's heart, but the words were already out, and she was too late to stop them.

"This money-making business wasn't Chuxue's idea. It belongs to the third branch's boy of the Luo family."

"The Luo family's third branch?" Astonishment surfaced on old lady Luo's face.