novelbin Chapter 542: Moving Out and Becoming Independent
Chapter 542: Moving Out and Becoming Independent
Tong Huaqiong understood Mrs. Hong’s meaning.
This new house was expanded from the old house, with the old house’s courtyard and the four south-facing rooms, as well as Jingzhe’s former two study rooms, right next to the new house.
Since the new house had enough rooms, and all were made of blue bricks and black tiles, the old adobe walls and thatched-roof houses didn’t need to be lived in, and now stored some sundries, while the courtyard grew vegetables and raised chickens and ducks.
Those two later-built western study rooms were borrowed by Mr. Su.
If the old house were really to be claimed, Tong Huaqiong definitely wouldn’t give it up.
As for moral coercion, no way.
The old house and Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu had no relationship; it was constructed when Mr. Gu was alive, with Tong Dajiao and his sons shouldering and picking.
"Aunt, I have something to discuss with you."
Tong Pandi, hearing Mrs. Hong mention the old house, sat next to Tong Huaqiong, as if she had made a huge decision.
"What’s the matter?" Tong Huaqiong asked.
Tong Pandi said, "I’d like to discuss with you, I’ll pay the wages for the maids and women you assigned to help me."
"Alright, you pay then. Is there something else you want to say?" Tong Huaqiong looked at Tong Pandi, sensing there was more to her words.
Otherwise, why bring up the money for maids and women without reason? It could only mean that Tong Pandi wanted to become independent from her aunt’s house.
Indeed, Tong Pandi had separated, couldn’t stay at her parental home, and even though this aunt’s home was a temporary abode, she must move out independently.
Tong Pandi said a bit uneasily, "Hua Er and Duo Er have grown up, and I’ve been in my aunt’s house for over half a year now. I think... I should stand on my own. I want to take Hua Er and Duo Er and move out..."
No matter how good an aunt is, she’s still an aunt.
Not to mention an aunt, even parental homes are different from a completely independent home.
Initially, when Tong Pandi had nothing, she lived with Tong Huaqiong, but now she can earn money to support her two daughters and wants a home completely belonging to her.
Tong Huaqiong understood Tong Pandi; if it were her, she would also move out once things got better.
Tong Huaqiong said, "You’re right, no matter how good a relative is, you can’t always muddle along together, I agree with you moving out."
Tong Pandi didn’t expect such a straightforward agreement from Tong Huaqiong, and said guiltily, "Aunt, I’m not ungrateful. You helped me separate, gave me shelter afterward, and entrusted the pig farm work to me to make money. Without you, I’d have died a hundred times over."
Tong Pandi was grateful to this aunt from the heart.
The more grateful she was, the less she could continue living with the aunt’s family. Last Time she went to Jufu in Pingchuan to help out, Wu Musheng cornered her. From her understanding of the Wu Family, Wu Musheng wouldn’t give up so easily; it’d be bad if they caused trouble at her aunt’s place.
Tong Pandi felt she needed to stand strong inside and out.
Besides, in the future when her aunt’s business grows, Jingzhe goes to Beijing for exams and pursues officialdom, there’s also the big male protagonist Xiao Long from her previous life rising to a supreme position; her aunt couldn’t always live in Qinghe Bay, and would move to the mansion city or Shengjing someday.
When that happens, it’s impossible she’d always follow her aunt.
Rather than becoming independent later, why not now.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Abundant rain can’t nourish rootless grass, no matter how much I help you, it amounts to nothing if you can’t stand on your own; ultimately you worked hard yourself, never betraying my initial efforts to help you separate."
Tong Pandi’s eyes moistened and she said, "Aunt, I’ve thought it through, I want to move to the house at the village edge, next to Gu Xiaocao’s house. The village chief can’t establish a household and assign land presently, so..."
Thus, unable to build a house.
Unable to have a real home.
Tong Pandi lowered her gaze.
This is the helplessness of this era; the authorities support Tong Pandi’s separation, but the village land remains controlled by clans, preferring to allocate it to outside men like He Chao or Boss Qian rather than accommodate a separated woman.
Tong Huaqiong thought for a moment, then said, "That place won’t work. Although it’s close to Gu Xiaocao’s house, it’s ultimately outside the village, not very safe. If it were just you, it’d be fine, but you have two children."
Widows are said to have troubles at their doors because troublemakers see them as easy targets.
Tong Pandi, being young and beautiful, living at the village entrance with two children, would inevitably draw unwanted attention.
Tong Pandi listened to Tong Huaqiong’s words and suddenly thought of the Wu Family wanting to take the children.
Mrs. Hong also said, "That rundown house hasn’t been lived in for years; it leaks on all sides, the roof leaks when it rains, how can you let Hua Er and Duo Er live there? Though it seems unoccupied, the owner might appear, and then you’d be in trouble."
Tong Huaqiong agreed with Mrs. Hong’s viewpoint.
"How about this, you stay in the old house in the backyard. The old house is connected to the new courtyard, the four rooms are adobe, but they don’t leak, keeping warm in winter and cool in summer. You and Hua Er and Duo Er move in, and let Xiao Chi and Granny Cheng stay to help with the children and work," Tong Huaqiong said.
Tong Pandi had considered moving to her aunt’s old house.
But that would mean living in the same courtyard with Mr. Su.
Tong Pandi isn’t a naive girl; she had been married twice in two lifetimes and could see the unusual feelings Mr. Su had for her.
She pretended not to understand.
Not because Mr. Su was bad, she found him a rare kind of man, gentle and generous, patient with the school kids, and kind to Hua Er and Duo Er. But that didn’t mean she had to accept him; having suffered once in marriage, she didn’t want to get involved with another man.
Tong Huaqiong understood Tong Pandi’s concerns and said, "If you think Mr. Su living there is inconvenient, just use a wall to divide the west room and the main room; you both use separate doors."
This solution could completely block the potential between Mr. Su and Tong Pandi.
But for the safety of Tong Pandi and her two children, Tong Huaqiong thought this method was good.
Tong Pandi shook her head and said, "No need for such trouble. Mr. Su is a gentleman, he’s usually at the private school, only returning home at night; it’s not a problem."
Tong Huaqiong said, "You noticed those returning to the old house; their house and yard were smashed by the Xu Family, whether they can live there or not is uncertain. If old Mr. and Mrs. Gu seize the chance to ask for a stay in my old house, I wouldn’t agree, but outsiders would say I’m cruel. If I lend it to the two elders, shameless Gu Youtian might join in. You can help me occupy it temporarily, and when someone sells house land in the village, we can seize the opportunity to buy it, or save money to buy in town."
Thus, Tong Pandi agreed to live in the old house.
In this way, Tong Pandi could take Hua Er and Duo Er and have a home exclusively for the three of them, while the old house connected to her aunt’s new house, allowing for mutual support.
Back at Tong Huaqiong’s place, everything was peaceful, while at the Gu family’s old house, chaos ensued.