Chapter 119: Chapter 119

Meng Cheng’an’s grandpa was taken away?

Hu Honglian was hearing about this for the first time.

She couldn’t accept someone like Meng Cheng’an just based on his background alone.

And now Mr. Meng has been taken, does that mean Meng Cheng’an might soon be...

Hu Honglian couldn’t be bothered with He Cuifen’s gloating and tarnishing of her daughter’s reputation, she just turned to her daughter with a bewildered expression, "Meng Cheng’an’s grandpa was really taken away?"

Tian Xiang: "Mom, he’ll be back before the end of the year. He’s still doing fine at the factory, there’s nothing to worry about, don’t overthink it."

How can she not overthink it!

Her daughter is dating someone problematic, if things take a bad turn, it won’t just ruin her own life, but the entire family could be affected.

And all this her daughter kept secret, not sharing a hint with the family.

Hu Honglian looked at her daughter, eyes full of disappointment.

She used to look down on girls who argued with their families over men, causing trouble at home.

Thinking that raising a girl for tens of years can’t even compete with a few words of love from a man.

Her Xiangxiang wasn’t that kind of person, definitely couldn’t do something like that.

Hu Honglian really wanted to slap herself.

If she had heard He Cuifen badmouthing her behind her back before, Hu Honglian could have scolded her to tears. But this time, she just carried that little bunch of green vegetables silently through the crowd and went straight home.

Caught gossiping about someone, the women in the yard avoided eye contact, thinking they were in trouble with the most notorious troublemaker of Sanli Lane.

Everyone thought there was no escaping this time, even He Cuifen fell silent, inching towards her front door, ready to shut it if Hu Honglian charged at her.

But nothing happened.

The anticipated drama of shouting, jumping, and physical altercations didn’t occur at all. Hu Honglian just walked past them without so much as blinking, as if she hadn’t seen them at all.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Then they saw Tian Xiang come in.

Hu Honglian was too angry, too sad, too disappointed to pay these people any mind.

But Tian Xiang wasn’t going to let them off easily.

What He Cuifen said this time was quite truthful; at least, the general situation was accurate.

But saying things like she was overly proud, or implying that an unmarried girl frequently visited the relocation area, where the house was empty, was too much.

Since she started dating Meng Cheng’an, she’d only been to that relocation area twice.

Once when Meng Cheng’an was sick, she went to see him.

The other was right after he learned she went to the movies with Zhou Ming and almost roasted the situation, she went to him.

Tian Xiang understood what He Cuifen was implying with her words, hinting at her having a loose lifestyle, spending time alone with a man, possibly having gone that far.

Being an unmarried young lady, how would others perceive her if these words spread?

In the future, if she doesn’t marry Meng Cheng’an, even getting engaged would look bad.

Tian Xiang put away her bicycle, in the midst of all the curious, mocking, or complex gazes, she scooped a ladle of the freezing cold water under the eaves and splashed it right at He Cuifen’s face.

He Cuifen, seeing Hu Honglian bump into her badmouthing but didn’t lose her temper, was just gloating and didn’t dodge in time, getting soaked by Tian Xiang.

Winter water, really, really cold.

He Cuifen gasped for breath, shivering all over.

"Tian Xiang, you shameless troublemaker, how dare you splash me! I’m your aunt!!"

He Cuifen said as she lunged forward to hit Tian Xiang.

Tian Xiang still holding the ladle, saw He Cuifen charging and met her halfway, covering her face with the ladle and when He Cuifen put her hands up to block, she head-butted her in the chest.

He Cuifen never expected Tian Xiang to have this sequence of moves and stumbled backward, if not caught by someone behind, she would have fallen.

He Cuifen, so angry her hand shaking as she pointed at Tian Xiang.

Tian Xiang scolded her, "Ruining my reputation behind my back, and you still have the gall to call yourself my aunt, you’re not even as good as a stray on the street."

A stray dog wags its tail for a bite of food.

These so-called relatives stab you in the back.

He Cuifen: "What do you mean damaging your reputation? Didn’t you date that Meng Cheng’an? Did I say anything wrong about his background? Isn’t it true his grandpa was taken away?"

He Cuifen had gotten a handle on things now, feeling so triumphant.

Honestly, when these issues are raised, Tian Xiang doesn’t know how to respond because they are all true.

Just then, a bowl was thrown directly from the second room, shattering in the middle of the yard.

Hu Honglian’s voice followed, "Get out all of you. If I hear any more talk about my family, I’ll hang myself at your house."

The onlookers heard and quickly dispersed.

He Cuifen brushed the water off herself, snorted coldly, and while heading home, softly said to Tian Xiang: "Your life is ruined now."

Pretty, has such a good job, such a promising life, yet ruined by a man.

The crowd dispersed, Tian Xiang lost her mood to deal with her, turning back into her home.

Hu Honglian was no longer in the living room, she had retreated to her room and locked the door.

Tian Xiang knew whatever she said now would be useless, so she put down her bag, silently sorted out those little greens, preparing to make some egg soup later.

Before long, Tian Weibing and Tian Chenhui came back from work, seeing that Hu Honglian had come home but angrier than before, were completely clueless.

Tian Xiang didn’t know how to explain things either, she just went about making dinner quietly.

At night, Tian Weibing brought the meal into the room, but Hu Honglian only ate half a bowl, said she had a headache, and went to sleep.

Tian Xiang sighed, Tian Chenhui washed the dishes and specifically went to his sister’s room, asking what happened?

Tian Xiang then recounted the afternoon incident.

Tian Chenhui knew about Meng Cheng’an’s grandpa’s matter too, understanding that if the family found out, it would definitely cause an uproar, so he kept it quiet all along.

But as he didn’t speak, others naturally did, someone had brought the news here.

The Meng Family grandfather and grandson might be in trouble, but they kept a low profile on Red Fifth Street. It’s not surprising people there know, but Sanli Lane is a twenty-minute drive away from Red Fifth Street; the problems aren’t exclusive to Meng Cheng’an, unless deliberately spread, how would people here know?

Tian Xiang had guesses about how these rumors started, likely Zhou Ming.

But none of that mattered now, it was about calming things down, letting Hu Honglian relax, stop being so pent up, or else she’ll get sick.

Tian Chenhui sighed, softly asked his sister: "Is it really only Meng Cheng’an for you?"

Actually, if she breaks up with Meng Cheng’an, all problems will be solved.

Tian Xiang of course understood, but would that really solve everything for Meng Cheng’an?

He was the true ticking time bomb.