Chapter 490: Chapter 490: A Stupid and Foolish Woman

“She’s in Beiyang County, which neighbors Huai’an County. She went with the peddler, but she’s not with him.”

“That peddler introduced her to a widower in a village of Beiyang County. The widower, who has a six-year-old son and is blind in one eye, has a violent temper. His late wife was beaten to death by him.”

“That peddler deceived Zhuang Luhe, gave her false information, essentially selling her off.”

“That peddler originally came from the same county, but had migrated to Bailu Town for its prosperity to conduct small businesses. Even if you tried to find him earlier, he’s not what you would call a guide.”

“At first, the man would beat her, and she tried to sneak away and come back, but she never succeeded. That man watched her very closely.”

“However, I had people secretly teach that man a lesson, so now he’s much more polite to her.”

“Overall, her current life is almost like her previous one at your home. She’s working in the fields every day, always busy.”

“If you’re willing, I could arrange for someone to bring her back.”

Qiao Xiaomai “…”

She was dumbfounded.

Her chest felt suffocated, and her nose tingled with sourness.

“Is, is she really living such a miserable life?” She asked in a trembling voice.

Upon seeing this, Tong Sanlang pursed his lips, raised his arm to gently hug her, “God is always playing tricks on her.”

All along, he had been an observer of Zhuang Luhe’s life.

Zhuang Luhe had a miserable life, but it was she who chose Qiao Changshun. She also tolerated the Sun Family for all these years, and the elopement was her own choice too.

Fate dealt her a lot of suffering; this is a luckless and foolish woman.

That was his assessment of Zhuang Luhe.

However, seeing Qiao Xiaomai distressing over this, he couldn’t help but sigh, “I’ll get someone to send her back tomorrow, don’t be upset.”

“I’m not upset, I just feel a tightness in my chest.” Qiao Xiaomai put a hand to her chest.

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed hard, and she slightly became breathless.

She and Zhuang Luhe were neither relatives nor friends. She had never commented on Zhuang Luhe’s actions before. Later, when she discovered that Qiao Chang’an had been molesting Zhuang Luhe, her sympathy leaned towards Zhuang Luhe, thinking her pitiful.

But that was just pitiful, and she hadn’t put much thought into anything else apart from this emotion.

However, now hearing Tong Sanlang’s explanation, the memories she inherited from her predecessor involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

All of it was filled with images of Zhuang Luhe suffering.

The heavy labor, the Sun family’s mistreatment – these scenes overlapped with Tong Sanlang’s descriptions, her eyes turned misty unconsciously.

“Maybe those memories, seeped in so many times, became mine.” she sniffled, lifting her arms to embrace Tong Sanlang, “What a fool, following any random peddler she meets, what a fool.”

Tong Sanlang hugged her tighter, speaking in a softened tone, “She had no other options. With your father unable to do heavy work, your family living in dire poverty, and with the upcoming Spring Tax, all this pressure leaves her no room for hope.”

“She… has always been poor at judging people.”

Having heard these words from Qiao Xiaomai, he comforted her with a pat on the back, “I’ll arrange someone to bring her back.”

“No need, the Emperor Emeritus doesn’t like you having anything to do with the Tingfeng Pavilion. I’ll ask my dad to pick her up personally.” Qiao Xiaomai responded.