Chapter 526: Chapter 526: Loving Hugs and High Lifts

“At worst, we can compensate them. An old shack, at most, worth twenty taels of silver.”

“What if Sun Junyan decides to sue? The Sun Family did take quite a beating,” Tong Sanlang asked.

“In that case, we drag it out. It’s tough for an impartial official to mediate in domestic disputes. If we really can’t win the argument, then we’ll just let Hua Xiaofeng serve a few days in jail. As long as she is compensated generously, she’ll comply.”

Qiao Xiaomai insisted that she hadn’t schemed against Hua Xiaofeng. Today, she handed Hua Xiaofeng a set of gold jewelry. If Hua Xiaofeng ends up in jail after all, she would be willing to compensate her with silver.

“The ‘Daqi Law’ has guidelines on this matter,” said Tong Sanlang. “Expect a sentence of less than ten years.”

“This family used to be so naive. Based on the beating that Sun Family gave to Zhuang Lühe, they would’ve been sentenced to life by now,” Qiao Xiaomai sighed with regret.

“It’s different; it happened between an elder and a younger family member—thus treated as a domestic affair. But the dispute between Hua Xiaofeng and Sun Family is more like… a relative’s quarrel.”

“Let’s take that stance. Cen Hong has no rights to interfere with local government affairs. With the local county magistrate on our side, we need not worry Cen Hong escalating it. Even if the complaint reaches Emperor Yongan, I expect the Emperor would not favor him.”

The small domestic dispute may well reach Emperor Yongan, while the disaster in Shuifeng Prefecture has not yet fully stabilized.

“Let’s see what happens; we’ll deal with it when the time comes,” Tong Sanlang sighed.

Qiao Xiaomai raised her eyebrow, patted his shoulder and smirked, “You seem unhappy, aren’t you?”

“I am,” Tong Sanlang admitted frankly.

“Would a kiss, a hug or being lifted lighten your mood?” Qiao Xiaomai asked laughing.

Tong Sanlang “…”

He twitched at the corner of his mouth, “No need.”

He’s a grown man, requiring a kiss, a hug or being lifted up?

What the hell?

“Come on!” Qiao Xiaomai stood up, “I can lift you, you know~!”

Tong Sanlang looked at her smiling alluring face, raised his eyebrow, and also stood up, “Come on, let’s start with the kiss.”

The most intimate thing he and Qiao Xiaomai had ever done was sleeping together in the same bed for a night.

Besides that, they just hugged and held hands from time to time.

They hadn’t kissed before.

No wait, if that time she licked his wound is counted, then they had indeed kissed.

Thinking about Qiao Xiaomai’s warm and soft lips, Tong Sanlang’s heart tightened. He pointed at his cheek, “Here.”

Qiao Xiaomai smiled at him, nodded, and said, “Deal.”

She took a step forward, her hands on Tong Sanlang’s shoulders, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her lips against his cheek.

Sensing that Tong Sanlang’s body stiffened a bit, she suppressed her laughter, stuck out her tongue, and gently licked his face.

Then she quickly retreated two steps back, put her hands behind her, and smiled at the handsome young man in the moonlight.

Tong Sanlang pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and tried to calm down his rapid heartbeat. He said, “Time for a hug.”

“That’s easy.” Qiao Xiaomai approached and extended her arms to hug him, her face burying into his neck, rubbing against it heartily.

“Next, lift me up,” Tong Sanlang suddenly opened his mouth. He put his strong hands on Qiao Xiaomai’s waist, gently exerted his arms, and lifted her up at once.

Caught off guard, Qiao Xiaomai let out a surprise cry.

“Shush!” Tong Sanlang whispered, “Wrap your legs around me.”

Being suspended in mid-air, despite Tong Sanlang’s arms supporting her, Qiao Xiaomai didn’t feel safe. Hearing Tong Sanlang’s words, her legs immediately wrapped around Tong Sanlang’s waist like vines.