The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Tong Huaqiong boarded the carriage.

Hong Xiaoxi ran over and called out to Tao Hua shyly, then handed her a set of jewelry away from everyone else.

After Gu Taohua got into the carriage, Tong Huaqiong asked, "Taohua, why did Hong Xiaoxi call you?"

She saw it clearly, and Hong Xiaoxi handed her an exquisite box.

Gu Taohua took out the box behind her and said, "Hong Xiaoxi asked me to give this to Gu Xiaocao."

Tong Huaqiong thought that Hong Xiaoxi had feelings for Gu Taohua.

It turns out he had his eye on Gu Xiaocao.

Gu Taohua smiled and put the box back, saying, "Hong Xiaoxi is so good to Xiaocao, she used two months' wages to buy her jewelry."

Chen Sufeng said, "Xiaocao's parents have always been worried about her marriage. Now they don't have to worry anymore, right, sister-in-law?"

Chen Sufen noticed that Liu Yue'e had been unhappy since morning and assumed it was because she was about to part ways with Gu Dashu, so she tried to get her to talk.

Liu Yue'e said calmly, "Don't ask me about this. I'm not the matchmaker."

Tong Huaqiong knew that Liu Yue'e was upset about not being able to stay in the prefectural city.

Tong Huaqiong does not object to internal employees dating, but rather welcomes it.

Hong Xiaoxi is quick-witted and has a sharp mind.

Gu Xiaocao is down-to-earth and reliable.

Tong Huaqiong then asked Gu Taohua, "Does Gu Xiaocao have feelings for Hong Xiaoxi?"

Gu Taohua, who spends every day with Gu Xiaocao, naturally understands Gu Xiaocao's thoughts and said, "Although she hasn't said it outright, I think she has feelings for Hong Xiaoxi."

If Gu Xiaocao and Hong Xiaoxi really get together, it will be a joyous occasion for Peach Blossom Desserts.

However, whether this matter can be accomplished ultimately depends on fate and whether both sets of parents agree.

Tong Huaqiong was certain that Gu Xiaocao's parents would agree.

Gu Xiaocao's marriage has always been a major worry for the two of them. As long as Hong Xiaoxi himself has no bad habits and is of good character, they have no reason to object.

However, Hong Xiaoxi's parents, Tong Huaqiong, were not sure.

After all, most people in this era still value their reputation, and she was afraid that the other party would object if they inquired about it when they arrived in Qinghewan.

Although Gu Xiaocao's reputation was ruined due to Xu Si's involvement, which was a completely undeserved misfortune, others did not think so.

Tong Huaqiong only hopes that Hong Xiaoxi's parents are reasonable people.

If she, as the employer, needs to step in at that time, she will do so without hesitation.

Returning from the prefectural city to Qinghewan, the carriage traveled at a leisurely pace, unlike the journey there.

"We've wasted time during the day, boss, let's take a shortcut through the mountains." As it was getting late, and they had only just passed Pingchuan County, Qin Qingyou wanted to take a shortcut.

In the past, Tong Huaqiong would have objected, fearing they would encounter robbers or highwaymen.

But since Prefect Yao arrived, the bandits and highwaymen have been almost completely wiped out, and it is safe to travel on mountain roads even at night.

Tong Huaqiong looked at the groups of farmers returning home who were emerging from the woods in the distance and said, "Alright."

Qin Qingyou was not only familiar with the official roads, but also with the mountain roads.

We passed through a puddle and a grove of trees, and apart from the sounds of startled birds, the journey was very quiet.

Soon the moon rose, and its clear light illuminated the mountains and forests.

At first, you could encounter a few pedestrians, but as darkness fell completely, you could no longer find any other pedestrians in the mountains and forests.

Qin Qingyou drove the carriage quietly through the meadows and woods.

Tong Huaqiong sat in the carriage, chatting and laughing with Gu Taohua and Chen Sufen, showing no fear whatsoever.

Suddenly the carriage bumped into something, and Tong Huaqiong and the others lost their balance and almost crashed into the carriage wall.

The Lu family carriage following closely behind suddenly bumped into the carriage where Tong Huaqiong was sitting. The horses were startled and neighed, and the foal in the carriage stood up.

"Qingyou, what's wrong?" Tong Huaqiong touched her forehead.

Tong Huaqiong wondered if she had been robbed on the road.

Chen Sufen and Liu Yue'e hugged Man'er and Yaozu with nervous expressions.

"Master, the carriage has hit something. I'll go down and take a look." Qin Qingyou was a little scared at this point. The bandits and highwaymen were gone, but there might be some big tigers lurking around. Qin Qingyou braced himself and got off the carriage.

Soon, Tong Huaqiong heard Qin Qingyou's exclamation.

"What's wrong?" Tong Huaqiong lifted the carriage curtain.

"Master, our carriage has run someone over," Qin Qingyou said, his voice trembling as he sat down on the ground.

what?
Did a carriage run someone over?

Tong Huaqiong's heart pounded with fear.

Chen Sufen and Liu Yue'e turned pale with fright.

"I'll go down and take a look," Gu Taohua said, jumping off the carriage.

Tong Huaqiong also got off the carriage. The cold mountain wind helped calm her previously chaotic emotions.

The carriage wasn't traveling fast in the mountains, so how could it have so easily run someone over?

Moreover, she didn't hear any screams.

Gu Taohua saw a person lying in front of the carriage. She mustered up her courage and looked closer. A bleeding head came into view.

"Mother, the carriage really ran over someone!" Gu Taohua cried out in terror.

Qin Qingyou was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.

Oh no, he's going to jail.

Tong Huaqiong didn't believe it and went over to see a young man lying on the ground, his head and legs covered in blood. She squatted down to examine him and said, "This head injury doesn't look like it was caused by a carriage. I didn't hear him scream just now."

The Lu family coachman, who was well-informed and experienced, controlled the frightened horse and came to the person on the ground. He said, "What Boss Tong said makes sense. This person was not hit by Brother Qin at all. Look at that bleeding leg, which is so far away from the carriage."

Tong Huaqiong carefully examined the person on the ground. The person was lying with their head facing the carriage, and their legs couldn't reach the carriage at all.

The person on the ground had blood on their head and legs.

Tong Huaqiong breathed a sigh of relief; the man was clearly already injured and lying on the ground before Qin Qingyou bumped into him.

“Even if he was injured before, I can’t say for sure whether I killed him by hitting his head,” Qin Qingyou said in a trembling voice.

Once a person dies, they can't escape it.

Tong Huaqiong squatted down, checked the person's breathing, and said, "He's not dead, he's still breathing."

Upon hearing that the person was still breathing, Qin Qingyou scrambled over to the "victim" and touched the nose. Feeling the warm breath in his palm, Qin Qingyou cried and laughed as if he had survived a disaster.

"not dead!"

"He's really not dead!"

"Ouch, I was scared to death!"

Gu Taohua asked, "Mother, what should we do with this person? Should we just leave him in the mountains?"

Anyway, they didn't hit the person, so it has nothing to do with them.

In fact, Tong Huaqiong also had this idea.

The person was injured in the mountains, most likely because he was being chased, and his enemies might be nearby.

Tong Huaqiong didn't want to get involved in any trouble at all.

Having experienced the baptism of modern civilization, Tong Huaqiong could not bear to abandon someone who was still breathing.

Since she had encountered this situation, she had no choice but to take it on.

Tong Huaqiong said, "No. The person is still alive. If we leave him in the mountains and he dies, we'll be in trouble if the authorities investigate."

This person is unconscious. If we leave him here, his blood will probably attract tigers and wolves. He will either bleed to death or be carried off by wild animals.

If they had died and hadn't been carried off by wild animals, but had been discovered and reported to the authorities, Tong Huaqiong and the others wouldn't have been able to escape either.

After all, the carriage really did graz his head.

You say you didn't kill him, how can you prove it?

"Load it into the car."

Tong Huaqiong directed Qin Qingyou and the Lu family coachman to lift the person onto the carriage. (End of Chapter)