800 Having a Meeting Together
Xia Fang and Xia He sat at the side and did not speak. Xia Fang held Xia He’s hand tightly, worried that Xia He would also get too angry and lash out at Tan Jing. She felt that Tan Jing was only muddle-headed for a moment and did not have any real intention of harming anyone.
“Speak up! Are you mute!” Xu Lan shouted at Tan Jing.
At this moment, Xia Mao returned home after his meeting and saw a group of people sitting at the sofa with Tan Jing being the only one standing opposite them. It looked like a court hearing in session.
“What’s going on? Are all of you having a meeting together?” Xia Mao said jokingly.
Xu Lan’s expression darkened and she did not want to say anything else. After all, this was a matter for the women and it would become too serious if Xia Mao interfered.
“It’s nothing. Tan Jing, you can go back to your room. I’ll ask Xia Wen to stay here tonight. Everyone should go and take a rest,” Xu Lan said.
Other than Xia Fang, who had an important surgery in the hospital tomorrow and needed to go home to rest, everyone else stayed over at Xu Lan’s place. Xu Lan asked Xia Mao to go into the study with her.
“Why are you so angry? You weren’t even so angry when Xia He left the art troupe back then,” Xia Mao asked.
“Do you know what Tan Jing did today! It’s so infuriating! She actually added a lot of seasonings to Qiao Mei’s favorite dishes. At that time, Uncle Qiao and Qiao Mei’s mother and younger siblings were also around. If father finds out, Tan Jing will definitely be punished. I only just reprimanded her a little,” Xu Lan complained in a low voice.
Xia Mao did not know much about family matters. At most, he would ask Qiao Mei about her health and whether she needed a bodyguard. He did not really take notice of anything else.
It would seem that their family was lacking towards Tan Jing. They did not become close even after she had married into the family for so many years. However, Tan Jing did not treat them very well either. If anything happened to the Xia family, Tan Jing would always stand by and do nothing.
Moreover, Tan Jing’s family had gone to look for Xia Mao in private many times to ask him for help in finding jobs and to borrow money. He did not tell Xu Lan about this as he knew that she would get agitated and kick up a fuss at home again. However, he had told Xia Wen about this so that Xia He was not caught unaware.
Just as Xia Mao was listening to Xu Lan’s complaints, Xia Wen knocked on the study door.
“Father, Mother, can I come in?” Xia Wen asked.
“Come in,” Xia Mao said.
As soon as Xia Wen entered, Xu Lan did not give him a kind face. Back then, she did not agree to Xia Wen marrying Tan Jing, but Xia Wen did not care and insisted on marrying her. Now, there was so much trouble.
“Father, Mother, I’m sorry. I apologize to you on behalf of Tan Jing.” Xia Wen bowed deeply to the two of them.
Xu Lan sighed and said, “Get up, we don’t need your apology. Can’t you tell who Tan Jing is targeting today? Son, although Qiao Mei didn’t help you much, when the Xia family was bullied by the He family, it was Qiao Mei who took out her money without any hesitation to save the Xia family. Her grandfather also saved your grandfather’s life. This is a friendship that the Xia family will never be able to repay in our lives. Tell me, how can I face them after what Tan Jing did today?”
“I’ve already apologized to Qiao Mei. I’ll definitely handle these things well and there won’t be any more such incidents in the future. Father, Mother, don’t worry,” Xia Wen promised seriously.
Xu Lan did not want to pursue the matter. She stood up and said, “Alright, I’ll go in and rest. You two can talk.”
With that, she returned to her room.
Xia Wen sat down wearily on the stool and folded his hands in his lap. He had never felt so tired and for a moment, he did not know how to deal with it.
It was not just the things that Xu Lan said. That call which Tan Jing received not long ago was probably the one Qiao Mei made to ask him to look for a house for her. Tan Jing had also kept this matter a secret from him. Each and every one of these was an incident of them letting Qiao Mei down.
“Father, do you know anyone living near the courtyard house? Is there anyone who wants to sell their houses? Qiao Mei wants to buy one,” Xia Wen said.
Xia Mao knew that Qiao Mei wanted to find a place for Li Gui and the family to stay. He had already found out more information about the situation in that area and written down a list of phone numbers for Xia Wen.
“There are a few vacant houses over there and you can bring Qiao Mei to take a look. Don’t make any mistakes in this matter. If there’s any issues, come and look for me. Don’t let Tan Jing get involved in this matter. Try and talk to her.” Xia Mao left the study without saying anything else, leaving Xia Wen alone to think.
