Chapter 7 Free Love

"Tang Chuxia, get out here now!"

An authoritative scolding echoed as Tang Chuxia sighed and reluctantly put on the down jacket hanging behind the door and went out.

Gu Nanzhi, following behind, was envious. That was a French luxury, not just something money could buy. Without the connections of Tang Chuxia's elder sister-in-law's family, it was impossible to obtain. Even the Tang Family could only obtain one for Tang Chuxia—Tang Wanqiu didn't even have one. Considering Tang Chuxia's frailty, a cold could very well cost her half her life.

No sooner had Tang Chuxia stepped out than a younger brother shielded her from behind, "Tang, please don't be rash. This has nothing to do with Xiaxia, it's all Hu Mingcheng, that bastard!"

Tang Jianguo snorted coldly—he was certainly aware.

"Xiaxia, do you still like such an insignificant man?"

As the eldest in the family, Tang Jianguo truly played the role of a fatherly brother. In the past, when Father Tang and Madam Tang were often away, it was Tang Jianguo, the oldest, who took care of his younger siblings.

He pampered his frail younger sister as if she were his own daughter, giving her the very best of everything.

Tang Chuxia walked out from behind Tang Jianbing, approached Tang Jianguo, grabbed his sleeve, and said with tearful eyes, "Brother, I don't like him anymore. He's not worthy of my affection!"

Tang Jianguo originally had a belly full of anger, as lately his sister had done many foolish things over Hu Mingcheng. If he hadn't been tied up and unable to return, he would have certainly come back to give his waterlogged sister a beating.

Now, hearing her say those tearful words, Tang Jianguo felt nothing but heartache.

He raised his hand to wipe away his sister's tears, his expression still sulky.

"Why are you crying? You said he wasn't worthy; he doesn't deserve your tears!"

He handed Tang Chuxia a handkerchief, told her to stand to the side, and then his army-booted foot kicked Hu Mingcheng again.

Hu Mingcheng had just been helped up by Tang Wanqiu when he got kicked again, this time in the stomach. A surge of acid escaped uncontrollably, spraying right onto Tang Wanqiu's trousers.

Tang Wanqiu: ...

Gu Nanzhi couldn't help but laugh out loud but quickly covered her mouth.

Tang Jianguo also turned to Tang Wanqiu, "For such a worthless guy, would you leave the Tang Family?"

Tang Wanqiu jerked her head up to look at Tang Jianguo, her eyes full of shock.

Compared to Tang Jian's previous actions, Tang Jianguo was far more ruthless, pulling out what Tang Wanqiu feared most.

The Tang Family was her greatest support; without them, there was no possibility for her and Hu Mingcheng.

She knew this better than anyone, but why? Why could Tang Chuxia like Hu Mingcheng, and she couldn't when she was also a daughter of the Tang Family?

At least Hu Mingcheng knew to protect Tang Wanqiu. Despite being beaten, he didn't dare to fight back, struggled to stand from the ground, and shielded Tang Wanqiu behind him.

"Brother, Wanqiu and I are in love. Arranged marriages aren't even legal now, what's wrong with us being in love freely?"

With his face bruised and his lips swollen, Hu Mingcheng saw Tang Jianguo grin as he spoke.

"Free love?"

Tang Jianguo bit down on those words and then turned to ask Tang Wanqiu, "Are you and him freely in love?"

Tang Wanqiu couldn't look at Tang Jianguo. Hiding behind Hu Mingcheng, she meekly responded, "Why wouldn't we be?"

Upon her answer, even Gu Nanzhi cursed out, "Shameless!"

Tang Jianbing gritted his teeth and said, "Free love while engaged and with your future aunt-in-law? You're truly a genius!"

Gu Nanzhi nodded vigorously, right, right!

Average people couldn't even come up with that.

Tang Jianguo tilted his head just in time to catch the loathing on Tang Wanqiu's face, his expression growing colder. He had no fondness for this sister, proving familiarity breeds contempt.

He couldn't possibly hit Tang Wanqiu, so he punched Hu Mingcheng in the face instead. He preferred fists to words, after all, as a man of military background, Tang Jianguo knew how to measure his punch—it wouldn't kill him, but it would hurt for many days.

Amidst the howls of pain, Tang Jianguo's calm and collected interrogation rang out:

"Love marriage?"

"Arranged marriage?"

"Want to swap fiancées?"

"Let your father come, who do you think you are?!!!"

With a final kick, he sent Hu Mingcheng flying out of the yard.

Just as Tang Wanqiu was about to chase out to help, Tang Jianguo grabbed her arm, "Think carefully, if you step out that door, from this day on, you are no longer a member of the Tang Family!"

Everyone watched Tang Wanqiu, as she glared at Tang Jianguo with resentment.

"I am your sister too, why can you be so heartless towards me?" she couldn't understand.

Then, pointing at Tang Chuxia she accused, "Just because you watched her grow up, does she become the only sister in your eyes?"

Tang Jianguo didn't feel a shred of guilt being accused, he even said, "If you weren't a Tang, I wouldn't bother with you!"

It seemed like an answer to Tang Wanqiu's question, but also not, leaving Tang Wanqiu with a cold heart.

She shouted, "Exactly, you never regarded me as your sister. Look at her down jacket, she's the only one in the family who has one. Just because she's physically weak does she have a right? Is being healthy my fault? Even the elder sister-in-law is biased, why?"

She seemed determined to voice out all the unfairness in her heart, while Tang Jianguo just looked on coldly as she raged.

When she finally finished screaming, "Because she is my sister, Tang Jianguo's sister!"

Tang Wanqiu: …

The sound of a heart breaking!

Even Tang Chuxia felt some sympathy for Tang Wanqiu.

Truth be told, if she were Tang Wanqiu, she would probably be suffocating with frustration too.

The unequivocal favoritism was enough to make anyone crumble.

Maybe it was the feeling Father Tang and Madam Tang gave her, but Tang Da's actions somehow fit the concept she had in mind.

Gu Nanzhi poked Tang Chuxia's arm, "Truth be told, your brother looked cool when he was hitting that guy, but he's just like my brother, a straightforward man with a vicious tongue!" she couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Tang Wanqiu.

Tang Jianbing held Gu Nanzhi's head, "Shut up, Tang Da can hear you!"

Gu Nanzhi stuck out her tongue while Tang Wanqiu, in the end, didn't run out recklessly but instead ran back to her room crying. When Hu Mingcheng saw Tang Wanqiu run away, he slowly got up from the ground and left.

Tang Jianguo glanced at Tang Jianbing and Gu Nanzhi, pulling Tang Chuxia inside the house.

"What happened?"

Honestly, he didn't yet know what the issue was. Hardly taking time off, his wife had mentioned trouble at home, so he had hurried back. He had only heard Hu Mingcheng talking about changing his fiancée.

Tang Chuxia revealed a sweet smile, which, paired with her good looks, made the anger in Tang Da's heart dissipate quite a bit.

Gu Nanzhi didn't dare get involved and had already slipped away. Tang Jianbing came in and briefly explained the situation.

"Tang Da, we can agree to break off the engagement, but what about Wanqiu?"

In the end, Tang Jianbing still had some concern for Tang Wanqiu.

Tang Jianguo squinted and sneered coldly, "If she doesn't respect herself, no one can save her!"

Curious, Tang Chuxia moved closer to Tang Jianguo, whispering, "Tang Da, she wasn't originally a Tang, right?"