With his admittedly naive thinking, Tong Sanlang put some dishes onto the ox cart and then drove the cart home.
It was midday when he arrived home. His father, Tong Xingda, was sitting in the courtyard scolding Tong Erlang. Tong Tiehu was sitting to one side with a stern face, while Qian Shi, his mother Zhang Shi, and Zhu Hongyun were cooking lunch in the kitchen.
Upon seeing him return, Tong Xingda frowned, "Didn't you go to the store in town?"
"No," Tong Sanlang explained, "I was in a hurry to come back and cook these dishes, so I didn't go to the store."
"What dishes?" Tong Xingda asked, his face still somewhat unpleasant.
He had heard about the incident from Tong Erlang last night. While he had strenuously reprimanded Tong Erlang for defying Tong Tiehu, he also wanted to reprimand Tong Sanlang for getting close to Qiao Xiaomai.