Chapter 150 - 150: Only a Ghost Would Believe You
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
To advance, she needed the fog to transform into a spiritual liquid. One hundred drops for the first stage, five hundred for the second, one thousand for the third, five thousand for the fourth, and ten thousand for the fifth stage. Her cultivation would progress in this increasing order.
However, she considered herself lucky to build her foundation safely.
Many cultivators had protectors, but she didn’t. She had learned everything on her own. After all, she was a top student, and Qiao Mai couldn’t help but feel a bit proud of it.
Stretching lazily, she heard she would be able to control a flying sword after reaching the Foundation Building Realm.
However, she could only do it in her space. She couldn’t do it in places without spiritual energy.
Realizing that she hadn’t left her room for a week, Qiao Mai quickly emerged from her space. Upon opening her door, she found Yue Hong, Yue Xia, and Ling’er standing there, looking at her worriedly but not making a fuss.
“Didn’t I tell you not to worry about me?”
“But it’s been a week! You haven’t eaten or drunk anything. People can’t survive like this.”
“I have food in the room, and I told you there’s nothing to worry about. You should do what you need to do.”
“Mother, how long has it been since you spent time with Ling’er?”
“Alright, Mother was wrong. What would you like to eat, sweetheart? Mother will make it for you.”
Ling’er shook her head. “Mother, I want to ride the big horse!”
“Very well! Mother will arrange for you,” Qiao Mai said, picking up Linger and heading outside.
“Ling’er, look over there!”
Seizing the opportunity while Ling’er was distracted, Qiao Mai released Dong Zao from the space. Ling’er turned her head and saw Dongzao.
“I want to ride it!”
The mother and daughter rode on the horse and circled the house. However, Ling’er felt it wasn’t exciting enough.
“Can we go outside and let it run?”
With Ling’er in the front and Qiao Mai hugging her, they rode the chestnut-colored horse out of the Qiao family’s estate.
They planned to go to Qiao’s Small Eatery and have the staff make a cup of passion fruit juice for Ling’er. However, she unexpectedly saw the couple from the Yuan family sitting together with the Qiao family outside her shop, sipping passion fruit juice.
Qiao Mai gritted her teeth. It surprised her that they were willing to spend money on a fifty-coin cup of passion fruit juice when they were reluctant to provide medical treatment for their girls.
But then again, it made sense; they were willing to spend on themselves but not on others.
Ignoring their presence, Qiao Mai turned her horse and left with Ling’er. The Yuan family couple mumbled, “In-laws, have a drink. This meal is on me.”
The Qiao couple turned their heads to drink the passion fruit juice, deep in thought. They even ignored such a good drink. There had to be something going on.
The Yuan family couple asked, “What’s the matter with you two?”
“Nothing.”
“Drink up. It’s fifty coins a cup. You two can’t even drink one in a lifetime.”
“This is my daughter’s shop.”
“She doesn’t recognize you.”
“Your son is being supported by my daughter. After all, she came out from my stomach!”
“My son is a scholar and will participate in the examination next year.”
“But he won’t recognize you!”
Despite the bickering, neither couple seemed angry. However, the Qiao family couple did seem a bit unusual.
After finishing their juice, they stood up.
“We have something to attend to. We’ll see you next time!”
“Hey, when’s the next time?”
“Who knows?”
Qiao Shicheng pulled Madam Qiao Lu away, and the two headed toward Peach Blossom Village.
“Did you get a good look?”
“I’m not blind. That child looks like Tian Sanzhuang. It must be his child.”
“But didn’t they say the child died?”
“So let’s find out more from Peach Blossom Village.”
The two practically ran to Peach Blossom Village. They first asked the villagers, and everyone said that Qiao Mai had buried the child in the desolate land behind the village and left alone.
They then inquired with the village chief, who confirmed the same story. Finally, they went to the Tian family, and even there, they received the same explanation.
However, they were convinced that the girl resembled Tian Sanzhuang. They told the Tian family about this.
Old Tian waved his hand dismissively. “This is impossible. Maybe she just saw the child resembling Sanzhuang and decided to adopt her. We can’t be wrong about this. The baby was barely alive as she was born prematurely. When Qiao Mai left our family, the child had been buried at the end of the village.”
“It’s impossible. She stayed in town for so long, always alone. The child was left at her doorstep by someone else, and many people can testify to that. We’ve thoroughly investigated this matter. Do you think we’re fools?”
Qiao Shicheng wanted to imply that they were foolish, but he didn’t say it out loud.
He believed something about the little girl reminded him of Tian Sanzhuang.
This way, they could use it as an excuse to negotiate terms with Qiao Mai.
The Tian family wanted it to be true, but Qiao Mai had kept everything well hidden, making it difficult for them to find a pretext.
The Qiao family couple eventually left the village feeling dejected.
Nevertheless, they kept this matter in their hearts, believing they would find an opportunity to investigate it further.
Qiao Mai knew it wouldn’t take long for news about Ling’er’s resemblance to Tian Sanzhuang to spread. However, she wasn’t afraid.
Ling’er was her adopted daughter, with human and material evidence to prove it.
Even if the truth were to come out someday, she wasn’t afraid. At the worst, she would kill them.
They could do whatever they wanted. She would never let anyone take Ling’er away from her. No one could exploit the situation to their advantage.
Qiao Mai was confident after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. She felt invincible in this place.
With a little effort, she could snap an iron rod in her hand. And that was just a small effort. She believed that if she exerted her full strength, she could shatter an entire mountain.
With such power and cultivation, she had no reason to fear the Tian family.
After playing in the fields with Ling’er for a while, they returned home and went straight to visit Old Mistress Wang.
“It’s been a while since you visited. What have you been busy with?”
“Studying and practicing calligraphy. If Jiaqi’s going to keep advancing, I can’t fall behind.
“I don’t believe a word you say.”
Old Mistress Wang took Ling’er in her arms. “This child is so well-behaved. I rarely see such a well-behaved child.”
“Girls should be like this; it’s cute. I don’t like mischievous troublemakers. They’re exhausting.”
“Jiaru has always been like that. She’s been naughty since she was a child. She grew up with me, and I’ve had to worry about her all these years, just like Zihan. ”
Mentioning Zihan, sadness crept into the old lady’s voice.
“Ever since he got injured, he’s been like that. The doctor said his condition would improve once the blood clots in his brain dissipated, but it’s been several years, and there’s been no change.”
Thinking of Wang Zihan, Qiao Mai remembered the first-tier Reviving Spirit Pill. It could clear blockages in the brain’s blood vessels. When she went to the Capital, she would secretly give him one and see if it had any effect.
The Wang family had been good to her, and she wished the best for them.
Time passed, and it was time for Yuan Jiaqi’s break from studying and resting. When he returned, he handed five hundred taels of silver notes to Qiao Mai.
“This is the compensation from the academy and the few bullies.” “Why don’t you hold onto it? Why are you giving it to me?” “You hold onto it for now. I’ll ask for it when I need it. “Alright. Do you have a break for the Moon Festival?”
“We don’t.”
“In that case, I’ll prepare some mooncakes and fruits for you.”
“Alright, I’ll give them to the teachers and classmates at the school.”
“Okay, I’ll make extra. I’ll have them delivered to the academy at the Moon
Festival. Otherwise, they’ll go stale. It’s best when they’re fresh.”
“That sounds great. Thank you, Wife.”
Qiao Mai was momentarily stunned. This time, she had heard it. She looked at Yuan Jiaqi with a discerning gaze but didn’t say anything. Yuan Jiaqi noticed her reaction and became quite nervous.
Seeing that she didn’t say anything, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feng Yinshi’s injury was still a well-kept secret by the Feng family, and it hadn’t reached Tianshui Town even after a month. Qiao Mai had also chosen not to mention it.
She knew that the Lu family would hear about it sooner or later. She didn’t want to act as a messenger..
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