Chapter 201: You Bullies!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Once again, they hurriedly rushed to the Tian family. This pair of old geezers seemed afraid that the Qiao family was having a good time and always wanted to find trouble for them.
“I’m telling you, don’t doubt what I’m saying. If you see that girl, you’ll understand.”
“What are you trying to say to us? She’s just a girl.”
“That little girl is so pretty, don’t you want to bring her back? You should know she’s the apple of Qiao Mai’s eye. With her around, you can control her as you please. When the time comes, you can do anything you want to her. Moreover, having this child will connect you to the magistrate’s family and get a share of her wealth.”
The Tian family was tempted. To be honest, they had long wanted an excuse to get something out of Qiao Mai. But they hadn’t had the opportunity yet. If it was as Madam Qiao Lu described…
Thinking about it excited them, so they agreed to meet in front of the Qiao family’s gate tomorrow.
The Qiao family’s children weren’t always out. After waiting two days, the Tian family husband and wife became discouraged and wanted to go home.
The Qiao family members dragged them back forcibly. Just then, Ling’er returned riding a pony, dressed up neatly and beautifully. She was held by Yue Hong, with Yue Xia leading the horse. Three more ponies followed, and two guards rode on horses at the end.
Seeing Ling’er, the Tian family people got excited.
“She looks just like him. Look at her. This is the daughter of Sanzhuang. When I see her, I think of my Sanzhuang.”
“Is he coming back soon?”
“Next year. This child hasn’t sent a letter, so he should be safe.”
“That’s good. Let him come back and fight for this child. As long as you have the child, your life will improve.”
“Don’t worry. Once our lives are better, we won’t forget you.”
“Is it an even split then?”
“Cut the crap. We haven’t gotten any benefits yet. Let’s talk about it when we get some.”
The Tian family people gave the Qiao family a disdainful look, seeing how greedy they were. They realized why that wretched Qiao Mai didn’t want her own parents.
At least the Tian family wouldn’t harm their flesh and blood, unlike the Qiao family, who treated their daughter like livestock.
So the Tian family couple stopped doing anything and sat in front of Lucky
Garden every day, waiting there.
Due to the arrival of the Tian family people, the Yuan family no longer invited the Qiao family. They would go out for a bowl of cold skin noodles or occasionally try some instant noodles. The two would share one bowl.
This made the Tian and the Qiao family jealous. They couldn’t afford to eat something so expensive.
Sitting there every day, the aroma was so delightful that just the scent satisfied them.
Qiao Mai didn’t know initially, but while casually strolling outside with her hands behind her back, she spotted them.
She sat in front of Liu Hai’s store, ordered a bowl of cold skin, and looked at the Tian family people across the street.
Her eyes gleamed with murderous intent. Was this because they saw Ling’er and thought she looked like Sanzhuang? Were they here to spy on her?
She began eating. The Tian family finally found an excuse, walked over to her, and sat down, eyeing her noodles hungrily.
“Tell me honestly. Is the girl you picked up the one you gave birth to years
“Don’t you know it best? Or the villagers don’t know? When I buried her, everyone saw it. When I left, I left with empty hands. Besides, I spent more than half a year in town by myself. People even witnessed me picking up the girl. ”
“Maybe you had hidden her in advance.”
“I was almost dead at the time. Why would I hide the child and have someone else raise her? Who would look after her for me?”
“Humph, then why does Ling’er look so much like Sanzhuang?” The Tian family still didn’t believe what she said.
“Because she looks like my deceased child. That’s why I adopted her. What else do you think?”
“Humph. If we find out…”
Qiao Mai stared at them, and her killing intent swept toward Madam Tian. Madam Tian was terrified and began trembling.
“How dare you talk like that in front of me? If it wasn’t for you kicking my child, why would I have adopted someone else’s child? You were the murderer, the executioner, and you think the child wouldn’t have come to find you for revenge?”
“You!”
Old Tian banged the table and was about to depend on his seniority. Liu Hai rushed over with a stick.
“Get out!”
The Tian couple were frightened and quickly got up to run. Liu Hai scolded them loudly, holding his waist.
“You shameless bastards, still looking for my cousin, daring to act high and mighty. Who the hell are you? Don’t forget that she has no relation to your family at all. My cousin doesn’t welcome you. If you dare to come to my store again, I’ll break your legs.”
“You… You’re bullying us!”
Qiao Mai raised her head and looked at the furious old folks across the street.
“The child isn’t Sanzhuang’s. If you don’t believe it, wait for him to come back. We can confirm it with a blood test. I am not afraid. Don’t even think about using the child as an excuse to cause trouble for me.”
She said it so casually that the Tian family began to have doubts.
Could it be that this child just looked like their son? Or did Qiao Mai deliberately adopt a girl who looked like Sanzhuang because she couldn’t forget him?
The Tian family people were dreaming too beautifully and thinking too simply.
However, they weren’t in a hurry. They could wait. In just over a year, everything could be settled when their son came back.
By then, they would make Madam Qiao kneel and apologize in public. If she didn’t hand over her family’s property to the Tian family, they wouldn’t forgive her.
If Qiao Mai knew what they were thinking, she’d laugh her head off. At this moment, Ling’er returned on her pony from the south.
“Mother, mother!”
She was scooped up by Yue Hong, dancing like a little fairy into Qiao Mai’s arms.
Qiao Mai handed her a piece of cold skin noodles. “Is it spicy?”
“It’s not spicy. It’s delicious.”
The people from the Tian family watched Ling’er with envy. They examined her outfit, suspecting that if it were sold, it could feed the Tian family for years. Then they looked at the hairpin she wore, thinking it could potentially build them a new brick house.
They couldn’t understand why a child this small was dressed so lavishly. They felt she was wasting good resources.
Their gazes were plain and intrusive. Qiao Mai’s stern glare almost made them wet their pants.
It was terrifying. With wealth at her disposal, Qiao Mai’s confidence had grown.
Ordinary people like them didn’t dare cross her, especially since they’d heard that a high-ranking official backed her.
The three families cast menacing glances at Qiao Mai, analyzing her ordinary appearance, yet her skin was as fair as snow. They couldn’t rule out the possibility that she might sell herself for prosperity.
Such a woman, in their eyes, was shameful and indecent.
Unworthy individuals. They couldn’t wait for Sanzhuang to return and vowed not to let Qiao Mai off easily.
Unbeknownst to them, Qiao Mai was mentally dissecting them over and over in her mind.
Even now, these people wouldn’t give up.
To be honest, she was being quite a saint. She hadn’t harmed them in any way. The Tian, Qiao, and Yuan family children were still attending her school, and she pretended not to see them. She treated them as ordinary children.
Still, they clung to her favor and schemed against her.
In the beginning, only the Qiao and Yuan families sat at the entrance, but now the Tian family has joined them. There must be someone who went to them to fan the flames.
These despicable people. If they dare to plot against Qiao Mai again, don’t blame her for acting against them.
Hmph!
In mid -March, Lucky Star Academy had a one-month break.
Qin Yide and Yuan Jiaqi traveled to the capital together for the imperial examination. Old Master Wang sent three guards: one for the carriage and two on horseback to accompany and protect them.
Ruyi gave five hundred taels of silver to her husband, while Qiao Mai provided a thousand taels for Yuan Jiaqi.
If they lacked anything, they could buy it there. Their accommodation was arranged at the “Bichun Garden” as per the instructions of Old Mistress Wang.
As they left, the entire family saw them off, watching them depart.
During Qin Yide’s absence, Qiaomai had arranged for Ruyi to stay at Lucky Garden, accommodating her in her courtyard.
The main reason was Ruyi’s three-month pregnancy, although her petite size didn’t reveal any visible signs..
Visit freewe𝑏nove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺 for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience